VW Refreshes Its Smallest Sedan, But It's Still Forbidden Fruit

Volkswagen has handed its smallest sedan in the Indian market a round of updates, refreshing the entry point to its four-door range in one of the brand's most closely watched Asian markets. The car sits at the very bottom of Volkswagen's sedan line-up there, positioned for buyers who want a compact three-box shape at the lowest possible outlay.

That positioning is exactly why the news lands flat in Saudi Arabia. The model has never been part of Volkswagen's official Kingdom line-up, so the refresh is a case of forbidden fruit: interesting to watch, impossible to buy through a local dealer. Saudi shoppers browsing the brand's showrooms will find its larger sedans instead, with nothing offered beneath them in the small four-door class.

The segment it competes in is nonetheless a busy one locally, even if the Indian car itself is not. Buyers after an affordable compact sedan in Saudi Arabia typically weigh the Hyundai Accent, the Kia Rio sedan and the Nissan Sunny, all of which are sold and serviced officially. Those models define the yardstick the Volkswagen would be measured against if it ever arrived.

There is also a size discrepancy to keep in mind. Small sedans