Atharv Deo
•5yI am going to buy a Kia Sonet. Although I am inclined more towards the diesel model, I am really concerned with Suzuki and VW calling off their diesel car sales in India completely. Now with Tesla's entry in Indian Market and the difference between petrol and diesel prices narrowing, Is there a chance that the government, in the near future, will completely ban diesel car sales? Because if they do, the resale value of diesel cars will drop suddenly. [Submitter Vehicle details - Make: Honda, Model:

Autocar India
Yes, some manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki and Volkswagen Group have moved away from diesel passenger cars in India. But that was largely a business decision driven by tightening emissions norms, development costs and their own product strategy, not because diesel is being banned nationally. India is clearly pushing cleaner mobility and stricter efficiency norms, but there is no announced nationwide policy to suddenly ban diesel car sales in the near future.
What is true is that diesel may gradually become a smaller part of the passenger car market over time, especially in cities with stricter pollution rules. Delhi NCR already has separate age-based restrictions for older diesel vehicles, but that is a local policy, not a national template.
As for resale, yes, diesel resale values could soften over the long term if policy becomes stricter, but it is highly unlikely to be a sudden overnight collapse across India. The bigger question is your usage. If you do high monthly running, regular highway trips and value effortless torque plus efficiency, the Kia Sonet diesel still makes a lot of sense and remains one of the strongest diesel compact SUVs available. If your usage is mostly city commuting with lower annual mileage, then the petrol makes more sense, not because diesel is “dying”, but because your ownership pattern may not justify it.
Tesla's entering India does not materially change this equation for a Sonet buyer today. EV adoption will grow, but India’s transition will be gradual, not abrupt.
Kia Sonet
Explore cars mentioned
More questions on similar cars
Popular discussions right now
Posted on: 14 May 2026
Need expert advice?
Ask the Autocar community and experts.
