It is sporadic to see Skoda India introduce new products in quick succession. In the last week of September 2019, it launched Corporate Editions of the Superb and the Kodiaq, followed by the Kodiaq Scout. Now, the Czech carmaker has rolled out the Octavia Onyx and slapped a limited-edition tag on it (not literally!). To conceive it, the company took the standard Style trim and garnished it with some sporty elements inside and out — more on that in a bit. But first, the prices. Choose the petrol-AT combo, and the sticker price would be Rs 20 lakh. Diesel-AT fans would have to shell out Rs 22 lakh before taxes (both prices are ex-showroom India).

Interestingly, the Onyx versions cost less than their corresponding Style trims. The petrol-powered Onyx is Rs 60,000 less, whereas the diesel-fed one is Rs 1 lakh cheaper. You must note that the prices are introductory. In other words, they are likely to go up as soon as the festive period loses steam.

So, what does the Onyx adds in Style? In short, several black elements. On the outside, the sedan gets gloss-black 16-inch alloy wheels, equally black and shiny ORVM caps and a boot-mounted spoiler, and black decals on the side. Indoors, an all-black theme replaces the standard beige-and-black affair. The seats hide behind black leather upholstery, and there’s also a flat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel, draped in perforated leather. Finally, the colour options. Skoda is offering a total of three – red, blue and white. The rest of the package remains identical to the Style trim.

Unsurprisingly, there are no mechanical changes to report. The 1.8-litre petrol puts out 177hp/250Nm, whereas the 2.0-litre TDI produces 141hp/320Nm. Both engines come coupled to DSG units, but where the petrol gets seven forward speeds, the diesel makes do with six. With the petrol engine, the Octavia can hit 100kmph from nothing 7.7 seconds and top out at 233kmph. Those figures, in the same order, for the diesel are 9.2 seconds and 213kmph, respectively.

So, we arrive at the question in the headline. Is the Octavia Onyx worth it? If you have set your heart on a sporty-ish sedan over a Sports Utility Vehicle, then yes. Part of it is down to the limited-edition nature, and the rest of the recommendation comes from the Skoda ‘Shield Plus’ which ropes in a warranty of six years along with roadside assistance. If you still have doubts, there are options to consider including the Honda Civic and the recently launched Hyundai Elantra facelift.