It’s no secret that India is an SUV-crazy country. From the likes of sub-4m compact SUVs like Maruti Vitara Brezza to large models like Toyota Fortuner, most SUVs have been performing really well on the sales charts. However, there’s a handful of upcoming SUVs that will be launched in India in near future. There are good chances that these new SUVs would be the NEXT BIG THING in their respective segments. Here’s a good look at these upcoming SUVs in India.
Mahindra S201
Mahindra and Mahindra will launch at least two all-new vehicles this year. One of these will be a sub-4m compact SUV based on the Ssangyong Tivoli. The upcoming compact SUV will go on to rival the likes of Maruti Vitara Brezza and Tata Nexon. It will feature new-age styling, segment-leading power figures, and a long list of features (spy images have already revealed touchscreen infotainment, projector headlamps, LED DRLs, etc). The SUV will offer both petrol and diesel engines. The petrol unit will be a new-age 1.2-litre turbocharged motor with 125 bhp of max power. The diesel engine will be a new-age 1.5-litre unit whose power figures are yet to be revealed. Thanks to all of the above, the S201 is likely to give the Vitara Brezza a run for its money. If nothing else, it will surely come across as a much more attractive option than the NuvoSport and the utilitarian TUV300.
Mahindra S201 7-seater
Mahindra and Mahindra is said to be working even on a longer version of the S201 compact SUV. The longer S201 will offer as many as 7 seats, which will help it take on the likes of Hyundai Creta and Honda BR-V in terms of price and positioning. The motors will be shared with the sub-4m sibling, which means it will get a set of powerful turbocharged petrol and diesel units. A starting price of slightly less than 9 lakhs looks likely. This S201 could actually become the first-ever real rival of the Hyundai Creta. With 7 seats, an attractive price tag, really powerful engines and the trust SUV-buyers show in Mahindra and Mahindra products, the longer S201 is an upcoming game changer that will launch in near future.
Maruti Vitara
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has been the undisputed leader of the sub-4m compact SUV space for a long time now. However, the S-Cross hasn’t been very successful in eating into the sales of the Hyundai Creta. However, the Vitara SUV you see above might put an end to the Korean SUV’s unchallenged winning streak. The Vitara will be a thoroughly modern SUV that will offer 1.4-litre turbo and 1.6-litre diesel engines. While it won’t be as big as the Creta, it will offer many features. Also, trust Maruti to price its cars really competitively. All this could mean that the Creta might find it tough to enjoy segment-leading sales figures.
Kia SP
Kia attracted a lot of eyeballs at the Auto Expo 2018 with its SP Concept. The company has already revealed the SP Concept-based SUV will be pricier than the Creta. However, it will offer a more modern platform and more features to attract the compact SUV buying crowd. The upcoming SUV will be targeted at the younger lot. It will be underpinned by the same platform that will also be used for the next-gen Hyundai Creta in a few years from now. Being more modern than the Creta, this SUV might end up eating into the sales of its own cousin.
Jeep Compass Trailhawk
The Jeep Compass has been a huge hit. However, Jeep India will launch the Compass Trailhawk in the coming months to further enhance the appeal of its product. The Trailhawk will offer all the qualities of the regular Compass along with a higher ground clearance, optimized approach and departure angles, and a rear differential lock. Moreover, there are good chances it would offer an automatic transmission with the diesel engine. Hence, there are good chances that the Trailhawk would help FCA India attract even those buyers who have stayed far from the Compass owing to the lack of an automatic with a diesel engine.
MG India-spec SUV
MG India will start its Indian innings with an all-new India-spec SUV. MG Motor sells many successful cars abroad but its decision to bring an India-specific model will help it find maximum possible takers. While speculations have been rife that the MG ZS is India-bound, the company will most probably launch a ZS-based SUV that will be tailor-made to suit Indian conditions. This SUV will have powerful engines and a long list of features. Moreover, we can safely expect a world-class product that will be competitively priced due to local manufacturing. All this will help it give its rival a run for their money.
H5X
Tata has been busy prepping up the H5X-based production SUV for a market launch. The H5X will be a Jeep Compass rival that will be based on a modified version of the Land Rover Discovery Sport’s platform. It will share its diesel engine with the Compass. Also, it’s almost for sure that it would look as radical as its concept. The H5X-based production SUV will become the most premium SUV from the popular Indian SUV maker. Tata has been known for producing SUVs that suit the needs of an Indian buyer. Hence, its strong brand image will most likely help the H5X take all the limelight away from the Jeep Compass.
H7X
Much like the S201, even the H5X will have a seven-seat variant that will go on to rival the likes of Ford Endeavour. Codenamed as the H7X, it will share the platform and the diesel engine with the H5X. However, the diesel engine will be tuned to output slightly higher power. Tata Motors is known to price its cars ultra-competitively. Hence, we are pretty sure even the H7X would benefit from this trend. A 7-seater SUV that looks really hot, has modern engines and platform, and is priced lower than its rivals? It’s exactly what can change the game in the premium large SUV segment.
Honda CR-V
Honda will launch the fourth-generation (in India) CR-V, in the near future. The new-gen CR-V will offer both petrol and diesel engine options. It may be noted here that a lack of diesel engine options has kept most buyers away from spending on the current CR-V. However, the next-gen model might become a game changer by offering a world-class diesel unit.
Mahindra XUV700
Mahindra and Mahindra will launch a Ssangyong Rexton G4-based SUV in India by the end of this year. Expected to be called the XUV700, the upcoming model will become the new flagship in the company’s product portfolio. Hence, it will sit above the XUV500 and go on to rival the likes of Toyota Fortuner. The new-gen Ssangyong Rexton roots will help it take on the latest-gen Fortuner and Endeavour. Moreover, Mahindra is likely to price the product very well. This will help it put an end to the huge dominance that the Fortuner enjoys over everyone else in the large SUV segment.
[“Source-cartoq”]
