As per current market trends, the SUV segment of the Indian automotive industry is clearly the fastest growing marketplace. Customers are showing an apparent interest in SUV cars in India, owing to their butch road presence, go-anywhere capabilities and higher ground clearance. Owing to this rise in customer response, various automakers have jumped into the segment to have a share of the expanding market potential.
The SUV segment currently stretches from micro SUVs like the Maruti Ignis and the Mahindra KUV100, to the Tata Hexa, stretching up to the recently launched Lexus RX 450h luxury hybrid.
Owing to this far stretched arrangement of the SUV market in India, it becomes a tad bit difficult to keep track of all upcoming SUV cars in India. But as always, CarsIndia is dedicated to help the readers in every segment of the market. Hence, we have compiled a list of all SUVs that will be launched in India in the coming months. And this list is thoroughly updated. Consider this to be our 2017 edition list of the upcoming SUVs in the Indian market.
1. Tata Nexon
The Nexon will be Tata’s third new car launch this year. Built on the new IMPACT design philosophy, the Nexon will mark Tata’s entry into the competitive compact SUV segment. It will get a smiling grille at the front, surrounded by large headlamp housings with projector illumination. The front and rear bumpers get faux skid plates to add some off-roading character to the Nexon’s looks. The side profile reveals new diamond cut alloys and a floating roof.
Powering the Tata Nexon will be a new 1.5-litre diesel engine and a turbocharged version of the Tiago’s 1.2-litre petrol unit. Transmission duties will be handled by either a 6-speed manual gearbox or an AMT unit. There won’t be any all wheel drive variant on offer, as the Nexon will only come with front wheel drive setup.
Launch Date: Around Diwali 2017
Expected Price: Rs. 6.5-9 lakh
2. Jeep Compass
When the Jeep brand was officially launched in India last year, most market experts considered it to be a dead launch. This perception was widely a result of the exorbitant price tags at which the company launched its first two SUVs – the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee. While both these models indeed turned out to be a failure with no major sales recorded in the past months, Jeep India appears to have a trick up their sleeve to make a mark in the Indian SUV market.
The company’s upcoming SUV in India is expected to be slotted against the likes of the Hyundai Tucson. Called the Compass, it will become the most affordable Jeep in the country. The Compass will be manufactured in India and thus is expected to be priced competitively. Hence, Jeep is expecting it to become a game-changer for the luxury SUV brand in India.
This upcoming SUV is expected to be available with a 2.0-litre diesel engine that will be sourced from Fiat and will develop around 170 BHP of power. It will come with a 9-speed automatic transmission and will also get all wheel drive system with terrain response on the top-end models.
Launch Date: Around August 2017
Expected Price: Rs. 18-25 lakh
3. Ford EcoSport facelift
While the three models listed above will be all-new introductions in the market, there are also some models that will be getting their mid-life facelifts. One such model is the highly popular Ford EcoSport, a brand that has been responsible for starting the extremely competitive compact SUV segment in India.
The EcoSport facelift will get some mid-life cosmetic and feature-related updates, while the engine options and other mechanical components won’t be fiddled with. The EcoSport 2017 will get a new front fascia, with a wider, chrome lined grille, new headlamps with projectors and revised front and rear bumpers. Ford might also offer a new set of alloys on the top end models. The interior layout is expected to be comprehensively revised, as the new EcoSport in India will get an updated dashboard that will have space for the touchscreen in the center console, a new steering wheel, and updated upholstery.
Powertrain options on the upcoming, India-bound EcoSport facelift are expected to remain unchanged. As a result, it will continue to be offered with three engine options: 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol, 1.5-litre diesel and 1.5-litre petrol.
Launch Date: November 2017
Expected Price: Rs. 7-10 lakh
4. Renault Kaptur
Renault will be launching the Kaptur SUV crossover in India by the end of this year. It will be based on the same platform that underpins the Duster. However, while the Duster gets boxy styling, the Kaptur will employ some contemporary and smoother design cues. It is expected to be placed a segment higher than the Duster and will thus compete against the likes of the Mahindra XUV 500 and the Tata Hexa.
Powering the Renault Kaptur in India will be the same engine options that are found under the hood of the duster. These include a 1.6-litre K9K petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. Additionally, the India-spec Kaptur might also get a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol unit, which will be available with an automatic transmission and will be offered only on the top-end variant.
Launch Date: End 2017
Expected Price: Rs. 14-18 lakh
5. Maruti Vitara Brezza Petrol
Maruti Suzuki has already taken the compact SUV segment by storm with the Vitara Brezza. However, the automaker appears to be hunting for more sales. As a result, the company will soon launch a petrol version of the Brezza in India. This upcoming SUV in India is expected to further expand the Vitara Brezza’s desirability in the Indian market.
The Vitara Brezza was launched in India early last year. It was introduced only with a diesel engine options, which is a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel unit that churns out 88 BHP and 200 Nm of torque, while being mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. However, in the last one year, the Indian market adopted to new favourites – petrol engines and automatic transmissions.
As a result, Maruti will soon add a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo petrol engine in the Vitara Brezza petrol. This will be the same engine that was introduced in the Baleno RS. It is expected to churn out 100.5 BHP and 150 Nm of torque. Initially, a 5-speed manual will be the only transmission option on offer. However, a CVT gearbox might be added to the range sometime later next year.
Launch Date:- September-October 2017
Expected Price Range:- Rs. 7.2 lakh to Rs. 10.15 lakh
- Tata Nexon
- Jeep Compass
- Ford EcoSport facelift
- Renault Kaptur
- Maruti Vitara Brezza Petrol
Summary
The above ratings have been given to individual models after taking into accounts factors like expected price, specifications, features and probable market impact.