Indian compact SUV market is booming like a big bang. Almost all the cars that have been launched in the segment have become decent sellers in the market. The biggest car manufacturer of India, Maruti jumped in the segment with the Vitara Brezza, which has become the best-seller. There are still few manufacturers who are yet to enter the sub 4-metre SUV segment. Here is a list of 5 manufacturers who will launch their products to counter the Vitara Brezza soon.
Hyundai i20 SUV
Launch: Late 2017
Hyundai has gained some major numbers with the Creta. The company is also bringing in Tucson to bridge the gap between Creta and Santa Fe. Now to make the base stronger, the company is working on i20 platform based SUV.
This will be a sub 4-metre SUV from Hyundai and would not be the production version of Carlino that Hyundai showcased during the Auto Expo. The car is designed according to Hyundai’s Fluidic 2.0 theme. It will have similar interiors like the Elite or Active i20.
The SUV will be powered by a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine and a 1.4-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine. We may also get the more powerful 1.6-litre diesel engine that also powers the Creta. There will be option of manual and automatic transmission to choose from.
Volkswagen Polo SUV
Launch: 2018
Volkswagen has been planning to launch their first SUV in India since a long time. Even though their plan was to enter the SUV segment of India with their premium SUV called Tiguan, the company is now developing an SUV based on the Polo’s next generation platform, called A0.
The new car will have a wheelbase of around 2,560mm which will translate into an overall length of below 4-metres. The stylish of the new SUV will be inspired by the Polo . Volkswagen will put the similar engine of the next-generation Polo to power the upcoming SUV. The car is expected to come in 2018. The car has been already caught testing in the international market.
Datsun Go-Cross
Launch: Mid 2017
Datsun Go already has two new models based on it in form of Datsun Go+ and Datsun Redi-Go. Now the low-cost manufacturer is planning to bring a crossover model based on the same car. The Go-Cross will be under 4-metres but it is not confirmed if it will come in 7-seat configuration like the Go+.
The Go-Cross Concept has similar design to the Go hatchback. New additions done to the car are skid plate in front and rear, plastic cladding all around the car and LED headlamp and fog lamp. The car will be powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine that is also available with the Go hatchback. The 1.5-litre diesel engine will be borrowed with Nissan Micra.
Jeep mini Renegade
Launch: 2018
Jeep is working on an all-new car codenamed 556. The SUV will be built on the Fiat 500X platform that also forms the base of the Renegade. Design-wise, the car will look similar to the Jeep Renegade.
The car will be made in India at Fiat’s Ranjangaon plant and will be heavily localized. The heavy amount of local sourcing will make the new Jeep much cheaper. Jeep plans to sell to sell around 40,000 to 50,000 units of the car around the world. There are no details available on the engine as of now.
Tata Nexon
Launch: Early 2017
The Nexon is being prepared by Tata to take on the Brezza and EcoSport. The car has been caught testing in India multiple times. The compact SUV will have a huge ground clearance of 200mm and will come with 16-inch alloy wheels. Higher end models will also get projector headlamps with Daytime Running Lamps and LED tail lamps.
The Nexon will be powered by 1.5-litre diesel engine that makes 108 BHP and 260 NM. The petrol engine can be the 1.2-litre petrol turbocharged engine that is used with the Tiago.