These 7 Upcoming SUVs From Tata, Maruti Will Challenge Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos In India: USPs, Launch Date, Price

After the downfall in the interest of small cars and sedans, SUVs have increasingly gained popularity. The subcompact SUV space in the Indian context has already been a bit crowdy and it is the mid-size SUV segment that’s going to witness multiple launches in coming months.

The market which is dominated by Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, is vied by major car players like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Toyota, Skoda and Volkswagen etc.

These are some of the cars which shall try to move the cheese of Creta and Seltos.

New Maruti SUV

By the end of 2023, with once a new launch half yearly, Maruti intends to launch 5 new SUVs. It plans to launch :-

• A mini SUV
• New generation Vitara Brezza 
• A Baleno based crossover
• A mid-size SUV
• A 7-seater SUV

             Under the partnership of Suzuki-Toyota at Toyota’s Bidadi based plant. Likely to come with Suzuki’s 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol and 1.2L turbo or 1.4L turbo petrol engines and be based on Toyota’s DNGA platform.

Tata Blackbird

Codenamed Tata Blackbird and all set to rival Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, model is likely to be offered with the Nexon’s 1.2L turbo petrol and 1.5L diesel engine options. As the carmaker plans to go electric, the automaker may introduce an electric powertrain. Earlier rumoured to be based on the Chery Tiggo 5X SUV, a car sold in Chinese market, now yet to be see the timeline and product details.

Mahindra XUV400

Likely to share its platform with the XUV300 subcompact SUV, this model shall be around 4.4 meters in length and be launched with 5-seats and 7-seats configurations.

It could be a new G15 1.5L turbo petrol and a 1.5L turbo diesel engine delivering power close to 163bhp and 120bhp respectively which might see the light of the day in late 2022 or early 2023.

MG Astor

Petrol iteration of the ZS electric SUV shall be launched in a few months. It will be offered with 2 petrol engines :-

• 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol which will make 120bhp with 150Nm
• 1.3L turbo petrol producing 163bhp with 230Nm.

Including Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), it is reported to be packed with some segment-first features

Skoda Kushaq

On 18^th March 2021, Kushaq SUV will be unveiled by Skoda Auto. A set of both, exterior as well as interior sketches have been released by the carmaker. 

It shall be plonked with a 110bhp, 1.0L turbo petrol and 150bhp, 1.5L turbo petrol engines. It shall come with three gearbox options – 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic and 7-speed DSG automatic. As compared to Creta and Seltos, it will be longer and more spacious. 

Volkswagen Taigun

Marking Volkswagen’s entry into the mid-size SUV segment, Taigun which will be designed on the brand’s India 2.0 Project and underpin MQB A0 IN platform shall be launched in the second half of 2021. Plonked with a 1.0L turbo petrol and 1.5L turbo petrol engines it shall deliver power around 120bhp and 147bhp. It shall have three gearbox options – 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic and 7-speed DSG automatic. Safety and strength is the USP of this model according to the automaker.

New Toyota SUV

Underpinning the Toyota’s DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) modular platform, which combines high-tensile steel with resin outer panels making the vehicle lighter eventually increasing its fuel efficiency and drivability. It will come with 1.5L petrol and 1.5L turbo petrol engine options.

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