SUVs are a popular segment of cars in India, and their popularity is quite evident with the high demand in the market, despite sedans and hatchback retailers offering big discounts. The spacious interiors, generous ground clearance (potholed roads!) and the attractive designs have contributed to the large fan following of SUVs.
With 2016 around the corner, we will certainly see a surge of new launches in the SUV division. As we wait for the new entrants to hit the road, let’s take a look at 5 SUVs from top brands that have created quite a buzz in the market.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara
Maruti has been working towards an SUV concept for the past few years, and we even saw teasers of it in 2014. There are whispers that the company will roll out their SUV production in early 2016.
Maruti will be showcasing it at the Delhi Auto Expo in 2016, and by April, it will be available in the Indian markets. The Vitara is based upon the XA Alpha concept that was showcased during last year’s Auto Expo.
The car will be available in both diesel and petrol variants with the former boasting of a 1.3 litre Multi Jet Diesel Engine and the latter carrying a 1.4 litre VVT Petrol Engine. There are reports about the Vitara getting a 1.6 litre Diesel engine too. The starting price is expected to be around Rs. 10 Lakhs.
Mahindra S101 Micro SUV
You must watch out for the Micro SUV from Mahindra which will hit the roads next year. The car looks like a compact SUV, but is the size of a large hatchback – a design which earned it the title ‘Micro SUV’. It will be interesting to observe how it will go down with potential customers, especially since Mahindra wants buyers to veer off from the B-segment hatchbacks to their new model.
The estimated price of this Micro SUV is around Rs. 8 lakhs, but it hasn’t been confirmed. The SUV is expected to be out in the markets by early 2016.
Tata Nexon Compact SUV
In the first half of 2016, we will get to see the entry of the Nexon from Tata. The word on the street is that the company is banking heavily on the SUV’s design, which they hope will be a tempting factor for buyers. The company is offering both the petrol and diesel variants, and the SUV will be carrying AMT gearboxes.
Rumours abound that the Range Rover Evoque is the base for the Nexon’s design. We can only confirm this at the Delhi Auto Expo 2016. The estimated price of the vehicle is between Rs. 7-10 lakhs, and Tata hopes their SUV will be competing against the likes of Ford EcoSport and Fiat Avventura.
Honda BR-V
Honda’s BR-V will be sharing the platform with Brio. The company has borrowed design elements from the MPV Mobilio, so we can expect to see slight similarities here.
The BR-V will be on display during the Delhi Auto Expo 2016, and Honda expects to roll out the vehicle by mid-2016. There are two variants – one with a 1.5 litre iVTEC petrol engine and the other with a 1.5 litre iDTEC diesel motor. The engines are coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission, although there’s also a CVT automatic at hand.
Compact SUV from JEEP
Fiat Chrysler India (FCI) is the Jeep Brand’s entry into India. They will adopt that CBU (Complete Built Up) route, although, as per official plans, the company will start manufacturing in India soon.
There have been reports of Jeep unveiling a compact SUV next year. Jeep will supposedly showcase the Renegade during the Delhi Auto Expo 2016. Being a top-rated brand with a fresh entry to India, the compact SUV has already garnered a lot of anticipation.