India saw a substantial rise in the number of new car launches this year. A total of 108 passenger vehicles have been introduced nationwide by various automakers in the mass-market and luxury divisions. These vehicles include a variety of models and variants that are based on distinct configurations. Luxury automobile manufacturers also debuted an array of passenger vehicles in the nation during the ongoing year, while mass-market car manufacturers unveiled a broad selection of electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) powered cars. SUV arrivals increased in tandem with the country's rapidly expanding customer demands. In 2023, 15 luxury SUVs—six of which were fully electric—were rolled out in our home market. We have compiled a list of high-end SUVs, available in ICE and EV versions, that various brands have launched in India in 2023.
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BMW 7 Series
BMW launched the new-generation version of its flagship sedan, the 7 Series, at Rs 1.70 crore (ex-showroom) in January this year. Along with this, the luxury carmaker also launched the electric i7 for an ex-showroom price of Rs 1.95 crore. The 7 Series recently won ICOTY's 2024 Premium Car of the Year Award. Mechanically, the 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine of the premium limousine generates 520Nm of maximum torque and 375bhp of peak power. It goes from 0 to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. On top of that, a top speed of 250km/h is boasted by the 7 Series.
A 14.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster running the iDrive 8 software, a control panel containing a gear selector, a conventional rotary iDrive controller, and various touch-sensitive controls located between the front seats are a part of the feature set. The design elements of the model comprise split LED headlights, a massive kidney grille, flat door handles with an integrated touchpad, standard 19-inch wheels, and horizontal LED taillights.
Audi Q8 e-tron
The model will be available in both the Standard SUV and Sportback Coupe versions in our native market. The SUV version of the new model starts at Rs 1.14 crore, while the Sportback variant costs Rs 1.18 crore. Both prices are ex-showroom. The new Q8 e-tron comes in two models: the 50 and the 55. The 50 variant has a stated range of 505-kilometre for the Sportback version and 491-kilometre for the SUV, thanks to a 95kWh battery and two engines that provide 340bhp and 664Nm. With a larger 114kWh battery, the more powerful 55 model offers a range of 600-kilometre for the Sportback and 582-kilometre for the SUV. Peak torque of 664Nm and a maximum power of 408bhp are produced by the top-spec 55. With 170kW of DC fast charging, the batteries can be charged from 10% to 80% in 31 minutes. In addition, a 22kW AC charger is installed in the vehicle, allowing the battery to be fully charged in just six hours.
The vehicle's cabin contains a 10.1-inch infotainment system and an 8.6-inch HVAC control device. Four-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, an Audi smartphone interface, Audi virtual cockpit plus, 30-colour ambient lighting, an Audi phone box, a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, a panoramic sunroof, USB charging port, scuff plates with aluminum inserts, and other interior features are among the highlights.
Mercedes-Benz EQE
The EQE is the third electric vehicle from the house of Mercedes-Benz in India. There is only one top-of-the-line 500 4Matic trim available for the all-electric vehicle in the country, priced at Rs 1.39 crore (ex-showroom). Its design is influenced by that of the popular EQS, the company's flagship electric SUV. The dual motor, all-wheel drive configuration, and off-road package are standard on the Mercedes EQE SUV. It is equipped with a 90.56kWh battery that can support up to 170kW of DC fast charging. The maximum power and torque output of the model stands at 402bhp and 858Nm. It further has a claimed WLTP range of 550-kilometre. The SUV boasts a top speed of 210km/h and a stated 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.9 seconds.
The brand-new offering from Mercedes-Benz shares many similarities with its sedan counterpart as well as taking style influences from it. An LED light strip connects the digital LED headlights, and small three-pointed stars are incorporated into the black panel that serves as the grille's replacement. The EQE has 20-inch alloy wheels with aerodynamic design optimisation and a full-width LED taillight.
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Volvo C40 Recharge
The Volvo C40 Recharge arrived on the market with an introductory price of Rs 61.25 lakh (ex-showroom). At its heart, the 5-seater electric SUV coupe has a 78kWh battery that gives it a stated WLTP extended range of around 530-kilometre. Its all-wheel drive (AWD) dual electric motor configuration produces 402bhp and 660Nm and allows acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. Additionally, the brand-new EV has a top speed of 180km/h and claims fast charging from 10 to 80% in around 27 minutes using a 150kW fast charger.
The C40 Recharge and the XC40 Recharge have a nearly identical frontal appearance. The most noticeable difference is the tapering roofline on the side and back. The roofline of the new C40 Recharge flows downwards after the C-pillar and melds in well with the boot lid, which has a built-in spoiler. A closed-off grille, vertically positioned LED taillights, and Volvo's recognisable Thor's Hammer LED daytime running lights are some of the other exterior features of the new C40 Recharge.
Lexus RX
The RX350h Luxury variant of the RX SUV from Lexus went on sale in India in April. The model is available in two trim levels, with prices starting at Rs 95.80 lakh for the RX 350h-Panasonic version and Rs 1.18 crore for the RX 500h-Panasonic version. Both prices are ex-showroom. The latter is the variant with a more powerful performance. There are two different powertrain options available for the RX. The RX 350h Luxury has a 2.5-litre gasoline engine coupled to a CVT and produces 250bhp of maximum power and 242Nm of peak torque when combined with the electric motor. It comes with an all-wheel drive system as standard, with a top speed of 200km/h and a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.9 seconds.
Meanwhile, the 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine in the RX500h F-Sport+ is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Together with the e-motor, it churns out 371bhp and 460Nm of maximum torque. The RX500h has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 210km/h with all-wheel drive as standard.
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