Upcoming 7-seater SUVs in India: Kia EV9, New Toyota Fortuner and More

The 7-seater SUVs are a widely popular choice among big Indian families. These vehicles are chosen over their competitors, such as micro or medium-sized SUVs, due to their superior comfort, improved functionality, and enormous space. With high demand in this market, various automakers are working hard to introduce more cars that are in sync with current patterns and cutting-edge technologies. If you're looking for a well-equipped seven-seater SUV, we've got you covered with some of the upcoming models on the market. Let's look at the features, technical specifications, and other information on multiple seven-seater models that will be available in India shortly.

Kia EV9

Although a formal statement is yet to be made, several rumours indicate that Kia may launch the EV9 in India later this year. It intends to put out numerous cars on the market as a part of its Kia 2.0 strategy, and the EV9 is one of them. In the Kia India portfolio, the new SUV will be billed as the biggest and highest-priced vehicle. 

According to the most recent spy photos of the EV9, the car features a slim front face with integrated LED daytime running lights, vertical LED headlights, and a distinctive blanked-off grille. From the side, the vehicle boasts huge body cladding, polygonal wheel arches, 21-inch alloy wheels, and more. The car's rear appears to have been meticulously created, with flush-fitting door handles and slender LED taillamps.

Inside, the dashboard will be dominated by a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, a similar-sized digital instrument cluster, as well as, a third 5.0-inch screen. Other features will probably include a big sunroof, a 4-spoke steering wheel, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, regenerative braking with paddle shifters, USB charging ports, and a 14-speaker Meridian sound system. As Kia will adopt the completely built-up unit (CBU) route for bringing the EV9 to our shores, you can expect the model to be expensive, costing roughly Rs 1 crore (ex-showroom).

New Toyota Fortuner

The new-generation Toyota Fortuner is predicted to make its Indian debut by the end of this year, with prices and deliveries beginning in 2025. At this point, there are no specific details, but Toyota's cutting-edge TNGA-F platform is believed to bolster the new Fortuner. According to market reports, the car's exterior is going to get significant alterations, resulting in a more bold and muscular look. The new SUV is speculated to come with a range of features, including electric power steering, larger infotainment, electronic vehicle stability control, and an ADAS suite. 

The current Toyota Fortuner competes with the Skoda Kodiaq, the Jeep Meridian, the MG Gloster, and others in India. This rivalry will continue with the arrival of the new Fortuner.

New-gen Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda unveiled the redesigned Kodiaq for the global market last year. Although there isn't any official confirmation, the updated version is expected to make its way to India later in the year. Globally, the upgraded model comes equipped with new matrix LED headlamps with crystalline effect DRLs, 17- to 20-inch alloy wheels, and connected-type LED taillamps. Furthermore, the SUV gets nine paint options, including the new Bronx Gold Metallic. In addition to other features, it has a two-spoke steering wheel, climate control, a 13.0-inch infotainment system, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and wireless charging.

Internationally, the model's powertrain options include a 1.5-litre petrol with mild hybrid technology (148bhp), a 2.0-litre TDI diesel motor (148bhp with FWD and 190bhp with AWD), and a 2.0-litre TSI unit (201bhp) with AWD. For transmission, all of these motors get a 7-speed DSG gearbox as standard. Several safety features, including electronic stability control, hill hold aid, up to nine airbags, and ABS with EBD, are included in the global-spec vehicle. It remains to be seen if the India-spec variant will come equipped with all of these capabilities. However, given the extensive improvements, the new Kodiaq will probably carry a hefty price tag for our market. 

MG Gloster Facelift 

A mid-life refresh for the MG Gloster SUV is underway for the Indian market. Several industry reports indicate that the updated SUV will arrive on our shores shortly with a higher price tag than the present version, which retails for Rs 38.8 lakh (ex-showroom). According to the recent spy photos of the MG Gloster, the updated SUV's external features include a larger grille, a reworked front bumper, and vertically stacked LED headlamps. 

Inside, the SUV is expected to sport a new paint job and design. Aside from that, the MG vehicle will likely maintain its current amenities, including a digital instrument cluster, wireless smartphone connectivity, a large touchscreen infotainment system, heated and cooled front seats, a Level 2 ADAS package, a 360-degree surround camera, and more. Mechanically, the Gloster will continue to be available with the same 2.0-litre diesel and 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine options.