A large number of cars will be launched this year, and it's no surprise that a huge chunk of it will be SUVs. From the Mahindra XUV3OO and Tata Harrier to MG Motor’s debut in India with the Hector – a lot of interesting SUVs in the sub Rs 40 lakh range will be launched this year. Here’s a list.
- Tata Harrier – January 2019
Expected Price: Rs 15 – 20 lakh
Tata is about to enter the premium SUV segment with the Harrier. Set to compete against the likes of the Mahindra XUV 5OO and the Jeep Compass, the Harrier is dapper and rich in terms of features. Based on the same platform as the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the Harrier will come with a Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre diesel mill – the same as the Jeep Compass. Tata will announce the pricing of the Harrier on 23rd January.
- Nissan Kicks: January 2019
Expected Price: Rs 10 – 15 lakh
With the Terrano now discontinued, Nissan is all set to go marginally premium with the Kicks. To be positioned marginally higher than the Terrano, the Kicks is considerably better equipped. The Kicks will be launched with two engine options – a 1.5-litre petrol and a diesel. Both the engine options will come mated to a manual transmission. No automatic will be offered at the time of launch. We have driven the Nissan Kicks too? Here's our take.
- Mahindra XUV3OO: February 2019
Expected Price: Rs 6 – 10 lakh
Subsequent to the official christening of Mahindra’s new compact SUV in December, the company is all set to launch it in February. As expected Mahindra calls it the XUV3OO, as it promises to have the virtues of its larger sibling in a smaller package. Just like the XUV5OO, this one too promises to be rich in terms of features and, at the same time, carry an affordable price tag. At the official press conference, Mahindra announced that the XUV will have best-in-class features and safety tech. While Mahindra hasn’t announced what engine the XUV3OO will come with, we expect it to be powered by the same motor as the Marazzo. The launch of the XUV3OO is likely to be in the second week of February. Want to know more about the XUV 3OO? Follow the link.
- Jeep Compass Trailhawk – Q1 2019
Expected Price: Rs 24 – 25 lakh
It has been a while since Jeep announced the launch of the Compass Trailhawk in India, but the wait is likely to come to an end soon. While so far, the SUV has only been on sale in the Petrol AT or Diesel MT, the Compass Trailhawk will be the first variant to come with a diesel-automatic combination. This new variant will also sport some cosmetic changes that make it a lot more capable off the road. We got a chance to sample the Jeep Compass Trailhawk in Australia, find how it drives.
- Hyundai Compact SUV – April 2019
Expected Price: Rs 6 – 11 lakh
Despite the buzz in the sub-4 metre SUV space, Hyundai has been missing from the action so far. That, however, is about to change, as the Korean carmaker will bring in their new compact SUV based on the Carlino concept they showcased at the Auto Expo 2016. Codenamed QXi, this compact SUV will sport Hyundai’s new Fluidic Design 2.0 design philosophy. Up front, it is expected to come with a Creta-like cascading grille and the Kona-like headlamps. While details of the engine are few and far, it is likely to get the same options as the Elite i20.
- Kia SP Concept – April 2019
Expected Price: Rs 10 – 16 lakh
Kia Motors is about to enter the Indian market in the hottest contested segment. The SP Concept will compete against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Renault Captur and Nissan Kicks. Expect the production version of the SP Concept to be rich in terms of quality. In terms of design too, the SP Concept has managed to get that SUV stance just right – especially thanks to that tall flat bonnet. The Tiger Nose grille and the sleek headlamps give it a sense of modernity. This Kia SUV is likely to be based on the same platform as the Hyundai Creta and may also be powered by the same engine options. Just like its sibling, the SP Concept too will come with manual and automatic transmission options.
- MG Hector – May 2019
Expected Price: Rs 16 – 21 lakh
MG Motor recently announced the name of its first product for India, and as expected it’s an SUV. The Hector is essentially a re-engineered version of the Baojun 530 that is sold in the Chinese market. That being said, the company has moulded it heavily for the Indian market. Although it will compete against the likes of the Jeep Compass and the Hyundai Tucson, it is larger than both its rivals. More details of the Hector are still not out but we do know that it will come with a vertically stacked infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, cruise control and more. Engine details are officially not out as yet, but we expect it to come with the same 2.0-litre turbo diesel as the Jeep Compass.
- Hyundai Tucson Facelift – June 2019
Expected Price: Rs 19– 26 lakh
There will be lots of action in the mid-sized SUV class this year, and Hyundai will not be left behind in it. The Korean carmaker will bring in a refreshed version of the Tucson with some styling tweaks and feature updates. Additional equipment may include adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera, bi-LED headlamps, larger infotainment system and more. Here’s a first look at the facelifted Hyundai Tucson.
- Renault Duster – Mid 2019
Expected Price: Rs 8.5 – 13 lakh
Renault took the wraps off the new Duster at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, and since then there have been numerous speculations about its launch in India. The updated Duster gets a lot of cosmetic changes but mechanically it will continue with the same powertrain options. The new Duster gets a bolder grille, larger wheel arches and a more hunkered down look. The updated interior promises to be better built and more feature rich than before. The petrol Duster will continue to be powered by a 1.6-litre mill, while the diesel will stay with the 1.5-litre option. Just like the current gen model, the new one too will go on sale in 2WD and 4WD trims. There will also be automatic and AMT options for petrol and diesel variants, respectively.
- Skoda Kodiaq RS – Late 2019
Expected Price: Rs 40 lakh
We love anything that wears a Skoda and RS badge. The Octavia RS is a classic example. But a Kodiaq with the RS suffix is sure to have a lot of takers in India. It promises to be fun to drive, powerful and yet extremely practical. More importantly, the Kodiaq sold here as of now just develops about 148 horses, which does feel a bit underwhelming for the task. That being said, the Kodiaq RS gets a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel that pumps out about 240bhp. With such specifications, sporty styling and a high dose of sensibility, we can’t wait to get our hands on the Kodiaq RS. Skoda sets a fast lap at the Nordschleife with the upcoming Kodiaq RS, the fastest seven-seater SUV in the world.
- Skoda Karoq – End 2019
Expected Price: Rs 20 – 30 lakh
The Skoda Yeti is one of the few discontinued cars that we still miss. While Skoda has already showcased and launched the Karoq in the global market, there is no official word from them about the launch in India as yet. Considering that it is one of the hottest selling segments and given the popularity of the Kodiaq, Skoda will surely bring in the Karoq to India. The Karoq looks like a scaled-down version of the Kodiaq. In the global market, the Karoq is on sale with four displacement options – 1.0-litre, 1.5-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre. The Karoq is expected to be offered with the 2.0-litre diesel engine, to begin with. Petrol may be introduced at a later date. Our Italian partners, Quattroroute got a chance to sample the Skoda Karoq, read all about their drive experience.
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