A few years ago, Indian consumers barely purchased or considered buying a utility vehicle as compared to the popularity of other car models. However, over the past few years, the SUV market in India has witnessed rapid growth. Between 2018 and 2019, Indians bought 21% more SUVs than in the previous year.
Many reasons contribute to the greater number of SUV cars in India. For instance, these vehicles are capable of navigating even some of the most challenging terrains. Moreover, they are considered safer than hatchbacks and sedans. Lastly, SUVs are the go-to vehicle for owners residing in flood-prone regions of India.
Made up your mind to buy an SUV, have you?
Then here are some of the best upcoming options for you in the Indian market.
1. Honda WR-V 2020
The facelifted Honda WR-V has started reaching dealerships ahead of its launch. It will be offered in two trim levels - SV and VX and will feature BS6 diesel and petrol engine options.
- Estimated Price - The car price starts from Rs. 8 lakhs and the top-spec model is likely to cost Rs 13.5 lakh (on-road) as per dealership sources.
- Mileage and Engine Cubic Capacity - The 1.2-litre unit continues to produce 90PS/110Nm, while the 1.5-litre diesel unit delivers 100PS and 200Nm. While the petrol engine will be offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox
- Diesel or Petrol - 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines, although in BS6 tune.
- Features - It gets LED projector headlamps, LED fog lamps, and LED elements in the tail lamps. Inside, it is seen sporting a touchscreen infotainment system (likely with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), climate control, and a sunroof. Safety features include ABS with EBD, dual front airbags, and a reverse parking camera.
- Estimated Launch- 12 July 2020
2. Jaguar I-Pace
The facelifted Honda WR-V has started reaching dealerships ahead of its launch. It will be offered in two trim levels - SV and VX and will feature BS6 diesel and petrol engine options.
- Estimated Price - The model is likely to cost Rs 58 lakh (on-road) as per dealership sources.
- Mileage and Engine Cubic Capacity - It is available with the automatic transmission having a maximum power of 400bhp with a max torque of 695 Nm.
- Diesel or Petrol - It is an electric car.
- Features - It contains LED headlights, sport seats, Touch Pro® Duo interactive driver display and Meridian sound system, Park Assist, 360-degree parking aid, rear traffic monitor, Navigation Pro, stolen vehicle locator, and remote start.
- Estimated Launch- 15 July 2020
3. Mercedes-Benz GLA 2020
Mercedes-Benz has revealed the 2020 GLA-Class compact luxury SUV in India at Auto Expo 2020. The new GLA gets a taller and wider stance than its predecessor.
- Estimated Price - Mercedes-Benz GLA 2020 is going to launch in India with an estimated price of Rs. 33.50 lakh.
- Mileage and Engine Cubic Capacity - The base-spec GLA 200 comes with a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine capable of producing 163PS and 250Nm of torque mated to a 7-speed DCT. The range-topping GLA 35 4MATIC AMG uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine pushing out 306PS and 400Nm. This engine comes mated to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT 8-speed DCT.
- Diesel or Petrol- GLA’s entry-level variant uses a 1.3-litre petrol engine while the range-topping petrol is 2.0-liter turbo petrol.
- Features - Some of the standout safety features are the advanced driver assistance package, blind spot assist, traffic sign assist, and brake assist. Other features include off-road engineering packages as standard (4MATIC variants), MULTIBEAM LED headlamps, and dynamic select driving modes.
- Estimated Launch- 15 July 2020
Also, Mercedes-Benz India hints at Mercedes-Benz EQC launch, says ‘just weeks away
4. Jeep Compass 2020
The 2021 Compass will get all-new front and rear bumpers, re-profiled headlamps and a new grille that will still sport Jeep’s traditional seven-slat design. The grille will also sport honeycomb-like inserts.
- Estimated Price - The Jeep Compass 2020 is going to launch in India with an estimated price of Rs. 22 lakh.
- Mileage and Engine Cubic Capacity - The all-new Jeep compass is expected to have the same 163hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol, and the 173hp, 2.0-litre diesel engines will continue to soldier on in the updated SUV. Both get a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard though the turbo-petrol gets a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic option, while the diesel mill is also available with a 9-speed torque converter unit.
- Diesel or Petrol- Available in both diesel and petrol variants.
- Features - Compass facelift will come equipped with the new, upgraded infotainment system, dubbed the UConnect 5. This new system comes bundled with integrated Amazon Alexa support and wireless AppleCarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and it can also receive over-the-air updates. While there is no official confirmation about the screen size for the updated Compass, sources tell us that it may come with the 12.3-inch setup.
- Estimated Launch- Onset of 2021
5. MG Hector Plus
MG Motor India has recently revealed that the Hector Plus will be launching its new SUV in July 2020. The MG Hector Plus was showcased at the Auto Expo 2020 as a six-and seven-seater. It comes with captain seats for the middle row occupants. It’s also the first Hector in India to come with a third row of seats
- Estimated Price -The MG Hector Plus can start from Rs 16 lakh, with diesel price at Rs 18 lakh, previous showroom.
- Mileage and Engine Cubic Capacity - Powering the Hector Plus will likely be the same BS6-compliant petrol and diesel engines. These include the 170hp/350Nm, 2.0-litre diesel engine, 143hp/250Nm, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol motor, and 1.5-litre petrol unit with a 48V mild-hybrid system
- Diesel or Petrol- The MG Hector Plus comes with three engine options: a 170PS 2.0-liter diesel, a 143PS 1.5-liter petrol, and a 143PS 1.5-litre mild-hybrid.
- Features - It still features a number of design tweaks that include thicker DRLs, the full black grille, modified front bumper design, new headlight design, and set of fog lamps, retreaded headlights, new rear bumper, and new dual exhaust design along with updated software for the 10.4-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system with an eSIM for connected car technology, 360-degree camera, up to six airbags, powered front seats, and a powered tailgate.
- Estimated Launch- July 2020.
6. Force Gurkha 2020
Force Motors unveiled the BS6 Gurkha SUV at Auto Expo 2020
- Estimated Price -The Force Gurkha is estimated to start from Rs 10.00 lakh.
- Mileage and Engine Cubic Capacity - Powering the Force Gurkha will be a 2.6-litre engine with a BS6 update. It is rated at 90PS of power and 280Nm of torque and can be paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
- Diesel or Petrol- Available in both diesel and petrol variants.
- Features - The BS6 Gurkha is equipped with driver and passenger airbags, ABS, and rear parking sensors. New bumpers, a revised grille, and headlamps with halo LED DRLs spruce up the old-school aesthetic. At the rear, the Gurkha gets revised taillamps and a redesigned bumper.
- Estimated Launch- July 2020.
7. Maruti S-Cross 2020
Maruti Suzuki S-Cross is the manufacturer's most exclusive car and was the first car to be sold in an exclusive series of dealerships under the "Nexa" brand.
- Estimated Price -The 2020 Maruti Suzuki S-Cross is offered across four variants and is priced between Rs. 8.8 lakhs to Rs. 11.43 lacs.
- Mileage and Engine Cubic Capacity -The new 2020 S-Cross come powered by a 1.5-liter K15B petrol engine with SHVS mild-hybrid technology.
- Diesel or Petrol- Available only as a diesel.
- Features - The S-Cross is equipped with Rear parking camera, keyless entry, and push-button,
tilt-adjustable steering wheel start, rear wash and wipe with defogger tu
indicators on mirrors and fog lamps and cruise control along with several other features.
- Estimated Launch- August 2020.
8. TATA Gravitas 2020
Tata Motors officially announced the launch of highly-anticipated Tata Gravitas SUV. Unveiled at the 2020 Auto Expo, the Gravitas is based on the Harrier SUV. The company had showcased the 6-seater version of the SUV at the biennial event. At the time of the launch, the SUV will be offered in both 6- and 7-seat options. It will be the brand’s second car to be based on the OMEGA ARC platform, which is derived from Land Rover’s D8 architecture.
- Estimated Price -The price of Tata Gravitas in India in the range of Rs 14.5 lakh to Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom).
- Mileage and Engine Cubic Capacity - It is expected that the Gravitas diesel will also offer a fuel efficiency of 17kmpl like Harrier. The premium SUV will be powered by a BS6-compliant 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder diesel engine. This engine is capable of producing 170bhp of power and 350Nm of torque
- Diesel or Petrol- Available in both diesel and petrol variants.
- Features -The cabin of the Gravitas is similar to that of the Harrier SUV. The dashboard design is similar to its 5-seater sibling. It gets an 8.8-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, panoramic sunroof, electric adjustable driver’s seat, keyless entry, and push-button start and cruise control. The SUV also gets auto hold and electronic handbrake, and auto-dimming IRVMs.
- Estimated Launch- Before Diwali 2020.
