In the first half of 2023, we have witnessed several new car & SUV launches in our market. The next six months will be more exciting, as close to 10 new SUVs will be launched in the country. We bring you a list of top 10 new SUVs launching in our market before the end of this year –
Kia Seltos Facelift – July 4
The Korean automaker, Kia will launch the much-awaited new Seltos facelift in the country on July 4, 2023. The new SUV will receive significant design changes and an upgraded interior along with a new turbo petrol engine. It will come with advanced driver assistance system with features like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane assist, auto high beam and others. It will also receive a factory-fitted panoramic sunroof. The SUV will be offered with a new 160PS, 1.5L turbo petrol engine.
Hyundai Exter – July 10
Hyundai will enter into the fast growing micro SUV category with the Exter micro SUV. Scheduled to be launched on July 10, the new Hyundai Exter will directly rival the Tata Punch and the Citroen C3. It is based on Hyundai’s K1 platform that underpins the Grand i10 Nios. The new model will come with several segment first features including an electric sunroof. It will be powered by a 1.2L NA petrol engine with manual and an AMT unit. The small SUV will also be offered with a factory-fitted CNG kit.
Honda Elevate – Before Diwali
Honda will launch the Elevate mid-sized SUV in our market in July or Augusty 2023. Based on the 5th gen City platform, the Honda Elevate will challenge the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, VW Taigun, Skoda Kushaq and the MG Astor. The new model will be available for bookings at dealerships or online from July 2023. It will be powered by a tried & tested 1.5L NA petrol engine with manual and CVT gearbox. The new model will also come with ADAS tech similar to the City sedan.
Citroen C3 Aircross – Aug-Sept
Citroen will launch the C3 Aircross mid-sized SUV during festive season, before Diwali. Based on the CMP platform, the new C3 Aircross will be offered with 5 and 7-seat layouts. While its 5-seater version comes with a boot capacity of 444-litres, the 7-seater version offers a luggage area of 511-litres with the third row seats down. It will be powered by a 1.2L 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine that produces 110bhp and 190Nm. A six-speed manual gearbox driving the power to front wheels will come as standard.
Force Gurkha 5-door
The long wheelbase version of the Force Gurkha lifestyle SUV will go on sale in our market by the end of this year. The SUV will look identical to the 3-door model, but it will have a stretched rear profile. It is expected to be offered in multiple seating configurations. It will be powered by the same 90PS, 2.6-litre diesel engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Nissan X-Trail
Nissan is currently testing the X-Trail SUV on the Indian roads. It is expected to be launched by the end of this year. The fourth gen X-Trail is based on the Renault-Nissan’s CMF-C platform and will be brought in our market as low-volume CBU unit. It will be the first Nissan e-Power hybrid car in India. The 1.5L turbo petrol engine with e-Power strong hybrid tech is offered with the 2WD and AWD drivetrain options. With 2WD and 4WD setup, it returns a claimed power of 204PS with 300Nm and 213PS with 525Nm respectively.
Tata Punch EV
Tata Motors is reportedly planning to launch the electric version of the Punch micro SUV in our market by October 2023. The production of the small SUV is likely to commence in June 2023. The EV looks identical to the ICE version; however, it will get the rear disc brake. It will be based on the heavily modified ALFA modular platform. The small S
Tata Motors will launch the new Nexon facelift in our market by August-September 2023. The new model will receive design changes in-line with the Curvv SUV Coupe concept debuted at the 2023 Auto Expo. It will also receive a bigger touchscreen infotainment unit and a two-spoke steering wheel. The new SUV will come with a new 1.2L 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine that produces 125PS and 225Nm of torque.
New Tata Harrier/Safari
Tata Motors will launch the new Harrier & Safari before the end of this financial year. If reports are to be believed, the new Harrier could be launched by October or November 2023. Both SUVs will receive significant design changes & upgraded interior along a new turbo petrol engine. The styling of the new SUVs will be inspired from the Harrier EV concept that debuted at the 2023 Auto Expo. The new SUVs will be powered by a 1.5L direct injection turbo petrol engine that produces 170bhp and 280Nm of torque. The diesel version will get the 2.0-litre turbo engine that is good enough for 170bhp and 350Nm of torque.
