The Indian automobile industry will witness launch of the two premium SUVs in March 2021.While PSA Group will begin its India innings with the Citroen C5 Aircross, Skoda will bring in its Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos’ rival – Kushaq. The locally-assembled new Jeep Wrangler has also been slated to arrive next month. Here’s a brief on the three new upcoming SUVs.
1. New Jeep Wrangler
Jeep India has confirmed that it will introduce the new Wrangler on 15th March 2021. The new model will be locally assembled via CKD (Completely Knocked Down) unit at the company’s Ranjangaon plant near Pune. Compared to the existing model that costs Rs 68.94 lakh, the new one will be more affordable. The off-road SUV will receive a newly designed dashboard, an UConnect 4C NAV 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity and navigation and a new 4WD auto mode. Powering the vehicle will be a 268bhp, 2.0L turbo petrol engine paired to a new 8-speed automatic gearbox.
2. Skoda Kushaq
The production-ready Skoda Kushaq mid-size SUV will make its debut on 18th March 2021. Its prices, however, are likely to be announced a few weeks after its official unveiling. The Kushaq will be designed on the India-specific MQB A0 IN platform that will also underpin the upcoming Volkswagen Taigun. The SUV will be offered with 1.0L, 3-cylinder TSI petrol and 1.5L, 4-cylinder TSI petrol engines making power worth 110bhp and 150bhp respectively. The SUV lineup will come in a choice of three transmissions – 6-speed manual, 6-speed torque converter automatic and a 7-speed DSG automatic. The new Skoda Kushaq will have the longest wheelbase in the segment that translates into bigger cabin space.
3. Citroen C5 Aircross
Citroen C5 Aircross will be the first offering from the French carmaker in the country. Ahead of its official price announcement, the model has already started reaching at dealerships. Initially, it will be sold in 10 select cities via Citroen’s La Maison dealerships. The SUV model lineup will be offered in two variants – Feel and Shine, which are expected to be priced from Rs 30 lakh onwards. Under the hood, the new Citroen SUV will feature a 2.0L diesel engine delivering 177bhp and 400Nm. Its mileage figure stands at 18.6kmpl. For performing transmission duties, the C5 Aircross will have an 8-speed automatic gearbox. It will come in 4 montone and 3 dual-tone colour options.
