Kia, Honda and Citroen to Launch New Compact SUVs in India
In order to meet the rising demand for affordable SUVs, automakers are readying their compact SUVs for the Indian market. While Nissan will launch the Magnite sub-4 meter SUV, Renault will introduce the HBC Kiger compact SUV. Both the SUVs will be based on the locally developed MQB AO IN platform. Kia Motors, Honda and Citroen are also readying their respective sub-4 meter compact SUVs, which will be launched in India before the end of 2021.
Kia Motors had showcased the near production Sonet compact SUV at the 2020 Auto Expo. The new model will be launched in the second half of this year, before Diwali. It is based on the Hyundai Venue’s front wheel drive platform. The new model will directly rival the likes of the Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport, Mahindra XUV300, Hyundai Venue and the Maruti Vitara Brezza.
The Kia Sonet will be equipped with several segment-leading features like 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, UVO Connect, sunroof, wireless charger, powered driver’s seat and many more. The compact SUV will be offered with 3 engine options – a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol, a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel. Both manual and automatic gearbox options will be on offer. The new model will be priced around Rs 7 lakh – Rs 11 lakh.
We informed you earlier that Honda is developing 3 new SUVs, which will be unveiled in 2021. The company will introduce an all-new compact SUV and a mid-sized SUV. Both of these SUVs will be developed on the new City platform. It is expected that the sub-4 meter SUV will first arrive in our market in 2021, which will be followed by a mid-sized SUV. The new SUVs will be brand’s global models and will also go on sale in select developing nations.
Citroen has also confirmed that it will start rolling out locally developed model in India from the second half of 2021. The company will first introduce an all-new compact SUV, codenamed Citroen C21 during festive season 2021. It will be based on the CMP (EMP1) platform, which also underpins the global Peugeot 208 hatchback.
The new CMP (Common Modular Platform) can accommodate different types of body styles and different engines including petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric. It will be offered with multiple engine options including 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol, a 1.2L turbocharged petrol and a 130bhp, 1.5L diesel.
