SUV sales has grown at the fastest pace in over a decade in India. The trend is likely to carry forward in the new fiscal year as demand continue surging in the segment. In the next couple of years, car manufacturers such as Maruti, Tata, Mahindra, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, Renault and Nissan will bring in multiple new models. The premium 7-seater SUV space will witness at least 6 important all-new launches including X-Trail, Tayron and Corolla Cross and more. Here’s a brief on the much-awaited all-new 7-seater SUVs.
Nissan X-Trail
Nissan X-Trail SUV will be one of the major product launches from the Japanese automaker in India. It will also be the first Nissan e-Power hybrid vehicle in the country. In global markets, the SUV comes with the 1.5L turbo petrol engine with mild and strong hybrid powertrains making 163PS with 300Nm and 204PS with 300Nm (2WD) and 213PS/525Nm (4WD) respectively. Its second row seats have 40:20:40 split ratio and the third row seats come with split ratio of 50:50. In terms of features, the X-Trail offers a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.8-inch HUD, 360 degree camera, electronic parking brake, ADAS tech, etc. More details here…
New-Gen Renault Duster
The new-generation Renault Duster will finally make its way to India sometime in 2024. The SUV’s new model is likely to have its world premiere towards the end of this year. It will be built on the Renault-Nissan alliance’s CMF-B modular platform and borrow some of its design bits from the Dacia Bigster concept. Dimensionally, the new Duster will be bigger than its previous version. This time around, the carmaker will bring in the SUV with 7-seats configuration as well. Reports suggest that the 2024 Renault Duster SUV could be offered with the 1.3L hybrid powertrain. Here, it could also get a new 1.0L turbo petrol engine paired to a manual or an automatic gearbox. More details here…
Toyota Corolla Cross
Toyota Kirloskar Motor aims to tap the growing 7-seater SUV segment with a new model based on the Corolla Cross. The new Toyota SUV will compete against the cars like Jeep Meridian, Mahindra XUV700 and Hyundai Alcazar. The global-spec Toyota Corolla Cross has been designed on the TNGA-C platform that’s also used in the Innova Hycross. It has a wheelbase of 2640mm. The new Toyota 7-seater SUV is expected to share its powertrains with the Innova Hycross. The latter comes with the 2.0L naturally aspirated petrol and 2.0L petrol with Toyota’s self charging strong hybrid tech. More details here…
Volkswagen Tayron
If media reports are to be believed, Volkswagen India is planning to bring in the all-new Tayron SUV in 2025. The 7-seater SUV will be imported as a CKD kit and then assembled locally. In the company’s India product portfolio, the Volkswagen Tayron will replace the Tiguan AllSpace. The VW 7-seater SUV underpins the MQB-A2 platform that’s already used in the new Kodiaq. In terms of design and styling, it will be significantly different from the 5-seater Tiguan. For people not in the know, the German automaker already sells VW Tayron 5-seater SUV in Chinese market. The China-spec version measures around 4.6 metres in length. More details here…
Maruti 7-Seater SUV
The Indo-Japanese automaker is planning to enter into the premium 7-seater SUV segment in coming years. If reports are to be believed, Maruti Suzuki will introduce the three-row SUV based on the Grand Vitara. Compared to its younger sibling, the new Maruti 7-seater SUV will be longer and more spacious. Built on Suzuki’s global C platform, the model is expected to come with the 1.5L K15C petrol mild hybrid and 1.5L Atkinson cycle strong hybrid powertrains. Both setups are available on the Grand Vitara. The mild hybrid powertrain is good enough for 103bhp and offers a mileage of 21.11kmpl with manual gearbox and 19.38kmpl with automatic transmission. The strong hybrid version returns a peak power of 115bhp and a fuel efficiency of 27.97kmpl. The all-new 7-seater SUV will be produced at the company’s new Kharkhoda facility. More details here…
Honda 7-Seater SUV
With an aim to expand its SUV product portfolio, the Japanese automaker will introduce two new models catering subcompact, mid-size and premium 7-seater SUV segments. While Honda Elevate midsize SUV will go on sale by July or August 2023, the three-row model will come later. Honda’s all-new 7-seater SUV could share its platform with the global-spec BR-V and take on Tata Safari and Hyundai Alcazar. It will essentially be the three-row version of the Elevate. More details on the Honda 7-seater SUV are likely to be revealed in near future. More details here…
