Undoubtedly, SUVs have been preferred choices for most of the car lovers across the country and those who wish to ride a vehicle that has off-roading capability as well as masculine looks, these bulky cars come as a blessing to them. With the ever changing needs of customers and advanced technology knocking the door every now and then, a concept of 'compact SUV' has arrived in India. Renault Duster is the pioneer of this segment in the Indian market which gave customers pretty unique experience about cars. And when Ford launched EcoSport, it made everyone go crazy for bigger cars. Since then the picture of SUVs in the country has changed. Now people want a car that looks like a Sports Utility Vehicle and carries a low price tag and all these wishes get settled down to a compact SUV. Moreover, if the SUV measures less than 4 meter, it brings benefits to the carmaker as well.
To sum up the whole equation, now carmakers have well understood the wishes of car buyers. While many of them have even launched their rugged hatchbacks to look like compact SUVs, some of them are in process to introduce one such vehicle in their Indian line up. Volkswagen Polo Cross, Toyota Etios Cross and the latest Fiat Avventura are the example of hatch based compact SUVs/Crossovers and soon Hyundai i20 Cross is also going to add in the list.
Let’s have a look on some of the vehicles that are soon to become a part of Indian compact SUVs/Crossovers segment.
Maruti Suzuki SX4 S-Cross - After tasting success in hatchback, sedan and MPV segment, the largest passenger carmaker of the country now wishes to foray into Indian compact SUV segment with the launch of Maruti Suzuki SX4 S – Cross. The upcoming car has been caught on lenses many times while being tested, so it is pretty clear that the car will make its way to India in the ongoing year. Mechanically, SX4 S- Cross will be given a new 1.3-litre diesel and 1.4-litre petrol engine. This vehicle has already been launched in the European market and takes its design cues from out-phased SX4 sedan.
Mahindra S101 - The largest utility vehicle maker of the country- Mahindra & Mahindra is also geared up to launch new SUVs in India as it does not want to share its supremacy with other contenders. While two new compact SUVs and revamped Bolero are already under testing phase, carmaker is almost ready to launch a sub 4 meter SUV – S101 in the market. Powered by the same Quanto’s 1.5-litre 3-cylinder diesel engine, the upcoming compact SUV will be placed below Bolero in Mahindra’s portfolio. It will be the second vehicle after XUV 500 being built on Mahindra’s monocoque structure. This is going to be the smallest car in Mahindra’s portfolio
Hyundai ix25 – The Korean auto giant is enjoying success in India with its latest products Elite i20, Grand i10 and Xcent which are collecting good sales number and praises all around. And now the company wishes to put a proper SUV in its lineup, though it is the spied Elite i20 Cross. This SUV will be christened as ix25 and will get its power from the same engine line-ups working under the hood of Verna sedan. Though, the upcoming Hyundai SUV is not under 4 meter in length, it is designed very strategically by the carmaker so that it can be put in lower price bracket. As far as looks are concerned, it will look like smaller Santa Fe built on the new Fluidic Sculpture Design 2.0.
Tata Nexon – When all the carmakers are trying their luck in compact SUV segment, Tata Motors can’t sit and relax. The carmaker is on its way to launch a crossover Tata Nexon in India. The upcoming vehicle is built on the same platform on which Vista sedan and upcoming Bolt hatch has been made. Mechanically too, the car will get the same Revetron petrol engine that powers Zest and Bolt along with a diesel engine option.
Other cars that will also make their presence in compact SUV segment are Chevrolet Adra and Volkswagen Taigun. While the VW vehicle will measure under 4-meter length, there are no details available for the Chevy Adra as of now.