8 Upcoming SUVs This Festive Season

The car manufacturers in India are gearing up to make the most of this year’s festive season. Armed with a variety of upcoming launches, these companies are here to satisfy the pallet of every consumer with their SUVs. So here is a list of 8 new SUVs to look forward to this festive season.

1. Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

To begin with, we have the first strong hybrid SUV of India. Set to revolutionise the mid-size SUV segment, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is expected to go on sale from the first week of September. This car has been jointly developed by Toyota Kirloskar and Maruti Suzuki and uses technologies derived from both the companies. While the platform and interior design are borrowed from latter, the strong hybrid tech is a gift from Toyota. At launch the four-wheeler will be available with two engine options. The first is a 1.5-litre smart hybrid unit called the Neo Drive while the other is a 1.5-litre strong hybrid. The vehicle is offered with a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifter. The manual mild-hybrid variant is also available with an AWD system.

2. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Grand Vitara is Maruti Suzuki’s second shot at the famed Compact-SUV segment. Twin to the Toyota Hyryder, this Maruti shares its powertrain components and interior layout with the Toyota. First revealed at the end of July 2022, this car has set the charts on fire and clocked over 40,000 bookings. The car is expected to hit the market before the end of September. Both cars will be manufactured at Toyota’s Bidadi facility. When launched, the four-wheeler will be sold via the NEXA dealership chain and offered in 6 variants, Sigma, Delta, Zeta, Alpha, Zeta+ and Alpha+.

3. Next-Gen MG Hector

Keeping its car up to date, MG Motors India is expected to give the Hector SUV a mid-life makeover towards end of November 2022. Set to be sold alongside the existing model, the new Hector will feature more advanced tech and a more mature styling. The centre piece of the new car’s cabin will be the large 14-inch HD portrait touchscreen infotainment unit that is the control centre for all in-car functions. In addition, the Hector Facelift is expected to come with Level 2 ADAS that brings safety features like blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert among others.

4. Mahindra XUV300 Facelift

Crowned with the new Twin Peak logo, the Mahindra XUV300 is soon set to undergo a minor model change. Expected to launch in early October, the XUV300 facelift will get a new 1.2-litre t-GDi mStallion turbo petrol engine putting out 130 bhp and 230 Nm of peak torque. Other changes include a revised front grille, tweaked front bumper with chrome highlights and a new set of 17-inch alloy wheels. The car maker is also expected to offer an updated AdrenoX infotainment system on the new model. 

5. Tata Harrier and Safari Petrol

Eminently due, petrol-version of the Harrier and Safari duo have been spied testing on Indian roads. Expected to make use of a new 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, these cars are most likely to debut before the end of November 2022. Changes on the SUVs are expected to be limited to a design revision and a different centre console that will now house the  larger 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Other crucial features onboard the facelifted models include ADAS tech, 360-degree parking camera, air purifier, ventilated front seats and more.

6. Toyota Innova Hycross

Moving away from the SUV noise, Toyota is expected to debut a new version of its most popular MPV, the Innova in the country. Expected to be called the Innova Hycross, the car will skip the conventional ladder frame construction, in favour of the new TNGA-C architecture. The new construction technique will make the car lighter and more agile giving it car-like handling. A brand new 2.0-litre hybrid petrol engine is expected to power the MPV which is expected to skip the reliable diesel engine. The Hycross will be targeted towards urban buyers and will come loaded features like a panoramic sunroof, digital instrument cluster, ventilated seats and more. It is expected to be introduced by mid-November and will be sold alongside the current-gen Innova Crysta.

7. Mahindra XUV400

The first all-electric SUV on the list is the Mahindra XUV400. The electrified XUV300 is expected to debut on 6th September 2022. Expected to be based on the eXUV300 concept showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo, the EV will be more than 4 meters in length thereby helping accommodate the battery pack and offer more space and practicality on the inside. While the overall silhouette of the car will resemble its ICE counterpart, the company is believed to have introduced EV specific changes to differentiate the two vehicles. Exterior changes include a new blanked-off front grille, aero-optimised alloy wheels and more.

8. BYD Atto 3 

The world’s largest EV manufacturer BYD (Build Your Dreams) has selected the Atto 3 electric SUV as its example for the grand debut of the brand to Indian mass market. Expected to be launched in November, the EV will be manufactured locally with a sales target of around 10,000 units in the first two years. High on tech, the Atto 3 will be equipped with tech features such as a digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, 360-degree parking camera and more. At launch, the Chinese manufacturer is expected to offer the car with two battery pack option. The first is a 49.92 kWh unit with 320 kilometres of range, while the larger is the 60.48 kWh unit capable of offering 420 kilometres of range. The system supports up to 80 kW DC fast charging enabling the battery to go from 0 to full in under an hour.

So, of the cars listed above, which SUV are you most excited for? Let us know.