5 Game-Changing Cars You Must See in 2025-26

In the first half of 2025, we witnessed several new car launches including Tata Harrier EV, VW Golf GTI and the Kia Carens Clavis, Before the end of this financial year, several new cars will go on sale in our market. We bring you a list of top 5 upcoming game changing cars in the country before the end of this financial year - 

Tata Sierra 

This will be the biggest launch of the current financial year. The iconic Tata Sierra is making a comeback in an all-new avatar. It will be offered with multiple powertrain options, including EV, petrol and diesel. The Sierra EV will launch first during the festive season, while ICE-powered model will launch by year end or in the Q1, 2026. 

The Tata Sierra EV will be based on the Acti.ev+ architecture and it will come as a front-wheel-drive SUV. Tata could also add the dual-motor AWD setup, branded as QWD in the Sierra EV line-up. It will share the battery packs with the Harrier EV, including a 65kWh and a 75kWh. 

The ICE version will get the 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine that produces 168bhp and 280Nm of torque. The diesel version could get a 1.5L turbo diesel or a 2.0L turbo diesel engines. Both manual and automatic gearbox choices will be on offer. 

Renault Duster

Renault has officially announced to launch the third-generation Duster SUV in the country by the end of this financial year. Testing of the new Duster has already been started on the Indian roads. Renault will start production of the Duster SUV at its Chennai based plant in September 2025. 

The new-gen Renault Duster will be based on the CMF-B modular architecture, which will also underpin a new 7-seater SUV. It will directly rival the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara and others in the category. The SUV is likely to be offered with a 1.3L turbocharged petrol engine producing 151bhp and 250Nm of torque, paired to a 7-speed DCT. Renault will also launch the Duster hybrid at a later stage. 

New-gen Kia Seltos

The Korean automaker, Kia is developing the next-gen Seltos SUV that has been caught testing multiple times in India. Korean media reports that the all-new Seltos SUV will be introduced in January 2026. It will come with significant design changes and all-new interior along with several new advanced tech features. 

The new-gen Kia Seltos will share its design with the new-gen Kia SUVs including EV5, EV9 and Palisade. It will have a more boxy profile compared to the roundish design in the current model. The big update is that the next Kia Seltos X-Line will look different from the standard model. Another major change will come in the form of powertrain, as it will get a new strong hybrid engine. The hybrid engine for the India-spec model is likely to be based on the existing 1.5L NA petrol engine. 

New Mahindra Bolero Neo

Mahindra will launch the new Bolero NEO facelift that has been caught testing several times on the Indian roads. The new SUV is likely to be revealed on August 15, 2025. It will continue to be based on the ladder-frame chassis with rear-wheel-drive set-up. However, the SUV will come with an all-new design with new body panels. 

The new Bolero Neo facelift will share the styling cues with the new Thar Roxx and Scorpio-N. Major changes will be made inside the cabin. It is expected to receive 6 airbags, a new dashboard layout with bigger touchscreen infotainment unit, new instrument console and others. The existing model is powered by a 99bhp, 1.5L, 3-cylinder turbo diesel engine with manual gearbox option. We expect the new Bolero Neo could get the 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine that powers the XUV 3XO. 

Maruti Escudo

Maruti Suzuki is preparing an all-new 5-seater SUV based on the Global-C platform that underpins the Brezza and Grand Vitara. It was initially planned to be a 7-seater SUV to rival the MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700. Seeing the market shift towards 5-seater SUVs, Maruti Suzuki is now planning to launch this new SUV as a 5-seater model. 

Rumoured to be called the Maruti Suzuki Escudo, the new 5-seater SUV will be sold exclusively via ARENA dealership network. It will rival the likes of the Kia Syros, VW Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Hyundai Creta and others in the mid-sized SUV category. The new SUV will be longer than the Grand Vitara and will offer bigger boot. It is likely to be offered with two engine options - a 1.5L NA petrol and a Toyota-sourced 1.5L TNGA strong hybrid engine. The new Escudo is likely to be launched during the festive season, around Diwali.

Also See - Maruti Escudo launch around festive season