Maruti Suzuki Escudo and Next-gen Kia Seltos to Launch this Financial year

The mid-sized SUV category is all set to witness the arrival of two new models from Maruti Suzuki and Kia. While Maruti Suzuki will introduce a new SUV, codenamed Y17, Kia will introduce the next-gen Seltos. Both SUVs are currently in testing phase with launch expected towards the end of this year.

Maruti Escudo

Maruti Suzuki will introduce an all-new SUV based on the Grand Vitara towards the end of this year. It will be positioned between the Brezza and the Grand Vitara, and will be sold through ARENA dealership network. This 5-seater SUV, codenamed Y17, is rumoured to be called the Maruti Suzuki Escudo, as the name has already been trademarked in India. 

The new model will be a 5-seater SUV and will carry an aggressive price tag. Interestingly, the new SUV will be longer than the Grand Vitara that’s 4,345mm long. It could also offer bigger boot and more space in the second row. The new Maruti Escudo 5-seater SUV will be produced at Suzuki’s new Kharkhoda based plant in Haryana. It will come with both 1.5L NA petrol and a Toyota-sourced 1.5L TNGA strong hybrid engine. 

Next-gen Kia Seltos

Kia is currently testing the next-gen Seltos in India as well as on foreign soil. The second-generation Kia Seltos will be launched in the first quarter of 2026. It will come with an all-new design inspired by bigger Kia SUVs on sale in global markets. The big news is that the next Seltos will also debut Kia’s hybrid engine in India.  The latest spy images reveal that the second-gun Seltos features Kia’s latest ‘Opposites United’ design language, which we have already seen on the EV9 and Syros. 

The cabin of the new Seltos is also expected to receive significant changes. It is likely to get a new dashboard layout with bigger connected screens, new upholstery and trims for dash, door panels and seats, and enhanced safety features. The next-gen Kia Seltos is likely to be offered with multiple engine choices including a 1.5L NA petrol, a 1.5L turbo petrol and a 1.5L diesel. The hybrid version could use the 1.5L NA petrol engine, an electric motor and a small battery pack.

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