Top 5 Upcoming SUVs to Rival Sierra, Creta and Seltos: New Renault Duster

We have recently witnessed the grand celebration of the arrival of the Renault Duster nameplate in our market. In the new avatar, the SUV will take on the likes of the already established players like the Maruti Grand Vitara, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the newly launched Tata Sierra. Not just the Duster, multiple new and facelifts of existing SUVs will be introduced in the midsize segment in the next 6-9 months. Here is a list of top 5 upcoming midsize SUVs, which will directly challenge the Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra and the new Kia Seltos. 

Renault Duster

The new-gen Renault Duster is scheduled to be launched in our market in March 2026. Interested customers can book the new SUV online or at authorised Renault dealerships by paying a token amount of Rs 25,000. It will initially come with two turbo petrol engines, while a hybrid version is scheduled to be introduced by October 2026. The SUV will be powered by a 1.3L turbo petrol engine producing 163PS and 280Nm, paired to either a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. 

The lower-spec models will get the 100PS/160Nm, 1.0L 3-cylinder turbo petrol unit paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Its hybrid model to get a 1.8L GDI petrol engine with a dual-motor setup, and a 1.4kWh battery pack, and delivers 160PS and 205Nm of torque. 

Nissan Tekton

Nissan has officially confirmed an all-new midsize SUV, called the Tekton for the Indian market. Testing of the SUV has already started, and the company has released multiple teasers revealing its design. It was originally planned to be revealed on Feb 4, 2026; however, the launch has been pushed to Q2, 2026. The new Tekton is essentially a re-badged Duster with Nissan’s design language. It will share its powertrain and features with the new-gen Duster SUV. 

Maruti Grand Vitara facelift

The Grand Vitara has been one of the best-selling Maruti SUVs from the NEXA network; however, it started to feel the impact of rising competition. In fact, its sales dropped to around 7-8K in the month of January 2026. Going by the media reports, it is confirmed that the Grand Vitara will soon receive a mid-life update. The updated model will receive subtle design and interior changes; however, big changes will be made in terms of features. 

The new Grand Vitara facelift will receive a larger touchscreen infotainment unit, a new digital driver’s display, LEVEL 2 ADAS tech, and an 8-speaker infinity sound system with Dolby Atmos tech.  Another update could be the underbody CNG tank, as it will free up space in the Grand Vitara’s boot. It will continue to be offered with the existing 1.5L petrol and 1.5L hybrid engine.

Toyota Hyryder facelift

Similar to the Grand Vitara, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder will also receive a mid-life update. It will come with cosmetic design and interior upgrades. The SUV will receive a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. Additionally, the SUV will have LEVEL 2 ADAS tech and an 8-speaker infinity sound system with Dolby Atmos. It is early to comment whether the Hyryder CNG will get an underbody CNG tank. The Hyryder facelift won’t receive any mechanical changes. 

Honda Elevate Facelift

Media reports suggest that Honda Cars India will introduce the updated versions of the Honda Elevate and City sedan in the country by mid-2026. The SUV will receive subtle changes to the front and rear styling, a refreshed cabin, and a longer list of features. It will continue to be powered by a 1.5L, 4-cylinder, naturally-aspirated petrol engine that produces 121PS and 145Nm of torque, paired to either a 6-speed manual and a CVT automatic. The new Elevate could also get a hybrid powertrain, which we have already seen on the City e:HEV. 

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