Upcoming Hyundai and Maruti Compact SUVs

India’s compact SUV segment has witnessed tremendous growth, with over 4 lakh units sold annually, accounting for a significant share of the market. There seems to be no slowing down, as car manufacturers are ready with a slew of new compact SUVs, which will hit Indian roads over the next couple of years. India’s two major passenger vehicle makers, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, will take the lead with six new products. Let’s delve into the key details of the upcoming Maruti and Hyundai compact SUVs. 

Upcoming Maruti Compact SUVs

Maruti Fronx Facelift 

Maruti Suzuki Fronx has already been doing well for the Indo-Japanese automaker in the country. Aiming to further boost its sales, the carmaker plans to give it a major update in 2025. The new Maruti Fronx facelift will debut with a new strong hybrid powertrain, which will be developed in-house by Maruti Suzuki. This strong hybrid system will be specially designed and developed for the brand’s mass-market vehicles. It will be a series-hybrid technology, which is reported to be more economical than Toyota’s Atkison series-parallel hybrid system. 

With the new strong hybrid powertrain, the Maruti Fronx will become one of the most frugal cars in the country. Rumour has it that the compact SUV’s updated version will deliver a mileage of over 35 kmpl. Minimal changes are expected inside and out, but the biggest feature upgrade might come in the form the ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) suite. The new Maruti Fronx strong hybrid with ADAS (if it happens) will certainly be priced premium than its regular petrol version. 

Maruti Y43

Interestingly, the Indo-Japanese automaker is also developing a new sub-4 metre SUV (codenamed Y43) to rival the Hyundai Exter and Tata Punch. This new model is likely to see a market release during 2026 Diwali season. As of now, there is information about the new Maruti Y43 compact SUV. However, it is expected to come with the 1.2L, 3-cylinder Z-Series petrol engine boosted with the mild hybrid technology. 

This is the same powertrain that does duty in the Swift hatchback.  On the Swift, this petrol motor delivers a maximum power of 80 bhp and 112 Nm of torque. The new Maruti compact SUV might come with features such as the ventilated seats, a sunroof, a 360 degree camera, a flat-bottom steering wheel, automatic climate control, fully digital instrument cluster, a touchscreen infotainment system, multiple airbags, etc. 

Upcoming Hyundai Compact SUVs

New-Gen Hyundai Venue

The next-generation Hyundai Venue will arrive towards the end of this year. The SUV’s new model is currently in its testing phase and we have seen some of its spy images revealing interesting design details. Most of the cosmetic changes will be visible on the front end. The 2025 Hyundai Venue is likely to feature a newly-designed grille, slightly tweaked bumper and redesigned headlamp clusters, inspired by the Creta. Some of its other design highlights will include the newly-designed alloy wheels, horizontally placed connected taillamps and a more pronounced tailgate. 

The new Venue is expected to come with more upmarket interior, offering some extra features. Official details are yet to be announced. However, it is expected to get a new steering wheel, new switchgears and seat upholstery. The material quality could also be improved. 

The 2025 Hyundai Venue will likely retain its current powertrain options - 998cc turbo petrol with 118 bhp and 172 Nm, 1.2-litre petrol generating 82 bhp and 115 Nm and a 1.5-litre diesel delivering 99 bhp and 240 Nm. Transmission choices will also remain the same – i.e. a 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 6-speed iMT and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Hyundai Inster EV

The South Korean automaker will introduce one more subcompact SUV in 2026. However, it will come with the electric powertrain to compete against the Tata Punch EV. The new Hyundai compact SUV will be based on the Inster EV, which is already available overseas. The Inster EV is offered in two variants – Standard 42kWh and Long-Range 49kWh – delivering a claimed range of 300km and 355km, respectively. The India-spec version is likely to come with the same set of powertrains. 

Similar to the Inster EV, the new Hyundai compact electric SUV might come with features such as a 360 degree camera with blind spot monitoring system, reclining and sliding rear seats, twin 10.25-inch digital displays, vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology, heat pump system, multiple airbags and more.  

Hyundai Bayon

After driving in the Inster-based electric SUV, the South Korean will introduce an ICE-powered compact SUV called Hyundai Bayon. Based on the i20 platform, the new Hyundai subcompact SUV will face challenge from the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. Globally, the Bayon is offered with the 1.0L, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine paired to a 48V mild hybrid system. It has been tuned for generating two different power outputs – 99bhp with 175Nm and 118bhp with 175Nm. It can be had with either a 6-speed iMT and a 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox. The Bayon offers three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport. 

The global-spec Hyundai Bayon has been equipped with a range of advanced features such as LED ambient lighting, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bose sound system, multiple USB ports, Hyundai’s latest Bluelink connected car tech and more. These goodies might also be offered on the India-spec version. 

Hyundai Venue EV

The South Korean automaker recently announced that the Hyundai Creta Electric will be followed by three Made-in-India electric cars. These upcoming EVs will come in multiple body styles, and some of them will be dedicated EVs and some will be ICE converted into EVs. Hyundai hasn’t yet revealed the names of the new EVs, however one them could be the electric iteration of the Venue. The Hyundai Venue EV will be introduced with its third generational shift by 2027. This electric compact SUV will have slightly different styling than its ICE version, featuring EV-specific elements inside and out. It would be quite early to comment on the powertrain setup of the Venue EV. 

Also See - Affordable Maruti Suzuki Cars To Get ADAS and Hybrid Engine - Swift, Dzire, Fronx