7 new mass market SUVs and MUVs coming to Auto Expo 2016

Content

Auto Expo 2016 will see the unveiling and launch of many new SUVs and MUVs, especially in the mass market segment. Now that we are just couple of days away from the biennial event, we have details of most of these models. Here is a compiled list of vehicles that you would get to see, if you are interested in affordable large cars.

New Toyota Innova

The next-generation version of the Toyota Innova will be unveiled here. The seven-seater MUV is the most important product in Toyota India’s line up and is already launched in Indonesia and few other Asian markets. The Innova now gets better styling, a more powerful engine, additional features and more space than its predecessor. We are hoping that  the new Innova will be launched at the Expo, although there is no official confirmation on the same.

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

Maruti’s showstopper for this Expo is the Vitara Brezza. The Ford EcoSport rival with a length of less than four metres to get tax benefits has already created lot of interest in the Indian market. The recently released spy photos have revealed the exterior and we now wait to see more of the interior and engine details. Another important thing that we know for sure is that the Brezza will be sold through all the Maruti Suzuki dealerships and will be restricted to Nexa. It will be unveiled at the Expo, followed by a launch in March.

Hyundai Tucson

With the D-Segment sales dwindling pretty fast, most companies are looking at introducing SUVs in the same price segments. Hyundai India already has the Creta positioned just above the C-Segment and the Santa Fe in the premium segment with an on-road price of close to Rs 30 lakh. They now look to plug the gap by introducing the five-seater Tucson, positioned at around Rs 18 lakh. The Tucson carries Hyundai’s design philosophy with a large hexagonal grille at the front and flowing lines. As expected, it has ample features as well. Unfortunately, it might get the same engine from the Elantra making 128bhp, but more details on that at the Expo.

Isuzu MU-X

Isuzu is replacing the MU-7 in India with the new MU-X. The seven-seater SUV looks similar to the outgoing model, but has cosmetic upgrades and more features. Sold in either a four-wheel-drive or two-wheel-drive variant globally, the MU-X comes mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox. We can expect the Indian-spec MU-X to be powered by the same 2.5-litre 4JK1-TC (HI) common rail direct injection intercooler mill that produces 136bhp of power and 320Nm.The details on pricing and variants will be announced on February 3.

SsangYong Tivoli

The SsangYong Tivoli will act as an entry point for Mahindra group in the premium five-seater SUV segment. The Tivoli looks stylish, gets all the necessary features and even has AWD in the European market. The version for India will be assembled here, to rival the likes of Hyundai Creta and Renault Duster. It will get the new diesel engine with a capacity of around 1.6-litres and also an automatic six-speed transmission.

Renault Duster facelift

The Duster facelift has been in the news for a while. The car has been launched in Europe and Latin America and now finally makes its debut in India at the Expo. There are a lot of cosmetic changes to the car, which makes it little less quirky and more aggressive. Plus, the interior has been reworked to look premium with additional features. It will get the same engine options as now and the actual launch is expected to be immediately after the Expo.

Volkswagen Tiguan

The production ready version of the Tiguan will debut at the Auto Expo, almost a year ahead of its India launch. The vehicle will be positioned to compete with the likes of the Renault Duster and Hyundai Creta, with five seats and a front-wheel drive set up. It will use the same 1.6-litre engine option as the Vento with a power rating of around 110bhp.