India-bound SUV launches for 2018

The year 2017 is almost done and given that it has been a relatively slow month for the auto industry, we are glad to look forward to 2018 and all the vehicles that we can expect for the coming year. The list is huge as we have the 2018 Auto Expo coming up. It is time that manufacturers use it to showcase their best and newest and we begin this detailed feature with the most popular category right now-SUVs and more specifically- India-bound SUVs. MahindraTivoli based SUVThis will be a new premium compact SUV for the Indian car market and will be based on the Tivoli compact SUV from Mahindra’s premium SsangYong brand. It is expected to slot in between the TUV300 and XUV500 in their lineup and will be the rival for the the Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster and Maruti Suzuki S-Cross. Expect diesel and petrol options with both manual and automatic transmissions.Honda HR-VHonda is once again looking to up its status and this time it will try the D-segment where it had once ruled with the Civic sedan. Its contender this time will be the HR-V crossover. It will be positioned above the BR-V to be their competitor to the Jeep Compass, Renault Captur, and Volkswagen T-Roc and possibly even the Skoda Karoq when it is launched. Next-generation Renault Duster The Renault Duster will enter the news once again and this time around it will be for a generation change. The new car sports an evolutionary design and is underpinned by the same B0 platform found in the outgoing model. Changes include new design bits as well as a completely revamped feature list. Expect a debut at Delhi 2018. Mahindra U321While this is strictly not an SUV, we have added this to list as it will be a new utility vehicle from the Indian automaker. This will be a premium people carrier and is expected to be sold alongside the TUV300 Plus with the idea of a ‘multiple models in a segment to boost volumes’ strategy. It is expected to replace the Xylo in the higher levels of the price range where the MPV exists.Nissan KicksThis will be Nissan’s D+segment SUV and slot in above the Terrano in the lineup. It brings Nissan into the picture once again in terms of the Jeep Compass, Renault Captur, Volkswagen T-Roc and the Skoda Karoq. The car has already been revealed and is slated to go into production at their Chennai plant sometime in mid-2018 possibly for RHD markets all around the world. Volkswagen T-Roc The final car on the list is the Volkswagen T-Roc. It is an SUV based on the Golf and is likely to replace the Jetta in their Indian lineup. The Indian version will be a five-seater affair with the same engine and transmission options found in the current generation Golf and Jetta. Expect a mid-2018 debut for the car.