SUVs have become popular in India and carmakers are riding the wave. With this, India has seen several vehicles receiving updates, however, there have been a few new vehicles in India. Here are five totally new SUVs, meaning they have been launched in India for the first time.
Honda Elevate
The mid-size SUV segment is popular as vehicles offer enough room for 5 adults and enough luggage room for a holiday while keeping the occupants comfortable. The Hyundai Creta has been the segment leader for many years while other carmakers joined in. Honda, however, took its own time and launched the Elevate in 2023.
The Elevate has seen decent success in India since its launch, having sold over 20,000 units since its launch. The Honda mid-size SUV is powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine that does its duty in the City while missing out on the hybrid powertrain.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny
After many years, Maruti Suzuki did launch the Jimny in India earlier this year, priced at Rs 12.74 lakh onwards, ex-showroom. While many scrambled to book the Jimny, some thought it was too expensive, given that the Mahindra Thar is priced around the same.
At the beginning of December, however, Maruti Suzuki slashed the prices of the Jimny, making it more affordable, by launching the Thunder Edition, priced at Rs 10.74 lakh. The Jimny gets the same 1.5-litre engine that powers the Ertiga, XL6, and Brezza, while gearbox choices include a manual or a 4-speed automatic.
Hyundai Exter
The Hyundai Exter created a lot of buzz ahead of its launch as speculations suggested that Hyundai is bringing in the Casper, which is sold internationally. However, the SUV was named Exter and is based on the same platform as the Grand i10 hatchback, while also sharing the 1.2-litre petrol engine.
The Hyundai Casper quickly gained popularity and is the third-best-selling Hyundai in India after the Creta and Venue. For a micro hatchback, the Exter is well-equipped and competes directly with the Tata Punch, which is the second-best seller for Tata Motors.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx
The World Wide Web was a busy place when news about Maruti Suzuki’s new SUV/crossover plans were revealed. Not many details were available at the time apart from that the new vehicle will be based on the Baleno’s platform. However, the Fronx finally made its debut at the Auto Expo earlier this year.
The Fronx’s design is distinctive and stands out compared to the Baleno, while it shares a lot of components with the car, including the naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx has been contributing significantly towards Maruti Suzuki’s sales while it is also being exported from India.
Citroen C3 Aircross
French carmaker Citroen entered India with the C5 Aircross, a premium offering, and slowly expanded its range in the country. Now, the carmaker sells the C5 Aircross, C3 Aircross, eC3, and C3 in India, while also beating many established carmakers to offer an all-electric SUV.
The C3 Aircross SUV features bold styling with an unmistakable front headlight/DRL setup while offering three rows of seating. The 108bhp 3-cylinder engine may seem underpowered on paper, but the SUV manages this well, while its Rs 9.99 lakh ex-showroom price makes it a compelling choice in the segment.
