10 upcoming, affordable automatic cars & SUVs in 2018: Hyundai Santro AMT to Maruti Ciaz AT

Indian car buyers are finally warming up to cars with automatic transmissions. Most mainstream cars today offer an optional automatic transmission, at least on the high-end trims of the petrol engine variant. Also, there are many new automatic cars that look all set to launch this year. Here, in this post, we have a list of upcoming automatic cars and SUVs in 2018.

New Hyundai Santro

Hyundai India will launch the all-new Santro in August this year. The new Santro is based on the last-gen i10’s platform and will likely offer the same 1.1-litre petrol engine. Also, it will offer segment-leading interior space and a long list of features. The highlight, however, will be the optional AMT. The automated manual transmission will help the new Santro keep rivals like the WagonR AMT and Celerio AMT at bay.

New Maruti WagonR

The Maruti WagonR is also about to get a complete model replacement. The new WagonR will be built on a lightweight platform and will offer a new design. That said, the tallboy architecture will be retained and the interior will offer more features. The current 1.0-litre K-series motor will be carried over but will be updated for compliance with BS6 emission standards. Much like the current car, the next-gen WagonR will offer an optional AMT.

Ford Figo Facelift

Ford is about to launch the facelifted Figo in India. The Figo facelift will come with the new 1.2-litre Dragon series engine that will make its debut in the Freestyle. Even the current 1.5-litre TiVCT engine could make way for the new 1.5-litre Dragon engine that made its debut in the EcoSport facelift. This engine will be offered with the same 6-speed, torque-converter automatic gearbox that is available on the compact SUV sibling.

Ford Aspire Facelift

Even the Aspire will soon get a facelift. Ford India has ceased the production of the current Aspire and the facelift will likely launch weeks after the Freestyle. Even the Aspire will get the new motors from the Dragon-series. The current 1.5-litre TiVCT will be replaced with the 1.5-litre Dragon motor that will come mated to a 6-speed, torque-converter automatic gearbox.

New Honda Amaze

Honda will launch the new-gen Amaze diesel in India. The next-gen Diesel offers a City-like exterior, more features, and the same tried-and-tested engines that are available on the current model. A big highlight, however, is the fact that the Diesel engine would offer an optional CVT. The 1.5-liter iDTEC diesel engine of the Amaze is already well-known for its high power and fuel efficiency. The introduction of the CVT should make the car even a bit more convenient.

New Toyota Yaris

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is about to launch the new Yaris sedan. The Yaris will be slotted between the Etios and the Corolla Altis and will go on to rival the likes of Maruti Ciaz and Honda City. It will come with a petrol engine only. However, the motor will come mated to a 7-step CVT that should make the car a very practical option for those looking for a convenient city runabout.

New Maruti Ciaz

The Maruti Ciaz is among the most popular cars in its segment. However, the advent of fresher competition in the form of the new Verna and the Honda City facelift has made the Ciaz look a bit old. Moreover, the launch of Yaris could make things a bit harder for the Ciaz. However, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has taken note of this and is working on injecting some freshness into the C2 sedan. The Ciaz already offers an auto ‘box on the Ciaz. The facelift will continue to offer this option.

Mahindra KUV100 AMT

 

Mahindra will soon launch the AMT-transmission equipped KUV100. The AMT option will be available on both petrol and diesel engine variants. This should give the KUV100 a better chance against the Maruti Ignis. It may be noted here that the KUV100 hasn’t really been setting the sales charts on fire. But the advent of the AMT should make this micro-SUV a slightly more attractive option.

Tata Nexon AMT

Tata Motors will soon launch the AMT variant of the Nexon Diesel. Even the petrol AMT variant is in the pipeline but will launch at a later stage. The Nexon Diesel AMT will offer a good mix of mileage and convenience. The manual transmission variant of the Nexon Diesel offers an ARAI-tested mileage of 22 kmpl. The AMT model will offer a similar mileage figure.

Hyundai Creta Facelift

Hyundai will soon launch the Creta facelift. The upcoming Hyundai Creta facelift will carry several changes on the exterior and the interior. The top-selling SUV is easily the most popular model in its segment. The upcoming facelift should only make the Creta more attractive. Currently, the Creta is available with an automatic transmission for the 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines. The same automatic gearbox will be available for the upcoming facelift.

Maruti Ertiga

Maruti will launch the next-generation Ertiga later this year. The Ertiga MPV is currently available with a 1.4-litre K-series petrol and a Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre diesel engines. The next-gen Ertiga will likely offer a set of new-age engines. Also, underpinning the new Ertiga will be the lightweight HEARTECT platform. There are good chances that the new-gen Ertiga will be available with an automatic transmission option for both petrol and diesel engines. Also, the lightweight platform will make the next-gen MPV lighter, and hence, more efficient in terms of performance and fuel efficiency. The automatic transmission will make this popular MPV an even more popular option.

Mahindra XUV500

Mahindra and Mahindra will soon launch a facelifted version of the XUV500. The upcoming Mahindra XUV500 facelift will offer an updated front- and rear-end styling that will make the car look fresher. It’s also expected to get slightly more powerful. The current automatic transmission option will be retained. It may be noted here that the Mahindra XUV500 is available with an optional 6-speed automatic transmission for the diesel engine. The petrol engine comes with the 6-cogger auto ‘box as standard. The same transmission will be carried over to the upcoming facelift.

Jeep Compass Trailhawk

Jeep India will launch the Compass Trailhawk later this year. The Compass Trailhawk will mark the debut of the 9-speed automatic transmission in the Compass. The upcoming SUV will be powered by the same 2.0-litre Multijet II diesel engine that powers the regular Compass. It outputs 170 bhp-350 Nm. The Trailhawk is a more accomplished off-roader than the current Compass variants. It features Jeep’s Active Drive low-range 4WD, hill descent control, ‘Rock Mode’ for its Selec-Terrain 4WD system, and better Approach- and Depature-angles. It also gets 20 mm of additional ground clearance.