5 Budget SUVs likely to be shown at the 2016 Auto Expo

The Auto Expo of 2016 will see a bunch of affordable cars and SUVs either being previewed or being launched. SUVs are aspirational, and represent one of the fastest growing segments in the Indian market. The Auto Expo, as always will have a bunch of SUVs lined up. We bring you five budget offerings that are likely to be showcased at the Auto Expo. In any case, all of these SUVs are scheduled to be launched next year.

Honda BR-V

4.46 meters long, the Honda BR-V is longer than the Creta and Duster. It’s also got 7 seats, which means that Honda can toy around with premium pricing. Based on the Brio platform, the BR-V looks very similar to the Mobilio MPV. It also shares its 1.5 liter petrol and turbo diesel engines with the people mover. If Honda can pull off a sharp price for this SUV, the BR-V has a good chance of doing well in India. The BR-V will be showcased at the Expo, with an official launch to follow months later.

Tata Hexa

The Hexa is one of the best looking SUVs that Tata has ever built, and most people seem to like the way this luxury crossover looks. It’s seriously loaded, both in terms of equipment and performance. The 2.2 liter Varicor turbo diesel engine makes 154 Bhp-400 Nm, figures that no production Tata car has ever managed. 6 speed manual and automatic transmissions, an all wheel drive layout with terrain sensing, and top notch interiors make the Hexa an alluring option. Everything will boil down to the pricing though. An early 2016 launch is on the cards.

Maruti Suzuki YBA

The YBA codenamed vehicle is Maruti Suzuki’s push into the sub-4 meter compact SUV segment, currently dominated by the Ford Ecosport. This segment also hosts the Mahindra TUV300 and in due course of time, will see plenty of action. The YBA will use 1.2 liter K-Series petrol and 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet diesel engines, but won’t be based on the Swift platform. However, it’ll share plenty of parts with the Swift, and knowing Maruti, expect a cracker of a price tag. An Auto Expo debut is almost certain for this compact SUV.

Datsun RediGo Crossover

Datsun will unveil a crossover at the Tokyo Motor Show, which is days away from now. The same crossover, albeit in production form, could grace the 2016 Indian Auto Expo. Rumours suggest that this crossover will use the CMF-A platform, which made its India debut with the Renault Kwid. The RediGo (i2 codename) hatchback, which was showcased at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo, could be the basis for the production version of the crossover. A launch is 2016 is expected, at a price point below that of the Kwid.

Tata Nexon’s Production Version

At the 2014 Expo, Tata showed the Nexon crossover concept. The upcoming Expo is likely to see the production version of this crossover. Much is riding on the Nexon as Tata motors needs to quickly get a foot into the sub-4 meter compact SUV space. The Nexon could pack in 1.2 liter turbocharged petrol and 1.3 liter diesel engine options. Styling with cues from the Range Rover Evoque, top notch fit and finish levels, a big list of features and a competitive price tag are some of expectations around the Nexon.