5 upcoming SUVs to watch out for – Here’s why

In the next one year, a bunch of affordable SUVs, all priced under the 20 lakh rupee mark, will be launched in India. These vehicles will straddle a wide price, starting from a little over 4 lakh rupees, all the way up to 20 lakh rupees. Today, we take a look of each of them, and underscore what makes each of the upcoming SUVs special.

Mahindra S101

The S101 codenamed vehicle will be the smallest ever SUV produced by Mahindra. Set to spawn the Micro SUV segment in India, the S101 could be priced close to the 4 lakh rupee mark as Mahindra reportedly has set its sight on the Maruti WagonR. 1.2 liter petrol and 1.5 liter turbo diesel engines are expected to power this sub-4 meter offering, which will feature monocoque construction and a front wheel drive layout. 6 seats in a 3+3 format is a unique attribute, and so is the automatic manual transmission option. The S101 is months away from being launched in India, and the production versions could carry the XUV100 or KUV100 monikers.

Maruti Suzuki YBA

The YBA codenamed vehicle is the production version of the XA Alpha concept, which was showcased way back in 2012. Maruti Suzuki will finally launch this compact SUV in early 2016, with an Auto Expo launch on the cards. The YBA will measure under 4 meters in length and will gun straight for the likes of the Ford Ecosport and the Mahindra TUV300. 1.2 liter petrol and 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet turbo diesel engines are likely to power this front wheel driven vehicle that will get a monocoque chassis. An all wheel drive layout may not be in the scheme of things at the outset. Expect sharp pricing, a diesel hybrid system and plenty of features on Maruti’s first “real” compact SUV.

Honda BR-V

The Honda BR-V has already hit the production line at Indonesia and it’s only a matter of time before this Brio-platform based SUV arrives into India. This 7 seater will be served up as an alternate to the likes of the Renault Duster and the Hyundai Creta. Honda is expected to showcase the BR-V at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo, followed by a launch later in that year. The BR-V, which measures over 4 meters in length, is expected to share the 1.5 liter i-VTEC petrol and i-DTEC turbo diesel engines with the Mobilio. A front wheel drive layout will be standard, and so will be the monocoque chassis.

Tata Nexon

The Nexon crossover, which was showcased at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo as a concept, should be production ready by the next Auto Expo, which will happen in February 2016. Tata Motors’ first stab at the compact SUV segment, this crossover is expected to share its underpinnings with the Zest, which means that it’ll sit on the modified X1 platform. 1.2 liter REVOTRON turbo petrol and 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet diesel engines will power this crossover, whose styling is Range Rover Evoque inspired. Expect a boat load of equipment and features. Top class fit and finish levels, similar to those on the Zest, are likely on the Nexon. A very competitive price tag close to the 6 lakh rupee mark is anticipated.

Tata Hexa

The Tata Hexa seeks to give the Aria a new lease of life. The luxury crossover, which will be Tata Motors’ new flagship passenger vehicle, is an Aria in disguise. Revised bonnet, new front and rear end styling gives the Hexa a bold, new look, much at odds with the MPV-like Aria. The interiors get a major refurbishing, while equipment such as the Harman infotainment unit, leather wrapped captain seats for six adults, plenty of cubby holes, air conditioning vents for all three rows will make the Hexa a luxurious drive. The 2.2 liter Varicor turbo diesel motor will put out 154 Bhp-400 Nm, the highest ever outputs on a Tata vehicle. 6 speed manual and automatic transmissions, and an all wheel drive layout with a Land Rover style terrain response function will also be on offer. An early 2016 launch is likely.