6 new affordable compact SUVs launching in 2018: from Maruti, Hyundai, Tata, Mahindra & more

2017 gave a few exciting new entries in the rapidly growing segment of sub 4-meter compact SUVs. In 2018, there is much more in the store. Here are six new compact SUVs that will be launched next year.

Tata Q501

Expected launch: Mid-2018

Codenamed as Q501, the all-new SUV from Tata will take on the likes of Mahindra XUV 500 in the market. The new vehicle will be the first vehicle that will be launched in the market that has been developed with the Tata-JLR partnership. The car has been caught testing in India with Discovery Sport body on it.

The Q501 will use the same LR550 platform used by the Discovery Sport. The SUV will also get SUV components from the Discovery Sport. It is expected to be powered by a 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine sourced from Fiat that also powers the Jeep Compass in India.

Mahindra S201

Expected launch: October 2018

Mahindra is working on an all-new sub 4-meter compact SUV for the Indian market. After the Indian manufacturer decided to keep the not so famous SsangYong brand from the Indian market, the much-awaited Tivoli was also culled. Now Mahindra is working on a car based on the Tivoli to take on likes of Maruti Vitara Brezza and Ford EcoSport in the market. The heavily modified version of the Tivoli will get a monocoque body. It will be powered by 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol that is currently being developed by Mahindra and SsangYong and a new 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder diesel engine.

Nissan Kicks

Expected launch: End 2018

Nissan is working on a new product model, the Kicks for the Indian market. The Kicks will be based on the same B0 platform that forms the base of the Renault Captur and Duster. The Kicks is an urban SUV similar to the Captur, but it will be priced below it in the market.

Engine details of the Kicks are not known yet. The Japanese manufacturer will most likely use the same 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine and the 1.5-litre petrol engine that will be offered with the Captur and also powers the Duster in India. We can expect a showcase of the vehicle during the 2018 Auto Expo and launch later in the year.

Hyundai Creta

Expected launch: Early 2018

The Creta has remained one of the top-selling cars in India since its launch. Hyundai will soon update the vehicle to keep it fresh in the market, and it has been already spied testing in the Indian market. The Creta will get minor updates to the exterior with a new grille and slightly redesigned headlamps. The scuff plates are also altered to give a fresh feel to the vehicle.

The 2017 Creta looks more masculine with lesser chrome, but we are not sure if the Indian version will be similar to the Brazilian model. While the current model is quite loaded with features, the new model will get additions like cornering lights, stability control, TPMS and more. The engine will remain the same. There will be 1.6-litre and 1.4-litre engine options with both petrol and diesel models.

Maruti Brezza petrol

Expected launch: Early 2018

The Brezza is the highest selling sub 4-metre compact SUV in India and Maruti has a long waiting period on the vehicle. The Brezza was launched only in diesel variant, and Maruti had expressed that they are willing to launch a petrol powered Brezza in the future. Maruti Vitara Brezza petrol is in works, and the SUV is expected to get unveiled at the Auto Expo 2018.

The car will be powered by the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder Boosterjet engine that powers the Baleno RS in the current lineup but the power output will be re-tuned. Maruti is also planning to launch an automatic AMT version of the Brezza as right now the only manual transmission is available.

Tata Nexon automatic

Expected launch: Early 2018

The Nexon proved to a successful product for Tata Motors. However, the Indian company does not offer an automatic transmission with the Nexon yet. Recently, the Nexon AMT had been spotted at one of the Tata dealerships, and the launch is imminent. Currently, the Nexon is available with a 6-speed manual transmission with the petrol and diesel engines. The AMT will be most likely be a 6-speed AMT unit and is expected to available with both the engine options.