Hyundai is India’s second-largest car manufacturer, and they currently offer a wide range of SUVs, hatchbacks, and sedans in the market. According to reports, Hyundai is now considering introducing a brand-new SUV that will be positioned above the Alcazar and below their flagship SUV, the Tucson. The upcoming SUV will compete with the likes of the Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Safari.
The upcoming SUV is currently codenamed Ni1i. It will be built at Hyundai’s newly acquired General Motors facility in Talegaon, Pune. What makes this SUV even more special is that it will be the first Hyundai SUV to feature a hybrid engine in India. Hyundai is expected to launch the petrol-hybrid SUV in the next 24 to 30 months.
There is not much information available about the upcoming SUV, but according to Autocar India, Hyundai will be launching Ni1i as a three-row SUV to compete with Mahindra’s XUV700 and Tata Safari. Reports suggest that the upcoming SUV will be longer than the current flagship, the Tucson. It is expected to be based on the LWB (long-wheelbase) version of the Tucson, which is sold in the Chinese market.
If it is based on the LWB version, the SUV would offer an extremely spacious cabin, and even the third row would have more space compared to its Indian competitors. While we don’t have much information about the exterior design, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that the car would feature Hyundai’s signature H-shaped LED DRLs, connected LED bar, and all-LED taillights with connecting bars.
Like all other Hyundai products currently available, the upcoming SUV will also be feature-loaded. Hyundai is not going to compromise on that front. It will offer several premium features such as a panoramic sunroof, electrically adjustable and ventilated seats, ADAS Level 2 features, premium upholstery, several connected car features, and more.
As for the engine and transmission, as mentioned earlier, Hyundai will be introducing the new SUV with a petrol-hybrid engine. Hyundai likely made this decision after witnessing the success of Maruti and Toyota models in the market, which also feature strong hybrid engines.
Internationally, Hyundai offers a 1.6-liter strong hybrid petrol engine with the Tucson. This engine is shared with other Hyundai and Kia models. We expect Hyundai to offer the same hybrid engine in the new SUV, along with their existing 1.5-liter naturally aspirated or turbo-petrol engines. This way, Hyundai can ensure that the vehicle’s cost is kept in check.
With the introduction of this strong hybrid SUV, Hyundai will offer vehicles with petrol, diesel, ethanol-blended, CNG, electric, and strong hybrid powertrains. Hyundai will also soon start working on the next-generation Venue which is expected to get launched in late 2025.
There has been a rise in customers choosing strong hybrid vehicles, as they offer better range than a regular EV, along with fuel efficiency that a standard petrol engine sometimes struggles to provide. Many state governments are also offering incentives to customers who are opting for strong hybrids and electric vehicles. Hyundai currently aims to produce around 50,000 units of this upcoming SUV annually from their Talegaon plant.
