After MU-X facelift, Isuzu compact SUV for India: Maruti Brezza or Hyundai Creta rival?

Japanese carmaker Isuzu could launch a compact sports utility vehicle in India as the demand for the smaller SUVs continues to grow in the country. Isuzu currently sells the MU-X premium SUV and the V-Cross pickup truck in India.

Speaking to MoneyControl, Ken Takashima, Deputy Managing Director and Executive Vice President, Isuzu India Motors India said that the Japanese carmaker is working on a smaller SUV, and that the company would take a final call on a possible launch in India. Takashima said,

SUV demand is growing not just in India but across the world and the trend is expected to remain like that for some more years. Product development work (for smaller SUVs) is going on internationally and we are yet to decide if India should be one of the markets for it. As we go along we will consider what kind of products we should have next. In India, we are relatively new so we would like to brush up our current line-up as much as possible. We will be bringing out variations of our current line-up for the future. We feel we can do a lot more to improve ourselves in order to meet customer requirements product-wise.

The Japanese carmaker currently only sells diesel-powered sports utility vehicles and pickups in India. However, if Isuzu decides to bring its compact SUV to India, the new vehicle could feature the hybrid powertrains seen on its cars in Japan.

If Isuzu does decide to enter the compact SUV segment in India, it will be entering what is the hottest section of the Indian car market today, which is currently dominated by the nation’s largest carmaker with the Maruti Brezza. Thanks to the Maruti Brezza, the automaker dethroned Mahindra to become the nation’s largest SUV maker. The Maruti Brezza is currently the best selling SUV in the country today. Prices start from Rs. 7.74 lakhs.

Moving a segment higher, Hyundai rules the roost with the Creta. The Hyundai Creta is India’s best selling compact SUV in the 4 meters+ segment. Sales of the Hyundai Creta average about 10,000 units each month. The Hyundai Creta’s prices range between 9.4 lakhs to 14 lakhs.

Isuzu’s latest launch in India saw it launch the facelifted MU-X at a price of Rs 26.27 lakhs. The facelifted MU-X gets LED DRLs, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED taillights and a host of safety features including six airbags.