The sub-4m compact SUV market started in India with Premier Rio but it was the Ford EcoSport that made the segment very popular. Last year, the segment saw the addition of cars like the all-new Hyundai Venue and the Mahindra XUV300. Earlier this year, Maruti Suzuki launched the new Vitara Brezza with the petrol engine while Tata launched the facelifted version of the Nexon. There is a slew of cars that will be launched later this year in the Indian market in the same segment. Which cars are these? Let’s find out.
Nissan Magnite
Nissan will launch the all-new Magnite that will be based on the Renault-Nissan’s CMF-A+ platform. The all-new car will be Nissan’s newest SUV in the market after the brand discontinued the Terrano in the market. The car is expected to be launched in the coming months since the COVID-19 lockdown has delayed the vehicle. The all-new Magnite will come with a lot of segment-first features including a 360-degree camera. It will take on the likes of the well-established vehicles like the Vitara Brezza and the Venue. The Magnite will be launched only with a petrol engine option. Nissan has already released a few teaser images of the vehicle it will get a lot of sharp creases and will look like the smaller version of the Kicks.
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Kia Sonet
Kia is concentrating on the high demand segments right now. The brand entered the Indian market with the all-new Seltos, which became one of the best-selling vehicles in the market. The next launch was the Carnival luxury MPV. Kia is now working to launch the all-new Sonet that was showcased as a concept at the 2020 Auto Expo. It will be based on the same platform as the Hyundai Venue and will offer a long list of segment-first features including the 10.25-inch infotainment system. Kia will offer the Sonet with the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, a 1.5-litre diesel engine and a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Kia will also introduce a semi-automatic manual transmission dubbed as Intelligent Manual Transmission with the Sonet.
Renault HBC/Kiger
Codenamed as HBC, the Renault HBC will be also be launched on the CMF-A+ platform that underpins the Kwid and the Triber MPV. The all-new car will be launched as an affordable option in the market and will be priced very aggressively. The Kiger will come with only essential features and will come powered by a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that will produce around 99 Bhp and 150 Nm. The car will offer a 5-speed manual transmission and a CVT automatic transmission.
Toyota Urban Cross
Toyota will launch the rebadged version of the Vitara Brezza in the Indian market later this year. This will be the second rebadged product from Toyota in the Indian market. Unlike the Glanza, which did not get any changes compared to the Baleno, the Urban Cross will get a few changes that will give the vehicle a unique identity. The Urban Cross is likely to get a new grille, new bumpers and a few changes inside the cabin to give it a new identity.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza SHVS manual
Maruti Suzuki introduced the new Vitara Brezza earlier this year in the Indian market powered by the 1.5-litre petrol engine. The new car offers both manual and automatic transmission options but Maruti Suzuki offers the SHVS Smart Hybrid system only with the automatic transmission option. This makes the Vitara Brezza’s automatic variants more fuel-efficient than the manual versions. However, the brand is working to launch manual SHVS models that will increase the fuel economy significantly in the future.
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