10 new hatchbacks to be launched in 2017

Hatchbacks are bread and butter for car makers in the Indian car market as they contribute to a large chunk of car sales volume. So if you are planning to buy a hatchback anytime soon, make sure you go through the list of the 10 hatchbacks that we expect will be launched in the year 2017. 

1. Maruti Ignis – The Ignis might be the car that changes the way we look at our hatchbacks and Maruti is all set to launch the car on January 13. It is a compact tall-boy, something dynamically better, spacious and premium as well. The birdie says Maruti will keep the price tag under the Swift and sell it through Nexa.

2. Chevrolet Beat/Activ – Chevrolet has already started testing the beat without camouflage which means the launch is near. The new Beat has been awaited since May earlier this year and should be on the road in the first quarter of 2017. We might have the crossover Beat Activ as well, but later in the year.

3. Maruti Baleno RS – The Baleno RS promised to take the performance hatch game to the next level, competing with the likes of the Polo GT TSI and the Abarth Punto. The car was expected in 2016 itself but should finally be launched early 2017. It is also set to debut the 1.0-litre Boosterjet – the next generation of engines that are expected to power Maruti Suzukis in the future.

4. New Hyundai Grand i10 – The Grand i10 has been a runaway success for the Korean car major with the hatchback ringing over 11,000 units every month. Certainly, a good time to bring in the midlife update and offer more value to the Hyundai customers. With the rigorous testing going on, we hope the Grand i10 to arrive by mid-2017.

5. Tata Tiago AMT – The Tiago success story has been heartening for Tata in its endeavour to reposition itself as a millennial brand. We keep hearing that the AMT is ready but the launch has been delayed and that is not because of the current tumultuous times. With the Hexa slated for January, we think the Tiago AMT might be launched by mid-2017.

6. Volkswagen Polo – The Polo is about to get its annual update with the model year 2017 cars. While the changes on the outside will be minimal, except for the possible DRLs, it will get new equipment inside. Since VW hasn’t announced any changes as yet, we think it might arrive in the month of January itself.

7. Tata Nexon – Tata had announced its strategic plan to launch two new cars every year. With the Hexa postponed to next year, Tata will have three – the Hexa, the Kite 5 compact sedan and the Nexon. The Nexon is not exactly your regular hatch. It is more of a compactSUV like the Brezza and should arrive by the end of 2017.

8. Hyundai Eon – The Eon has been almost the same since its launch and is due for a midlife upgrade. With demonetisation tightening the purse strings, budget compact hatches might make merry. The entry-level hatch from Hyundai had its share of the limelight but after the Renault Kwid and the Redigo, it needs rejuvenation. Expect it to come by in the latter half of 2017.

9. Toyota Prius – The Prius is not really a hatch by Indian standards. It is big, long and spacious and wins a prize for its green miles. The petrol-hybrid has been the face of Greenpeace for years and the latest generation car is slated for a mid-2017 debut.

10. Maruti Suzuki Swift – Last but not the least. The Swift is the only car in India to win the car of the year award twice and it is no rocket science that it sells no matter what. The new Swift has been under the wraps for long but we expect the new-generation car to come by mid-2017. The compact sedan version of the Swift, the Dzire might come earlier, though.