It’s been a crazy year for SUVs around the world. Everyone has introduced or will introduce high riding models over the next few years with companies like Volkswagen even announcing a range of 10 SUVs across segment over the next three years. India too has been hooked on to the hype and will get a slew of vehicles in 2017. Here then is a list of eight SUVs that we can expect on our shores in the 17th year of this century.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza AMT
The Vitara Brezza is Maruti Suzuki’s first compact SUV and it has been a runaway success for the Indo-Japanese automaker. As a part of its annual upgrade, the Brezza is expected to get an automated manual transmission which will be a five-speed unit mated to a 1.3-litre diesel unit producing 89bhp/190Nm of torque.
Mahindra TUV500
Mahindra’s identity as an SUV maker will come into the fore over the coming years as the body style becomes more and more popular. It aims to have a vehicle in every part of the market and will introduce a LWB variant of the TUV which will take on the Duster and Hyundai Creta and possibly overlap with the Scorpio adhering to a strategy of multiple models in a segment to boost numbers.
Ford Kuga
The Ford Kuga will be the Blue Oval’s new D-segment SUV to take on the likes of the Hyundai Tucson as well as the Renault Kaptur. We will get the 2017 model that was unveiled earlier this year. It is expected to come here via the CKD route and will be offered with both petrol and diesel engines as well as MT/AT options.
Renault Kaptur
Renault has closed the door on the Koleos/Fluence and instead will replace both its premium competitors with a locally produced version of the Kaptur crossover. It will slot in above the Duster and have an urban oriented premium cabin to differentiate it from the Duster. It will however, make use of the same platform and underpinnings as the latter.
Tata Hexa
It’s the new seven-seater flagship from Tata and is called the Hexa. This new SUV will be offered with two engines, three transmissions and features to take on the Mahindra XUV500 and the Toyota Innova Crysta in the D-segment. We have already driven the car and you can find a link to our first drive review here.
Skoda Kodiaq
Looking to hop on to the SUV bandwagon, Skoda will introduce its second SUV for the Indian market. Dubbed the Kodiaq, it will be a seven-seater to rival the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and Mitsubishi Pajero. Expect petrol and diesel engines with both manual and automatic options. It will arrive in late 2017 through the CKD route.
Nissan X-Trail
The Nissan X-Trail in its standard avatar was one of the first models that Nissan bought to India when it came here in 2007. Now, 10 years later it will bring back the crossover in its latest and most green guise. To be offered only as a hybrid, it will come to India in late 2017 through the CBU route making it a niche offering.
