12 Upcoming SUVs In India In The Foreseeable Future

by Mohammed Burman | 20/12/2019
Share this post:
2020 will see a lot of new SUVs enter the Indian, thanks to their increasing popularity. Here is a list of 12 upcoming SUVs in India that you should look forward to.

Even though the Indian automobile industry is going through a slowdown, the sales of SUVs have been going strong in India. This has prompted manufacturers to either bring in new SUVs or to update/upgrade their older ones. There are a lot of companies that will be bringing out their new SUV models next year. Let’s take a look at all upcoming SUVs in India 2020.

Also Read: CNG Cars In India: From Hyundai Grand I10 Nios To Maruti Ertiga

1. Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza facelift

Maruti Suzuki, the biggest car manufacturer in India, is facing quite a predicament right now. The upcoming BS6 emission norms are forcing every carmaker to update or upgrade their engines, but the cost of doing so well surely upset customers. The costs associated with the jump from BS4 to BS6 compliance will result in increased prices of cars. Maruti, which prides itself in providing family cars at an affordable price, is understandably reluctant to let prices rise too high. As such, we’ll see the discontinuation of the diesel engine on the extremely popular Brezza, in favour of a petrol one.

2020 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

The current Maruti Brezza is powered by a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel motor, based on the Fiat’s Multijet diesel. Due to the upcoming emission norms and Maruti’s decision to do away with the Fiat-sourced engine, we won’t be seeing this engine powering the Brezza facelift. Instead, rumours currently suggest that the car will be powered by a 105PS/138Nm 1.5-litre petrol motor instead, with mild-hybrid assistance available in the higher-trim levels.

2. Hyundai Creta

Next on our list of top upcoming SUVs in India is the 2020 Hyundai Creta. The Creta has been the best selling SUVs in our country (above-4-metres) for quite a long time, only recently being overtaken by MG Hector and Kia Seltos. The Hyundai SUV has also started to look outdated, especially against these two competitors. The next-gen Creta has already been launched in China, alongside the Verna facelift, and we expect the India-spec version to hit our shores very soon.

2020 Hyundai Creta

Also Read: Hyundai Nexo Sets World Record - 778 KM On A Single Tankful

The Hyundai Creta is currently powered by three engine options; a 1.6-litre petrol, a 1.4-litre diesel, and a 1.6-litre diesel. For the next-gen model, the Creta is expected to use the same engines as its cousin, the Kia Seltos. These engine options will consist of a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol (115PS/144Nm), a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol (140PS/242Nm), and a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel (115PS/250Nm).

3. Tata Gravitas

Tata Gravitas is one of the most anticipated upcoming SUV in India. The Gravitas, earlier known as the Buzzard and the Cassini, is essentially a 7-seater version of the Tata Harrier. After launch, the Gravitas will become the flagship in Tata’s arsenal, the most expensive car in the home-grown manufacturer’s line-up. Also, with the discontinuation of Tata Safari Storme earlier this year and the discontinuation of Tata Sumo earlier still, Tata Gravitas will be the only 7-seater SUV in Tata’s line-up apart from the SUV/MPV Crossover Tata Hexa.

2020 Tata Gravitas

Tata Gravitas borrows a lot from the Harrier, including the Omega Arc platform, the same Impact 2.0 design philosophy, and the same Kryotec 2.0 turbo-diesel engine. That engine will generate a max power and torque output of 170 PS and 350 Nm, paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. We expect an AMT to follow a little way down the road after the launch. The upcoming 7-seater SUV will sport bigger dimensions than the Harrier, but the wheelbase is expected to be the same. The most fundamental differences between the two SUVs are the addition of the third seat row in the Gravitas. Expect this upcoming 7-seater SUV to sport a price tag of around Rs. 14.5 lakh.

4. Mahindra XUV500

One of the most hot-selling SUVs in India, the Mahindra XUV500, will also receive a facelift in 2020. Back to its first launch in 2011, it was the first SUV to be supported by a monocoque chassis from the domestic automaker. Soon after that, it has sold like hot cakes in the Indian market. Up to now, Mahindra has given the SUV only one mid-life facelift with a fresher front and several new features. The SUV has started to show its age and faced fierce competition from other more modern SUVs. In this situation, Mahindra has decided to launch a new-gen Mahindra XUV500 in 2020.

2020 Mahindra XUV500

Also Read: 2020 Mahindra Bolero Modified Concept Looks Butch In This Speculative Rendering

The new XUV500 SUV will be underpinned by a new platform and receive the power from new 2.0L petrol and diesel motors which also powers the Scorpio and the Thar but will be tuned to provide a different state of tune. It is expected to keep under its hood a 2.0-litre  motor with a maximum power/torque output of 140 bhp/320 Nm. The power will be spread to the wheels through a brand-new 6-speed gearbox.

5. Skoda Kamiq

As a part of Volkswagen and Skoda’s ‘India 2.0’ plan, the German and Czech manufacturers will be teaming-up efforts to introduce new vehicles to India. As Indian buyers have been particularly receptive to SUVs, especially compact ones, it makes sense for VW group to bring a few of their own. The most significant of these will be the upcoming Skoda Kamiq SUV. This will be the smallest SUV offering from the brand to rival competitors like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Jeep Compass. The Skoda Kamiq will share its platform and engines with the Volkswagen T-Cross, which shall be launched either alongside or a little later.

2020 Skoda Kamiq

Despite its multiple engine options in the global market, so far, the India-spec model has been rumoured to come with a 1.0-litre TSI which can pump 95PS/175Nm. There is also a chance that the Kamiq will feature the same 105PS/175Nm 1.2-litre engine as the Polo GT, slightly retuned to make more power and torque.

6. Mahindra Scorpio

Mahindra Scorpio is perhaps the first car that made car buyers in India go gaga over SUVs. The Scorpio has been around since 2002, and has had a brilliant run through the years. There have been constant cosmetic and powertrain changes to keep the Scorpio fresh, and in 2020, Mahindra will be introducing us to the next-generation model.

2020 Mahindra Scorpio

Also Read: Top 7 Mahindra Cars Under INR 10 Lakh

As per reports, the new-gen Mahindra Scorpio is projected to be launched right after the new BS6 standards take effect in April next year. It is expected to be powered by a new-2.0-litre motor with a maximum power and torque output of 140 PS and 320 Nm respectively. The power will be sent to the wheels through a brand-new 6-speed gearbox. The car will offer a rear-wheel-drive system as standard and an all-wheel-drive system on higher trims.

7. Tata Hornbill (H2X concept)

Tata first introduced the world to the H2X concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, and the car has since been referred to by the codename Hornbill. The car was a small SUV, smaller than the Nexon. While there has been no word on the production of the Hornbill SUV, we expect Tata to do the launch the car by the end of 2020.

2020 Tata Hornbill

The Hornbill SUV is designed based on the IMPACT 2.0 design philosophy of Tata and underpinned by the ALFA Arc chassis. The Hornbill’s targeted customers will be the people who have a hectic lifestyle and desire for a comfortable, practical, flexible but powerful car. Currently, Tata has confirmed that the Hornbill will be introduced as an all-electric vehicle, following in the footsteps of the recently revealed Nexon EV.

8. Force Gurkha

Force Motors offers one of the best off-roading vehicles you can buy on a medium-high budget, the Gurkha SUV. Available in three trims, Xplorer, Xpedition, and Xtreme, the Gurkha is perhaps the most quintessential example of an SUV; rugged, tough, with go-anywhere capability. Even though its design has an old-school charm, there is no denying that this vehicle feels extremely outdated now, especially against all the other modern SUVs in the market. That, however, will soon change.

2020 Force Gurkha

Also Read: Force Matador Gets Aftermarket Leather Seater, Becomes A Comfortable And Lovely Van

The current Force Gurkha has two engine options available, a 2.2-litre diesel and a 2.6-litre diesel. The former produces a max power output of 140PS, while the latter produces a power of 86PS. These engines are BS4-compliant at the moment. It is unclear if the same engines will be upgraded to meet the new BS6 standards, or if Force motors will source new engines for their SUV.

9. Citroën C5 Aircross

Citroën has also been eyeing the Indian car market for quite some time now. The company had announced its intention to enter the Indian market back in April 2019, and it seems now that the French carmaker has come very close to delivering on its word. A test mule of the upcoming Citroen C5 Aircross was spied on Indian roads quite recently, and the launch has been confirmed for the second half of 2020.

2020 Citroen C5 Aircross

The Citroen C5 Aircross is internationally available with four engine options, two petrol and two diesel. The petrol engines consist of a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine (131PS/230Nm), and a 1.6-litre turbocharged unit (181PS/ 250Nm). The two diesel engines comprise of a 131PS/ 300Nm and a 1.5-litre version along with a 181PS/400Nm 2.0-litre unit. These engines have not yet been confirmed for India though.

10. Kia QYi

Kia has had a brilliant first inning in the Indian car market with the Kia Seltos. Even though the manufacturer only has one offering in its line-up, customers have been lining up like crazy to buy it. Kia Seltos has had an overwhelming response from Indian customers, and the South Korean manufacturer is planning to expand its portfolio with another SUV to rival Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon, and the recently launched Hyundai Venue.

2020 Kia QYi

Also Read: Check Out These Aggressive Kia Seltos Off-Road Concepts

Kia’s upcoming sub-4-metre SUV will share its architecture and powertrains with the Hyundai Venue. We expect the QYi to offer three engine options: a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol, a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and a 1.4-litre turbo-diesel unit, all BSVI-compliant. Transmission options might be carried over from the Venue as well, which means you’ll get to choose between a 5-speed MT, a 6-speed MT, or a 7-speed DCT automatic unit.

11. Jeep Compass facelift

Jeep Compass was a fairly successful product when it was first launched in India, and was selling decent numbers till the arrival of more modern rivals, the Kia Seltos and MG Hector. These two vehicles have gained such an overwhelming share of the SUV segment that other manufacturers are struggling to keep up! Still, Jeep hasn’t lost its spirit, and the brand will soon reinvigorate public interest by bringing in a facelift for the Compass SUV.

2020 Jeep Compass

The facelifted Jeep Compass will sport a new BSVI-compliant petrol engine, a 1.4-litre turbocharged motor with 170PS and 250Nm of max power and torque respectively. The diesel motor is expected to be the same 2.0-litre unit with 170PS and 350Nm on tap, albeit in a BS6 guise.

12. MG Hector 6-Seater

Just like Kia, MG has also had a wonderful run in India with just a single offering, the MG Hector. Billed as the connected-SUV, the MG Hector offers plenty of tricks and features that not a lot of its competitors offer. Other than that, the company has also unveiled its second offering for India, the MG ZS electric SUV. It does seem like the Chinese-owned-British carmaker is betting high on the Indian market.

2020 MG Hector 6-seater SUV

Also Read: 100 MG ZS EV To Be Added To Lithium Urban Technologies' Self-rental Fleets

Recently, a 6-seater version of the Hector SUV was spied during testing, and we expect the car to launch in India by mid-2020. The upcoming MG SUV will have the same engines as the Hector, a 145PS 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 170PS 2.0-litre diesel.

Tracking icon
Would you like to receive notifications with latest news and car deals from IndianAuto?