SUVs at Auto Expo 2020

SUVs are the most popular type of vehicles in India, even in these troubling times of economic slowdown. While the automotive market is going through a slowdown, struggling to make sales, SUVs (especially compact ones) have been selling well. As such, there will be a few new SUVs that will hit the Indian roads soon. Before that, however, we expect to see a few SUVs to be showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo. Here is our list of the SUVs at Auto Expo 2020.

Also Read: Auto Expo 2020: Here's Everything You Need To Know

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

Maruti Suzuki, the biggest car manufacturer in India, is all set to update its best-selling SUV, the Vitara Brezza. The current Maruti Brezza was first unveiled in the 2016 Auto Expo, and has been on sale virtually unchanged since then. This was Suzuki’s first car designed in India, and it was only Maruti Suzuki’s first successful UV in the Indian Market, after the modestly successful Gypsy, the failed Grand Vitara, and the struggling S-Cross. Maruti Brezza is currently only available with a diesel engine. The engine is BS4 compliant only though, so it will be phased out soon. It will be replaced by a BS6 compliant petrol engine with either hybrid or mild-hybrid assistance. We expect the car to be showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo, followed by a launch soon afterwards, before April 2020.

Also Read: 2020 Maruti Vitara Brezza Facelift Looks Fresh In This Rendering

Maruti Suzuki Vitara (7-seater)

Apart from Brezza, Maruti will be showcasing another SUV at 2020 Auto Expo. Suzuki is expected to bring its international compact SUV, the Vitara, to India, albeit in its 7-seater avatar. The Maruti Vitara will be a little larger than the Vitara Brezza, but smaller than the Grand Vitara which was previously in our country. Dynamically, the car is extremely fun to drive and remains composed even at high speeds, and due to its lightweight body and frugal engines, it is also quite fuel-efficient. The Maruti Vitara has been previously spied during testing, which leads us to believe that the company might be considering to launch this car very soon. Even if not, it probably will be one of the SUVs at Auto Expo 2020 to gauge public reaction and consider a future accordingly. The Vitara will go against Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, and Kia Seltos.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki & Toyota To Set Up Vehicle Dismantling and Recycling Facility in India

Maruti S-Cross

The Maruti S-Cross facelift is also going to be introduced at the 2020 Auto Expo. Considering the fact that the BS-VI emission standards are going to take effect soon, and the current 1.6-litre oil burner does not manage to comply with the upcoming norms, the Indian largest automaker will introduce a new gasoline burner on the new S-Cross on the facelifted version. This gasoline burner is the familiar 1.5-litre K15B gasoline burner which also serves as the power source for the Maruti Ciaz and the Ertiga. Specifications have not been unveiled yet but they are likely to be the same as the two siblings, being 104.7 PS and 138 Nm. The engine works in harmony with an SHVS mild-hybrid system which helps to optimize the fuel mileage. Besides, the facelifted Maruti S-Cross is also expected to get some mild alterations in terms of design.

Maruti Suzuki Futuro-e

The latest car announcement from India's largest manufacturer is quite an exciting one. Maruti has released a teaser image for a new electric concept car, the Futuro-e. The Maruti Futuro E is a coupe-styled SUV, much like the VW ID-Crozz, which will also be showcased at the Auto Expo in February. Unlike the ID-Crozz though, Maruti will be targeting the mass market with their electric SUV, instead of keeping it a niche product. No details are available as of yet, but stay tuned to IndianAuto, as we'll be updating our info as soon as we get our hands on it!

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Creta was first launched in India in 2015, and was the best-selling compact SUV (above-4-metres) till the entry of MG Hector and Kia Seltos. The credit goes primarily to Hyundai’s service centre availability throughout the country, and the brand’s image of reliability. Of course, the car is quite good-looking too, which is another reason it sold so well. Now, however, the car has grown a little outdated and needs a significant overhaul. The second-generation Hyundai Creta is sharper-looking, has better tech on offer, and will probably have better driving dynamics as well. The car was launched in China earlier, so we now have a clue about how it’s going to look. We expect that the engines will be shared with the Kia Seltos, which is a great thing, as those engines are brilliant. This one's definitely among the most awaited SUVs at Auto Expo 2020.

Also Read: Hyundai Kona Electric Beats Mahindra & Tata EVs to Become Govt’s Choice

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Creta wasn’t the only SUV brought to India by the South Korean manufacturer. The company had also launched the Tucson and Santa Fe in India but hadn’t had much success with them. It was logical that the company decided to pull the plug on these cars. The market has matured since then, and with the immense popularity of SUVs in India, we will probably see the revival of this SUV very soon. The Tucson will not be launched in the 2020 Auto Expo, as it may steal the limelight from its younger sibling, the Hyundai Creta. Still, there could be a show car on display, which would help us take a glimpse into what the final product would look like. Upon launch, the Hyundai Tucson would go against Tata Harrier, Renault Captur, and MG Hector.

Also Read: 2020 Hyundai i20 Spotted With Digital Instrument Cluster

Tata Nexon facelift and Nexon EV

Tata will also be displaying its SUVs at the 2020 Auto Expo. The most important of those will be Tata Nexon facelift. The first Indian manufactured car to ever score a 5-star Global NCAP crash rating, the Nexon is a truly great car. Apart from safety, it has a few other tricks up its sleeve as well. The engines, a turbo-petrol and a turbo-diesel, are both frugal as well as powerful. The styling is cute and bubbly. Overall, not only is this one of the best cars made by Tata, it is one of the best cars made in India yet. Apart from that, Tata Nexon EV will also be showcased, and probably launched at the Auto Expo. Nexon EV was officially unveiled by the company a little while ago. Sadly, the sales figures haven’t reflected all the work put in by the company. It is also time for a minor facelift, which will help refresh the car a little, and possibly gain more attention. There are several spy shots of the upcoming Tata Nexon and the upcoming Nexon EV, which is why we expect the car to launch soon. Also, the current car is only BS4 compliant, and as such the launch of the new car will probably be. in a BS6 avatar right before April 2020. The new Nexon is another one of the most important SUVs at Auto Expo 2020

Also Read: Upcoming Tata Cars At Auto Expo 2020

Tata Hornbill

Tata has recently released the first teaser for its brand new SUV at Auto Expo 2020, the Tata Hornbill. Having seen the potential of compact SUVs in the Indian market, Tata motors will be expanding its line-up further in this category. Tata Hornbill will be based on the Tata H2X concept showcased at the 2019 Geneva Motor show. While we don’t expect a launch anytime soon, the car will be showcased at the Auto Expo in a near-production avatar. Tata Hornbill is based on the same ALFA platform and will be positioned under the Tata Nexon.

Earlier, it was reported that the Hornbill will be an electric car, and will have a driving range of 230 Km. Now though, it seems like that the upcoming Tata Micro-SUV will be powered by the same 1.2-litre engine that powers the Altroz. There will be no diesel variant, as small, BS6-compliant diesel engine are too expensive to make sense for an entry level car. In terms of dimensions, the Hornbill will be larger than Maruti S-Presso and Renault Kwid, two of its main competitors. It will perhaps be closer to Mahindra KUV100 in size, although pricing will definitely be lower.

Also Read: 2020 Tata Tiago (Facelift) Spotted Testing

Tata Gravitas (Buzzard / Cassini / 7-seater Harrier)

Just like the H2X, there is another concept car by Tata that will hit the roads soon. Tata Buzzard (or Cassini, there is no official confirmation on the name yet) is based on the H7X concept car. In essence, it is simply a 7-seater Tata Harrier, which itself is a great car. As for the design, the Tata Buzzard will carry the exact same exterior and interior as the Harrier, but with an addition of the third-row seats. As such, the Buzzard will be slightly longer, maybe a little taller too, to liberate more headroom. The engine on offer will be the Fiat-sourced diesel, with no petrol engine on the horizon.This one's definitely among the most interesting SUVs at Auto Expo 2020.

Also Read: Tata Harrier Vs Tata Buzzard – Similarities And Differences

Kia QYI

Kia Seltos was a breakout success in India, selling more units than any other manufacturer in the short time it has been on sale here. It has even surpassed its cousin, the Hyundai Creta, the leader in the SUV segment, in terms of sales. With the success of such a massive scale, it’s a no-brainer that Kia will be launching another SUV in the market, this time a sub-compact one. Codenamed Kia QYI, the upcoming sub-4-metre SUV from Kia has been teased in two official sketches released by the company. The SUV has been spotted testing many times and and is expected to share engine specifications with the Seltos and the Hyundai Venue. Before its launch though, the South Korean carmaker will be displaying its upcoming SUV at the 2020 Auto Expo, alongside the Kia Carnival MPV. Kia QYI will compete against Maruti Brezza, Mahindra XUV300, Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Venue, and the recently launched Tata Nexon facelift.

Also Read: Kia Carnival Confirmed To Launch At 2020 Auto Expo

Renault HBC

The next model on our list of SUVs at Auto Expo 2020 is the SUV sibling of the Triber. Both the budget MPV and Kwid have helped Renault gain a lot of popularity in India. To further cement the brand in our country, Renault will be entering the hotly-contested but extremely-popular compact SUV market. Renault HBC will be based on the extremely versatile CMF platform, which underpins both the Kwid and the Triber. The HBC will also share its exterior and interior design with these two cars. Even the engines will be shared, but will be updated to meet the BS6 norms.

Also Read: Renault Kwid New vs Old Model Comparison

Upcoming Nissan Compact SUV

Recently, Nissan has released a teaser for a new compact SUV for the Indian market, codenamed EM2. The upcoming SUV will be sub-4-metre in length, and thus will be a competitor to Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Mahindra XUV300 and Tata Nexon. As visible in the teaser image, the upcoming Nissan SUV will have sporty proportions and smart exterior design. In fact, on the design front, the car will take cues from Nissan’s subcompact SUV for the international market, the Nissan Juke, along with the Nissan Kicks available in India.

The upcoming Nissan SUV will be underpinned by Renault’s CMF platform. Not only that, but the car will share a lot of components with the upcoming Renault HBC compact SUV. As for the specifications, EM2 will be powered by an all-new 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine developed by Nissan (called HR10), paired to either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. The new engine will be BS6-compliant and will also make its way into Renault’s Triber and HBC. Needless to say, this upcoming SUV will be showcased at Auto Expo 2020.

Mahindra Thar

As for one of the most popular UV manufacturers in India, Mahindra will also be showcasing their SUVs at Auto Expo 2020. The first Mahindra car in our list is something that would please the adventurers a fair bit. Mahindra Thar is returning, and oh how! The Thar was recently discontinued, after a brief stint as a limited edition Thar 700. While the absence of this car has left a small gap in the market and the hearts of enthusiasts, the gap won’t last for long. If you follow IndianAuto news, you probably know that the next-generation Mahindra Thar is already in the testing phase. The next-gen Thar will feature new engines which are cleaner and more powerful. While there has been no official statement, we expect the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine from XUV500 to be present here. There is also a possibility of a petrol engine being available.

Also Read: Watch How Mahindra Thar 4x4 Rescues A Giant Bharat Benz Truck

Mahindra Scorpio

Mahindra Scorpio has, in more ways than one, defined what an SUV is supposed to be. In the world full of monocoque SUVs, the ladder-frame Scorpio manages to hold quite a lot of popularity. Still, the vehicle is extremely outdated and the competition left it in the dust. It thus seems like Mahindra needs to step up their game. That, Mahindra did! The next-gen Mahindra Scorpio has been spied during testing, and the test vehicle does seem like a significant improvement in terms of exterior, and we’re sure the interior design will be good too. The Scorpio will probably get the same engines as the upcoming Thar and XUV500.

Also Read: Upcoming Cars to be Produced by Mahindra-Ford JV

Mahindra XUV500

Apart from the upcoming Thar and Scorpio, Mahindra will also introduce the new XUV500 to the world at the 2020 Auto Expo. The company is keen on revising its entire SUV line-up, and as these BS4 vehicles have to be phased out, what better time to introduce these models to the world, right? Among all the SUVs at Auto Expo 2020, Mahindra XUV500 is probably one of the most anticipated ones. It will be positioned at the premium end of the market, and is expected to be based on the SsangYong Korando. It will have many premium features and tech under its belt. Under the hood, we expect the same 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine as the current model, but tuned to be BS6 compliant. Mahindra had previously discontinued the petrol engine due to poor demand, but might bring it back with the new model.

Also Read: Mahindra Cars At Auto Expo

Skoda Kamiq-based compact SUV

Skoda India has announced that the first product to be produced under the India 2.0 restructuring plan will be a Kamiq-based SUV. The SUV is likely to be a sub-4-metre compact SUV; however, the Czech automaker has yet to confirm this. The Kamiq measures around 4.2 metres in length and the 5-seater SUV borrows many design traits from the bigger Kodiaq and Karoq. These include sharp creases, concave surfaces, a dropping roofline, well-defined wheel arches and C-shaped tail lamps. The international Skoda Kamiq will have a high localization level so as to keep the price down.

Skoda Karoq

The upcoming Skoda mid-size SUV, the Karoq, has been confirmed to be launched in April 2020. The Karoq will reach Indian shores through the CBU unit. For an SUV of this size, the Karoq will be priced at a quite high range. The India-spec Karoq is expected to receive its power from a 1.5-litre TSI turbocharged gasoline burner which can deliver 150 HP and is mated to a 6-speed MT/7-speed DCT. A diesel unit is also on the lineup and is likely to be introduced soon. The SUV will compete against the Hyundai Tucson, the Jeep Compass and the upcoming VW T-Roc in the Indian auto market.

Volkswagen T-Cross

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, the recently merged entity consisting of Volkswagen India and Skoda India, will be working hard under their ‘India 2.0’ scheme to revive the struggling sister brands. We expect a few compact SUVs to make their way to India soon, particularly from Volkswagen. The recently teased Volkswagen T-sport, VW’s coupe-styled compact SUV, could also be India bound, but that vehicle wouldn’t reach production form for quite a while now. Instead, we expect the T-Cross crossover to make its debut at the Auto Expo. The T-Cross will go up against the likes of MG Hector, Tata Harrier, and Renault Captur.

Also Read: Volkswagen Passat Production Shelved Due To Poor Sales

Volkswagen T-Roc

Our next pick in the crowd of SUVs at Auto Expo 2020 is the Volkswagen T-Roc. It is based on VW group's MQB platform, and is smaller in size compared to the Tiguan SUV we already have in India. The T-Roc will be powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine that produces 145 PS of max power. The car is expected to be priced around the Rs 18 lakh mark at the time of launch, and will compete against rivals like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Jeep Compass.

Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace

Volkswagen does not have a 7-seater SUV in its line-up, but that won't be the case for long. Volkswagen has confirmed that it will be launching the Tiguan AllSpace in India soon. VW Tiguan AllSpace is essentially a 7-seater version of the VW Tiguan, just like Tata Gravitas is of Tata Harrier. Tiguan Allspace will be sold with a 2.0-litre diesel motor with a max power of 145 PS and a peak torque of 340 Nm. The engine will be coupled to a 6-speed Dual Clutch automatic gearbox. Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace will cost around Rs. 37 lakh and will compete against other premium 7-seater SUVs like Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner, and the upcoming Tata Gravitas.

Volkswagen ID Crozz EV

Among all the SUVs at Auto Expo 2020, there are a few exciting electric vehicles as well. Volkswagen ID Crozz is a Coupe-styled SUV, based on VW group’s MEB (electric car) platform. The car was first unveiled as a concept car during the 2017 Shanghai motor show, and there aren't any details about it available yet. Still, it is quite an exciting vehicle, and will perhaps be one of most brilliant EVs to grace Indian shores. We expect the driving range to be around 250 to 300 Km, which will be in the same ballpark as the Hyundai Kona EV, MG ZS EV, and the Tata Nexon EV. We also expect great performance from the ID Crozz, owing to the oodles of torque that will be on offer.

MG Gloster (Maxus D90)

MG Motors India would soon be bringing in a rebadged version of the Maxus D90. Maxus is the sister brand of MG, owned by the parent company SAIC Motor, a state-owned Automotive venture in China. Officially, the SUV is claimed to be the competitor to Toyota Land Cruiser and Jeep Grand Cherokee. That said, the rebadged Maxus won't have much in common with the competition stated prior except the dimensions. The MG Gloster will be a gigantic SUV, 5,005mm long, 1,932mm wide, and 1,875mm in height. The wheelbase of the car will be a gigantic 2,950mm. Realistically speaking, the Gloster will compete against Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, and Mahindra Alturas G4.

MG Hector 6-seater

The 6-seater version of the MG Hector is expected to make its debut at the Auto Expo 2020. Most of the features of the 5-seater MG Hector will be carried over to the 6-seater version. The engine options of the former will also be maintained the same on the latter but compliant with the BS-VI emission standards. The SUV has been spotted testing with slight design alterations.

MG ZS EV

MG Hector has been an immensely successful car, beating the sales slump that has plagued the automotive sector and emerging as one of the best selling vehicles in the Indian market. Now, it seems like MG will expand its range to include a smaller SUV as well. This new model won’t be powered by an internal combustion engine though. MG’s next entry into India will be an electric vehicle, the MG ZS. With the government of India promoting electrification of vehicles, introducing an electric vehicle early into the market will help the company have a stronger network before EVs go mainstream. The ZS has already been revealed and the car will be launch-ready soon enough. Even if the launch gets delayed, it will definitely be showcased at the Auto Expo.

Also Read: MG Hector Production To Increase From November 2019

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Mercedes Benz GLE is one of the most successful Mercedes cars in India in recent history, so much so that the car has sold out in India. The German Auto Giant won’t be bringing in more units of the vehicle though, as the GLE has been refreshed for the upcoming year. Bookings for the 2020 Mercedes GLE have already started and the car is expected to launch in January, ahead of the Auto Expo. Nevertheless, we expect the car to be put on display at the 2020 Auto Expo. The car will feature a lot of exterior and interior changes but will sport the same powerplants as the out-going model in a BS6 avatar.

Also Read: Mercedes-Benz G 350 D Launched At INR 1.5 Crore

Haval H6 (Great Wall Motors)

Great Wall Motors, a Chinese UV manufacturer, will be making its India debut at the upcoming Auto Expo. Great Wall Motors consists of four brands: Great Wall, Haval, WEY, and ORA (electric vehicles). The Great Wall motors will be establishing a plant in Gujarat to start its operations in India. Great Wall Motors will be bringing in their range of Compact SUVs to India, probably under the Haval brand name, which specialises in SUVs. The first product to be introduced in India will be the Haval H6 SUV, which will compete with Hyundai Creta and Jeep Compass. Not only that, but there could also be some pick-up trucks showcased their stall, which could either be lifestyle products like Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, or work trucks like Tata Xenon Yodhha and Mahindra Bolero Pickup.

Above is a list of the SUVs at Auto Expo 2020. Grab a chance to see the above SUVs in person by paying a visit to this biennial automotive show.