Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV for India: EcoSport, Nexon, Brezza competition model coming soon

Jeep and FCA boss, Mike Manley has announced that Jeep will enter three new segments and will cover 100% markets by 2022. It is also been declared that in India a highly localized product will come. Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV for India will be a sub-four meter car that will take on the Maruti Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport and Tata Nexon. This a segment that has been doing wonders for manufactures in India for some time now. No wonder a SUV maker like Jeep will want to come into this segment and capitalize on the segments huge consumer base.

Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV Platform

Now with the continued success of the Jeep Compass, India has become a top priority market for the American manufacturer. The new car will be a highly localized product and be made with India in mind. It will be developed as a result on a highly localized platform too. The car will be made at Jeeps Ranjangaon facility in Pune, Maharashtra. There was talk about the car using a Fiat 500 or Fiat Panda (sold in Europe) as a base for this car, but it’s unlikely to do so. This car will use the Jeep Renegade which is going to launch in India soon as a base or platform. The Renegade and Compass are based on the Fiat Punto’s platform. There are different versions of the platform and this will be done to make sure the products cost is kept minimal.

Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV Launch

Right now plans to launch a new sub-four meter car have been revealed. But there has been no talk on when this new SUV will be launched exactly. Jeep plans to bring the Renegade first by next year followed by the Trail Hawk variant of the Compass. We should expect this car to be launched only in 2020. The new car will be a whole new segment for Jeep to explore even globally and will be the smallest car they make.

Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV Price

The new car will be Jeeps smallest product. It will also be the cheapest product. This will be credited Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV being given the sub-four meter treatment which in turn will help lowering of taxes and garnering rebates in India. The car will be priced between ₹8 to ₹13 lakhs, with the base models and mid-range variants making the car a sub-10 Lakh car.

Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV Design and Interior

While it is too early to speculate and make any sense of the design and what will be the inspiration of this car, we can say that it will have a few Jeep characteristics for sure. The car will have a high ground clearance, the car will have a boxy and yet modern design to it. By the time this cars launched, features like the daytime running lamps, LED headlights and taillights, reverse parking cameras and rear parking sensors and two airbags as standard. Mostly such features are standard on Jeeps; we hope that in the sub-four meter category they become accessible too.

On the inside we hope to see a big touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. We also hope that the car gets features like electrically adjustable seats for the driver (this will be a segment first), cruise control, leather upholstery for the seats, a 60:40 split for the rear seats, a lot of space in boot (atleast 400 litres).

Even with all this, we should remember that Jeep will want the Renegade to be the more premium SUV to buy. So it will get more features and a greater spec sheet for sure.

Also Read: Hyundai’s Sub-Four meter SUV coming soon

Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV Specifications

Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV will mostly use the Punto’s 1.3-litre diesel engine that makes 90bhp and 200Nm of torque. The car will be available with only the manual gearbox to begin with. It should be a six-speed manual gearbox. The automatic will come in later. The petrol engine could be the 1.2-litre engine used on the Punto again. Jeep will do the smart thing and release both engine options to go with all variants. Also, not to forget one more important deal, it’s a Jeep. There will be a variant, mostly the top end which will have the option of four wheel drive with a terrain select option. Jeeps will make sure this car gets that too.

Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV Competition

The car will be seen as a premium and better offering in the sub-four meter market. Jeeps Sub-10 Lakh SUV will play the premium badging card. The car will go up against the Ford EcoSport, Maruti Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon and the Honda WRV. The car will also come out around the same time, before or after the Hyundai Carlino too.