Top 5 Mass Market SUVs to be Showcased During Auto Expo 2020

In few days from now, Indian Auto Expo 2020 will open its doors. There will be many concepts on display and many new products will be launched too. But among these numerous launches / showcases happening simultaneously, the real stars of the show will be mass market SUVs. Along with their other products, almost every car manufacturer will have a new SUV to show. Let’s have a look at Top 5 mass market SUVs coming soon in India.

Kia Sonet (Code-named QYI)

Kia Motors is having really good Indian run. Their formula of offering futuristic, feature-loaded SUVs seems to be working very well. After Seltos and Carnival, third product for India from Kia will be a compact SUV. We already know the relation between Kia and Hyundai. Next generation Hyundai Creta will borrow underpinnings from Seltos, in return, this new Kia will borrow underpinnings from Hyundai Venue. Initially code-named as QYI, it is likely to be called as Sonet. Scheduled to launch in later half of this calendar year, when launched this will be their smallest offering in the country. It will have a price tag starting around 8 lakhs and going all the way up to 14 lakhs rupees. Expect the engine and gearbox combo to be similar to that of it’s donor car – the Venue. It will definitely bring futuristic styling elements and features loaded to brim.

Renault Kiger (Code-named HBC)

Renault is doing good with its products based on CMF-A platform, namely Kwid and Triber. Now, to build on to the success of that platform, the company is readying up a hot new compact SUV. Along with platform, this new mass market SUV – named Kiger, will share the 1.0 liter Energy engine with its siblings. It may also debut turbocharged version of the same engine on higher trims. As declared earlier, April 2020 onwards there will be no diesel engine on offer under any new Renault car. Expect the 5 speed manual and Easy-R AMT gear boxes paired with these engines. Renault Kiger, earlier known as HBC, will be company’s first compact SUV and is likely to carry very aggressive price tag. Going by the prices of the other cars based on CMF-A platform, we are guessing this car to be priced well below 10 lakh rupees.

Tata Hornbill (Code-named H2X)

Tata Motors has started the year 2020 on high note with launch of Altroz and facelifts of other cars. Even after launching multiple cars recently, their arsenal has a lot more firepower remaining. Along side the updated Harrier and all new Buzzard Tata Motors will have Hornbill (aka as H2X) on display. The Hornbill is a mini SUV which will be competing with Mahindra KUV 100 and other hatchbacks. As announced earlier, this will petrol only offering and will share many components with Altroz for cost savings. It will be interesting to see , which gearbox company will pair with its 1.2 liter petrol engine. Company may choose AMT unit used in Tigor or may bring in speculated dual clutch transmission from Altroz to this car.

Volkswagen T-cross and Skoda Kamiq

Volkswagen India’s struggle of recent times is likely to come to an end with their new products. Company has already teased three new SUVs which will be the star of their pavilion during Auto Expo – namely T-cross, T-roc and Tiguan AllSpace. Out of these, the later two will get launched this year itself followed by T-cross next year. The T-cross will be competing again Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and its own brother from another mother which is Skoda Kamiq. T-cross will be company’s third and much needed launch in mass market after very old Polo and Vento. After implementation of BS-VI emission norms, VW is likely to discontinue the small diesel engines. But company may bring-in their CNG technology to our country to make up for that. With typical VW like styling and build quality, T-cross would be interesting car to look for.

Sharing everything, except outer body panels, with Volkswagen T-cross will be a new SUV from Skoda India. In continuation with their latest nomenclature strategy, it could be named as Kamiq. Indian Kamiq will be only sharing the looks with international version but the underpinning will be different and heavily localized ones. Skoda India is currently driving the turnaround for their India operation along with Volkswagen. These two products will be the flag bearer of that strategy.

Hyundai Creta (2nd Generation)

Hyundai’s hottest selling SUV till date is none other than Creta. Now company has confirmed to unveil the this SUVs second gen model during Auto Expo 2020. We have already seen this car as it is already on sell in China as ix25. While moving a generation ahead, this car has borrowed a radical design theme. It adapts all new design language which gives it a headlight and taillight cluster split into three parts. Front end will have that Hyundai family look with that trapezoidal wide grill. Like all other Hyundais, this car will be loaded with latest features. This SUV is likely to borrow many features and engines from Kia Seltos. So it will be interesting to see how both of these mass market suvs manage not to cannibalize each other’s sales.