SUVs are highly coveted across the world, including the Indian market, due to their practicality and commanding driving position with good ground clearance. This body style is ideal for both short and long-distance trips. As such, we have put together a comprehensive list of upcoming SUVs that will be launching in India starting in April 2023.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx
The Fronx, formerly known as the Maruti YTB, was launched at the Auto Expo and will be available for purchase through Maruti’s Nexa shops in early April. This coupe SUV is built on the same platform as the Baleno, but it has unique front and back designs, additional ground clearance, and tough components that give it a more SUV-like appearance. Its split headlamps and coupé-style roofline are similar to those of the Grand Vitara. The Fronx is powered by a BS6-compliant 1.0-liter turbo-petrol engine first seen in the Baleno RS and is expected to have mild-hybrid technology.
Coming: April 2023
Engines: 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, 1.2-litre petrol
Expected price: Rs 7 lakh-11 lakh
Maruti Suzuki Jimny
Maruti Suzuki displayed both the Jimny 5-door and the Fronx at the Auto Expo. The Jimny has garnered over 23,500 reservations and is scheduled to launch in May. According to dealers, deliveries are also expected to begin later that month. The Jimny 5-door is somewhat less than four meters long and will have a 1.5-liter petrol engine, making it ineligible for government excise subsidies. It will come standard with mild-hybrid technology and will be available with either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. All variants will also have four-wheel drive and a low ratio.
Coming: May 2023
Engine: 1.5-litre petrol
Expected price: Rs 10 lakh-15 lakh
2023 Kia Seltos
The Kia Seltos facelift is set to undergo significant changes to its front design, which will include alterations to the bonnet, grille, and headlamps. Along with this, there will be fresh alloy wheel design and revised side cladding. At the rear, the car will receive various styling tweaks, such as updated tail-lamps and a new bumper featuring a faux skid plate. The interior of the updated Seltos will have new upholstery, and the dashboard will receive cosmetic updates and new features like ADAS, which is specifically designed for India. Additionally, Kia will offer a new infotainment system with a redesigned control panel for air conditioning. The 1.4-turbo engine will be replaced by a new 160hp, 1.5-liter petrol engine in the Seltos. The latest RDE updates will be applied to the 1.5 diesel and 1.5 NA petrol engines.
Coming: Mid 2023
Engines: 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, 1.5-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel
Expected price: Rs 12 lakh-20 lakh
Honda midsize SUV
Honda is entering the midsize SUV market with a new model targeted at competing with the current market leader, the Hyundai Creta. This new SUV is now being tested on the outskirts of Mumbai and appears to be a completely new vehicle, not the HR-V or WR-V variants that are available elsewhere. Thanks to Honda’s packaging prowess, the new SUV will be around 4.2 metres long and will have enough capacity for five occupants as well as a substantial luggage compartment.
The new SUV is expected to be available with a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.5-liter petrol hybrid powertrain. However, there will be no diesel model because Honda stopped producing diesel engines in February 2023 due to new emission rules. Although details are limited, Honda’s next midsize SUV is likely to include cutting-edge onboard technology, including a next-generation touchscreen infotainment system.
Coming: Mid 2023 (global debut)
Engine: 1.5-litre petrol
Expected price: Rs 16 lakh-18 lakh
Mercedes-Benz GLC
The latest GLC generation has received a few significant upgrades over its predecessor. One of the most visible differences is its slightly larger size, as well as other cosmetic alterations such as a larger grille, new headlight design, and more streamlined tail-lamps. Its interior design is significantly influenced by the new C-Class, with features such as a 12.3-inch digital cluster, an 11.9-inch portrait-style centre screen, reworked air vents, and enhanced materials. The GLC now includes a head-up display, a panoramic sunroof, and a 710W Burmester sound system with 15 speakers.
The GLC is available with two options for petrol and one for diesel engines, the GLC200, GLC300, and GLC220d, respectively. An integrated starting motor is part of the 48V mild-hybrid system that is installed in each of these engines. In addition, the same engines are available as plug-in hybrids with a 120km pure electric range in the GLC300e, GLC400e, and GLC300de models.
Coming: Mid 2023
Engines: 2.0-litre petrol, 2.0-litre diesel
Expected price: Rs 64 lakh-70 lakh
Hyundai Ai3 Compact SUV
The Ai3 SUV from Hyundai, aimed to rival Tata Punch, has initiated testing in India and is expected to commence production in July of this year. The SUV will be based on the platform of the Grand i10 Nios and Aura and may feature the same 1.2-litre petrol engine as well as potentially having a CNG variant due to Hyundai’s other small cars having such options. Positioned in Hyundai’s lineup between the Grand i10 Nios and Venue, the new micro SUV is anticipated to launch in the months following production.
Coming: August 2023
Engine: 1.2-litre petrol
Expected price: Rs 6 lakh-9 lakh
Citroen C3 Aircross
Citroen is launching a new SUV in India under its C-Cubed Program, based on the C3 hatchback. The 5-seater version will compete with the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder and Kia Setlos, while the 7-seater version will take on the Kia Carens and Maruti XL6. The SUV is expected to feature Citroen’s signature grille, fenders, and split LED DRL headlights, with design elements similar to the C3 hatchback. Inside, it may feature a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument console, and other features. The SUV is likely to be powered by a 1.2L turbo petrol engine with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Coming: Late 2023
Engine: 1.2-litre petrol (Turbo and NA)
Expected price: Rs 10 lakh onwards
Force Gurkha 5-door
Mahindra and Force are entering the Indian market’s long-wheel-base 4X4 SUV segment by testing 5-door versions of their popular vehicles. The 2023 Force Gurkha 5-door version was spotted at a dealership, featuring an additional row of seating and retaining its front-end design. The vehicle is expected to come with a 2.6-litre diesel engine generating 90 bhp and 250 Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. While a more powerful 140 bhp engine is a possibility, it is unlikely to materialize.
The 5-door Force Gurkha could offer the part-time manual 4X4 system as an optional feature on select trims, similar to its closest rivals. Depending on the variant, the manual diff-lock option may also be available. The anticipated ex-showroom price range for the 2023 Force Gurkha 5-door version is around Rs 16 lakh. It will compete with the upcoming Mahindra Thar 5-door and 5-door Suzuki Jimny, both of which have also been sighted in India.
Coming: Mid 2023
Engine: 2.6-litre diesel
Expected price: Rs 15 lakh
Lexus RX
The Lexus RX, a luxury crossover SUV manufactured by Toyota, is scheduled to be launched in April 2023. It will be available in two variants – RX350h and RX500h. The RX 350h variant, which will be released in India, will be equipped with a 250hp, 2.5-liter strong hybrid powertrain coupled with an 18.1kWh battery. As a luxury car, it is well-appointed on the inside, and it is expected to have all the features that one would expect from such a vehicle. The expected price range is 1.1 Crore INR or more, and it will be competing with other luxury cars such as the Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Coming: Mid 2023
Engine: 2.5-litre petrol
Expected price: Rs 1.2 crore
Nissan X-Trail
Last year, Nissan Motor India displayed three premium SUVs at an event in Delhi, namely the Qashqai, Juke, and X-Trail. The new-generation X-Trail made its debut in Japan and is set to enter the Indian market soon, with road testing already underway. The X-Trail will compete against other full-size SUVs such as Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster, VW Tiguan, Skoda Kodiaq, and Jeep Meridian.
The latest X-Trail is sold in both five- and seven-seater configurations and is built on the CMF-C architecture. It is expected to have a 1.5L petrol engine with e-Power technology. Nissan plans to strengthen its premium portfolio in India before launching the heavily localised CMF-B platform-based models. The X-Trail is designed with a striking exterior, featuring a split LED headlamp cluster, a V-motion black grille, and a muscular bonnet. The interior boasts a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument console, a 360-degree camera system, and ADAS-based safety features. The X-Trail is set to go on sale later this year, with a price expected to be around Rs. 40 lakh. Its success will depend on its pricing in the competitive Indian market.
Coming: Late 2023
Engine: 1.5-litre petrol
Expected price: Rs 40 lakh
