Cars launching in 2016: SUV

The large SUV market in India, both on the lower end of the spectrum to the ultra luxury end of the spectrum is bursting with new products. With Indian audiences hungry for the big large SUV, it is no surprise that 2016 will see a salvo of these vehicles being launched in India. Read on to know more.

Honda CRV diesel

Expected price: Rs 20-50 lakh

Expected launch time: Late 2016

Yes, Honda will finally bring a diesel engine in oue of our favorite SUVs in India, the CRV. The CRV has always been a premium product for India but has only come with a petrol motor. The new CRV will get the 1.6-litre diesel mill which is the original engine the 1.5-litre i-Dtec engine from Honda is based on. Although not much is known about the CRV in diesel guise, expect Honda to launch the CRV diesel late next year post bringing in the Honda BRV with both petrol and diesel engines to India. The Honda BRV is a soft roader and will go up against the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe along with luxury SUvs like the Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLA and the audi Q3. 

Nissan Patrol

Expected price: Over Rs 1 Crore

Expected launch time: Early 2016

The Nissan Patrol is the top of the line SUV in the Nissan portfolio and goes up against the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Mercedes-Benz GLS. The new Patrol is as butch as any SUV can get and comes with large 18-inch wheels as standard. The car also comes with a huge 5.6-litre engine which offers fuel mileage of about 6kmpl. On the plus side, it does come with a massive 140-litre petrol tank. Expect the new Nissan Patrol to be launched at about Rs 1 crore and sell in very limited amounts in India. The new Patrol will also come with luxurious interiors with a fair amount of wood and leather thrown in for good measure.

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Nissan X-Trail

Expected price: Rs 20-50 lakh

Expected launch time: Late 2016

The new X-Trail will mark a comeback of the marquee in India. The new X-Trail will be available at the Rs 25-30 lakh price point and will come with both petrol and diesel engines. The petrol engine is a 2.0-litre power plant which will come with a four pot configuration and sixteen valves using double overhead camshaft based valve arrangement. This engine will have the capacity of churning out a 144PS in combination with a peak torque output of 200Nm. Both these engines will be mated with a seven speed X-Tronic automatic transmission gear box with manual mode. The X-Trail will in essence go up against soft roaders like the Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Santa Fe but will also go up against the likes of the new Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Expected price: Rs 20-50 lakh

Expected launch time: Early 2016

The new Mercedes-Benz is an all new car from the german manufacturer and essentially starts off where the GLK left off in the international market. The GLC will take on the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 in India. Mercedes-Benz India plans to launch the car here in mid-2016, most likely as a CBU, followed by CKD operations in a few months. The GLC is positioned under the GLE and will come with both petrol and diesel engines.  The petrol mill is the GLC 250 and develops 214PS of power and 350Nm of torque. The diesel 220d is what everyone else will choose though with 172PS/400Nm. It does the 0-100kmph run in 8.3 seconds and is 19 percent more efficient. The interior is familiar too as it is borrowed from the C-Class and considering the levels of quality and detail in the C-Class, the GLC’s rivals should be worried with the levels of luxury this SUV will offer.

Bentley Bentayga

Expected price: Over Rs 1 Crore

Expected launch time: Late 2016

If it is ultra exclusive luxury that you seek in your SUV, the Bentley Bentayga is the one for you. The Bentley Bentayga will be equipped with a 6.0-litre W12 petrol engine that churns out 600PS of power at 6,000rpm and 900Nm of torque from 1,250rpm to 4,500rpm. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. This new SUV is capable of sprinting from 0-100kmph in a claimed 4.1 seconds with a top-speed of 301kmph. Expect the Bentley Bentayga to carry a sticker price north of Rs 3.0 crore, and that’s without any of the optional equipment ticked on the configuration sheet. Expect unparallel levels of customization and luxury in the interior of the Bentayga with wood and leather of the highest quality.

Suzuki Grand Vitara

Expected price: Rs 20-50 lakh

Expected launch time: Late 2016

The Suzuki Grand Vitara will make a comeback next year in India and will be slightly more expensive than the likes of the Hyundai Creta and the Honda BR-V in India. As with earlier Vitara models, the car will have a petrol engine and will also have a diesel motor for the first time. The Vitara will get added benefits like an automatic gearbox and an all-wheel-drive setup. The Vitara will also be more luxurious than most of its competitors and will also be larger on the inside. The Vitara will get a five seat configuration in terms of seating and will get a fresh and sporty interior with a youthful design. Expect the car to be priced at about Rs 15-20 lakh in India and also go up against the likes of the Mahindra XUV500. The Grand Vitara will only be available at the exclusive Nexa showrooms that currently sell the Baleno and the S-Cross hatchbacks.

Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe

Expected price: Rs 50 lakh - 1 Core

Expected launch time: Mid 2016

The Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe is the answer to BMW’s X6 coupe SUV. With its large SUV body and its coupe like silhouette, the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe will be quite an impressive on with great road presence. At the premiere the GLE Coupe will be available as a diesel or petrol model with an output range of between 258PS and 333PS. The GLE Coupe will also be available with the 9G-ronic, dual clutch, nine speed gearbox with 4Matic permanent all-wheel-drive. The GLE coupe will be equipped with a set of 275/50 R20 tyres or sportier 21-inch or 22-inch options. Expect the GLE Coupe to be priced at about Rs 1 Crore when launched mid next year.

Toyota Fortuner

Expected price: Rs 20-50 lakh

Expected launch time: Late 2016

The Toyota Fortuner is one of the most anticipated cars of the year 2016 and will most certainly be a big step up from the Fortuner that we got more than half a decade ago in India. For starters, the new Fortuner looks very aggressive with the new age design and angled front which is a departure from the squarish look we get now. Under the hood too, the new Toyota Fortuner gets a new 2.8-litre direct-injection, four cylinder turbo diesel engine rated at 177PS. Maximum torque from the engine is rated at 420Nm for the manual and 450Nm for the automatic. Both gearboxes – a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic – are new as well. The suspension setup too is brand new with even more off orad capabilities. The new Fortuner will go up against the likes of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and more luxurious SUVs like the Audi Q3.

BMW X1

Expected price: Rs 20-50 lakh

Expected launch time: Early 2016

The BMW X1 was the first luxury compact SUV from the big three German automakers in India. With the BMW badge and the added benefits of a SUV, the X1 was an instant success. Now, the new BMW X1 is more of an evolution of the last gen as it still showcases the same design language that the original car had but with the added design aspects that the new BMW cars have. The new X1 is available in both petrol and diesel engine options. All four-cylinder units, the petrol 2.0-litre unit is available in 231PS for the X1 xDrive25i. The 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel units will be sold in 189PS. Expect the new BMW X1 to be priced at about Rs 30 lakh in India and go up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA and the best selling Audi Q3.

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Expected price: Rs 50 lakh - 1 Crore

Expected launch time: Early 2016

The Mercedes-Benz GLS is essentially the facelifted and updated version of the GL with the all-new Mercedes-Benz nomenclature. The new SUV will get updated styling with a new grille and updated bumpers. The new SUV will also get LED headlamps and new DRLs on the exterior front along with new alloy wheel designs. The interior too will be facelifted with a new infotainment cluster and new leather and wood trim options. The new SUV will also get the new GLS badging which will make it one of the most luxurious SUVs in the Mercedes-Benz portfolio. The GLS will also eventually get a longer wheelbase Maybach variation. The GLS will go up against the likes of the Land Rover Discovery and the BMw X5 amongst other SUVs.