This year, India will see new players in the micro SUV segment in the form of Facelifts and EVs. With a lot of traction gained lately, the micro-segment is led by Tata Punch, followed by Hyundai Exter. Over 18,000 units of Punch were sold last month, reflecting the potential of this segment in the market. Watching the growing trend, car manufacturers are planning to launch new models in the segment along with updating the existing ones.
Here’s the list of micro SUV’s which are upcoming in the Indian market:
1. Maruti Suzuki Micro SUV
In competition with Tata Punch and Hyundai Exter, Maruti Suzuki India Limited is ready to launch a new contender in the micro SUV segment. According to rumours, the new micro SUV model will be kept under the brand name Breeza. Although there are fewer details on the car, the Maruti SUV has a tentative year of launch in the Indian market of 2026–2027. It’s also under the hood that the micro SUV is expected to bring out the new Z series petrol engine along with the new-gen Swift.
2. Hyundai Exter EV
It’s the first in the affordable electric segment, which will stand against the Tata Punch EV, Citroen eC3, and MG Comet EV. Hyundai Motor India Limited’s electric Exter was spotted testing last year in India. The rumours of its debut are expected to be by the end of 2024, although the confirmed launch timeline has yet to be announced. As per anonymous reports, the Exter EV is expected to have a battery pack of around 25–30 KwH, and the claimed range is 300–350 km on a single charge.
3. Tata Punch Facelift
Spotted testing a few days before, Tata Punch Facelift is expected to launch around the holiday season of 2024. This SUV will be updated as per the design of the Punch EV, for example, with connected LED DRLs, vertically stacked headlamps, and updated bumpers. New two-spoke steering wheels, minor tweaks in the dashboard layouts, a digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment system, a 360-degree parking camera, and wireless charging are some of the interior updates that are expected in the punch facelift. The only familiar thing is the 1.2-litre gasoline engine under the hood.
