- Honda is all set to bring its new midsize SUV to India by the mid-2023
- Currently, with just 2 products in the market, this new SUV will be extremely important for Honda Cars India
- This new Honda SUV is expected to rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, etc
After enforcement of the new BS6 phase-2 & RDE emission norms from April 1st, Honda Cars India now only has 2 products in its lineup. The 2 products are Honda City with petrol & strong hybrid powertrains and Honda Amaze compact sedan. However, Honda is all set to bring a new midsize SUV to India by mid-2023. This new midsize SUV from Honda will be extremely important for the brand's business in India and its called the Elevate.
Moreover, according to many media reports and rumors, the new Honda SUV will be a tech and feature-loaded product in its segment. It is expected to become the first and only SUV in the segment to come equipped with two advanced technologies - A strong Hybrid powertrain and level-2 ADAS. It will be a direct rival to a number of SUVs in the segment. As the midsize SUV segment is full of competition, here we have discussed the major rivals in the segment that will challenge this new Honda SUV and give it tough competition.
Maruti Grand Vitara / Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder:
Maruti & Toyota are the only brands that have an SUV with a strong hybrid powertrain option in India. Moreover, both, the Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder also get an AWD (all-wheel drive) option. These two features make them unique in the segment. Also, these two SUVs are packed with advanced features like HUD (Heads-Up-Display), a 9-inch touchscreen, a panoramic sunroof, advanced connected car tech with smartwatch integration and Alexa compatibility, front ventilated seats, wireless charging, wireless Android auto/Apple car play, fully digital instrument cluster, paddle shifters, Highline tire pressure monitoring system, 360-degree view camera, auto-dimming IRVM, ambient lighting, etc. If Honda launches its new midsize SUV with a strong hybrid powertrain option, it would become a true challenger to the Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder.
Hyundai Creta:
Hyundai Creta has been among the most popular and best-selling SUVs in the midsize SUV segment for a long time. It's a popular tech-loaded SUV with features like a panoramic sunroof, built-in air purifier, ambient lighting, paddles shifters, electric parking brake with auto hold, 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment, all-wheel disc brakes, front ventilated seats, Highline tire pressure monitoring system, 8 speaker BOSE audio setup, drive & traction modes, connected car tech with smartwatch integration, H2C (home to car) with Alexa & Google Assistant, 2-step reclining rear seats, 8-way power adjustable driver seat, rear window sunshades, wireless charger, etc. On the powertrain front, the Hyundai Creta offers a naturally aspirated petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual or an intelligent variable transmission (IVT/CVT), and a diesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
Kia Seltos:
Kia Sletos has been a big success for the Kia brand in India. It was the first launch from Kia for India and has since been one of the best-selling SUVs in the segment. It can easily be credited with pioneering some advanced features in the segment. These features include a 360-degree view camera system, rear blindspot view monitor, built-in air purifier, front ventilated seats, all-wheel disc brakes, remote engine start/stop, HUD (Heads-Up-Display), etc. It is available with a naturally aspirated petrol engine mated either to a 6-speed manual or an Intelligent/Continues Variable Transmission (IVT/CVT), and a diesel engine mated either to a 6-speed iMT (clutchless manual) or 6-speed torque converter automatic.
MG Astor:
MG debuted in India with Hector SUV which was a huge leap when it comes to advanced tech and infotainment aspects. However, Astor was the first MG car to introduce the advanced level-2 ADAS tech in the segment. It could also be credited for pioneering advanced connected car tech in the segment with its next-gen MG iSmart connected car platform. When it comes to technology, it still holds the flag of being the most tech-enabled midsize SUV in India. When launched, the new Honda SUV with its Honda Sensing ADAS tech and Honda Connect (connected car platform) tech, will stand as the true rival to the MG Astor.
Also Read: Here's How Fronx-Based Toyota SUV Might Look Like: Rendered Image
Verdict: Honda is bringing an SUV to India after a long time. Its previous SUVs that were launched in India, like WR-V, BR-V, CR-V, etc, were not that successful. But it seems that this time, Honda has decided to go all in with this new Elevate SUV and provide the customers with a new and refreshing product that offers advanced ADAS tech along with a fuel-efficient strong hybrid powertrain.
