There is no denying that the sub-compact SUV is one of the most sought after segments in the country today, and that is precisely why pretty much every automaker is vying for a share in the segment; they are either planning to launch relevant products or already have. It all started with the Renault Duster that became the top-selling crossover in India in no-time. Then came along the Ford EcoSport which took the excitement for small SUVs a notch up. The Duster's sales were doing just fine till the launch of Nissan Terrano, which is just re-badged version of the former.
Everyone including Maruti, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Honda are currently known to be working on their respective sub-compact SUVs to take on the likes of Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport. Our home-grown automajors - Mahindra and Tata Motors are also planning to enter the segment.
While Mahindra has been testing its sub-compact SUV for quite some time now, Tata Motors unveiled its crossover prototype, the Nexon, at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. Here's a lowdown of what one can expect from both, Tata and Mahindra's Sub-Compact SUVs.
Tata Nexon
As mentioned above, Tata Motors unveiled the Nexon concept at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, which gave us a fair idea of what Tata's sub-compact SUV might look like. The company recently showcased the same concept at the Geneva Motor Show, indicating that the product will be developed in accordance with global requirements.
The Nexon will be built on a thoroughly updated version of the Vista X1 platform, upon which, the upcoming Zest and Bolt are also based. The vehicle will probably be powered by the company's new 1.2-litre turbocharged Revotron engine that is capable of churning out 84bhp and 140Nm of torque. The diesel model might feature the 1.3-litre multijet diesel engine sourced from Fiat, which also does duty on the Vista.
Expected Price: Rs. 6 - 8 lakh
Expected Launch: 2015
Mahindra S101 Sub-compact SUV
India's leading SUV maker, Mahindra & Mahindra is planning to roll out a couple of new SUVs in the country, out of which, one will be an affordable sub-compact SUV. Codenamed as the S101, the crossover will be measure less than four-metres in size, which should allow the company to give it quite a competitive price tag.
The Mahindra S101 sub-compact SUV might use the same 1.5-litre twin-turbo charged diesel powertain that powers the Quanto. However, for the petrol model, Mahindra is working on a 1.2-litre engine with its Korean brand SsangYong since it doesn't have a small petrol mill. In terms of design, the car will look like a smaller version of the XUV500.
Expected Price - Rs. 6.50 - Rs. 10 lakh
Expected Launch - By the end of 2014