Hyundai Carlino-Based SUV Spied Testing In India; Will Rival Vitara Brezza, Nexon, EcoSport

The Hyundai SUV will go on sale in India in April 2019

Hyundai is set to enter the sub-4m SUV segment in India soon with the Qxi (code name). It was spotted testing in the US some time back. And now, the Qxi has been spied undergoing tests in India.

Although the test mule is heavily camouflaged, it reveals some design details of the upcoming SUV. Up front, unlike the 2016 Carlino concept which was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo in India, the car features the signature cascading grill and headlamps placed lower in the bumper. The conventional headlamp position is taken up by daytime running lights.

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Such a headlamp layout can also be seen on other modern Hyundai SUVs like the 2019 Santa Fe and the Kona. Spy images reveal that the production-spec Qxi will feature projector headlamps in its top variant, if not all. However, given the colour of the beam, it appears that the source will be halogen and not LED. The overall silhouette of the SUV is more on the lines of the Hyundai Creta than the Carlino concept.

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Under the hood, the Qxi will get a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. It is the same engine that powers the UK-spec i20 and is available in two states of tune there -100PS/172Nm and 120PS/172Nm. In the lower tune, the engine is mated to a 5-speed MT. The 120PS version, on the other hand, is coupled to a 6-speed MT. If Hyundai decides to launch the 120PS model, it will allow the carmaker to take on the EcoSport’s 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 125PS/170Nm with a 6-speed MT. Other than the EcoSport, the Tata Nexon is also available with a turbo-petrol engine that develops a maximum power of 110PS.

While Hyundai has confirmed that it would offer a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol on the Qxi, the carmaker may offer the Elite i20’s 1.2-litre petrol engine as well for a more competitive entry-level price.

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While we will have to wait for the official unveiling to know how it looks on the inside and the features that it would get, the spy images confirm the presence of alloy wheels, rear defogger and rear wash/wipe. Expect it to get a touchscreen infotainment system in higher variants and dual airbags and ABS as standard. We are also hopeful that Hyundai would offer rear parking sensors right from the base variant.

The sub-4m Hyundai SUV is expected to be priced between Rs 8 lakh to Rs 11 lakh. At this price, it will take on other sub-4m SUVs like the Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Ford EcoSport, upcoming Mahindra S201 and Honda WR-V. Jeep is also expected to come up with a sub-4m SUV in India soon, which will join the list of rivals for this upcoming Hyundai SUV.

Also Read: 8 Upcoming Hyundai Cars: New Santro, Carlino, Creta, Grand i10 & More

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