The Tata Punch has already established itself as one of Tata Motors’ superstars, partly due to its distinctive positioning as a small SUV with an SUV-like footprint. Tata Motors’ formula has been so successful that other top automakers like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai are also considering adopting it. Given the increasing popularity of SUVs as the most popular body shape among automobile fans, both automakers will introduce their sub-compact SUVs in 2023 with the exact pricing as the hatchbacks.
A new compact crossover from Maruti Suzuki will be unveiled based on its high-end hatchback Baleno. This small crossover, the Baleno Cross, will be based on the Baleno and Grand Vitara’s overall style. Several times previously, we’ve seen this vehicle undergoing testing on Indian roads, and it’s obvious that the Grand Vitara served as the model for the vehicle’s front end, with just minimal changes to the side and back profiles.
The new Maruti Suzuki Baleno Cross will either get the 1.2-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated 90 PS petrol engine or mark the return of the short-lived 1.0-litre three-cylinder 100 PS Boosterjet turbocharged petrol engine. Like the Baleno, the new crossover based on it will be sold through the Nexa chain of premium dealer outlets and positioned between the Baleno and the Grand Vitara.
Even Hyundai aims to compete for a piece of this market with its brand-new subcompact SUV, which it will place underneath the Venue. The Hyundai Casper, already on sale in various international markets, including South Korea, will serve as the model for the new subcompact SUV. But unlike Casper’s eccentric design, Hyundai’s upcoming subcompact SUV for India will have a less dramatic look and be built on the same chassis as the Grand i10 Nios. Consumers will choose between a 1.0-litre turbocharged 100 PS gasoline engine and a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated 83 PS gasoline engine.
The Tata Punch was introduced in 2021, and with its appealing styling and illustrious 5-star safety rating in the International NCAP crash test, it immediately ascended the sales charts. The 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that powers the Tata Punch, which sits between the Tiago NRG and the Nexon, is rated at 86 PS and 113 Nm of torque.