Hyundai's first compact SUV rivalling Vitara Brezza to be launched in 2018

With the arrival and success of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, the compact SUV space has become the most talked about segment among manufactures. Honda and Jeep are already working on compact SUVs and Hyundai too is not far behind in the race. Its first compact SUV will enter the market by 2018.

The debut of Hyundai compact SUV can be expected at the Auto Expo 2018 reports NDTV Auto. Hyundai showcased the HND-14 Carlino concept at Auto Expo 2016, and it has been considered as the base for the compact SUV. However, the NDTV report claims the design language will be in line with the i30 hatchback that Hyundai unveiled last week. Hyundai's compact SUV will also take design cues from the the Tucson SUV.

The compact SUV of the Korean car maker will be based on the stretched i10 platform and the vehicle will share many parts of i20 and the Creta. The production-spec will be Hyundai's first project from its Indian R&D centre in Hyderabad. Apart from borrowing the engine of the i20, the compact SUV is also expected to come with 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. The company has already said that it plans to introduce its first Automated Manual Transmission (AMT)-equipped car in 2018, indicating that the 1.0-litre engine might be coupled with AMT transmission.

With the arrival of compact SUV, Hyundai's Indian SUV portfolio will be expanded to four models others being, Creta, Tucson and Santa Fe. This will help the company to truly own the space in the Indian market.