The compact SUV space has been growing rapidly since it was popularised with the Ford EcoSport in 2013. Today, nearly every carmaker has at least one sub-4-metre SUV in its line-up, and some are looking at expanding their presence in the segment. Hyundai, which already has the Exter and Venue compact SUVs, will be looking to add two more in the coming years, while sister brand Kia has an EV and a next-gen model in the pipeline. Meanwhile, homegrown manufacturers Tata and Mahindra are also planning next-gen compact SUVs. Here’s the full list of every compact SUV that’s scheduled to arrive in India in the next 2 years and their launch timelines.
New Hyundai Venue
Launch on October 24, 2025
The next-gen Hyundai Venue is scheduled to launch just after Diwali this year, on October 24. The second-gen Hyundai Venue, internally codenamed the QU2i, has been spied testing in India and South Korea, showing that the compact SUV will see significant exterior changes. While it’ll retain the current Venue’s boxy silhouette, the all-new model will borrow design elements from the Creta. The cabin is also expected to see an extensive overhaul; the engine and gearbox options are expected to remain unchanged. Prices are expected to rise from the current Venue’s Rs 7.94 lakh-13.62 lakh price range.
Kia Syros EV
Launch by March 2026
The Kia Syros line-up will expand by March next year to include an all-electric version. The Syros EV has been spied testing in its home country of South Korea, showing that the electric compact SUV will have a design that is more or less similar to its petrol- and diesel-powered counterparts. Interesting details on the heavily camouflaged test mule include the green brake callipers (Kia only offers these with performance-focused models like the EV9 GT) and the charging port is placed on the front right fender.
The interior is expected to be identical to the Syros petrol and diesel, albeit with EV-specific changes. Considering that the Syros is based on the same K1 platform as the Hyundai Inster EV (more on that below), it may also be powered by 42kWh and 49kWh battery pack options. Syros EV prices are expected to fall in the Rs 15 lakh-20 lakh region, which will put it squarely against the Tata Nexon EV and the MG Windsor.
Hyundai Bayon-based crossover
Launch by mid-2026
Hyundai will ramp up its presence in the compact SUV space with a direct rival to the Maruti Fronx and Toyota Taisor. This Hyundai Bayon-based crossover (codenamed Bc4i) shares its platform with the upcoming new-gen i20 and is expected to launch in India by mid-next year. Along with the 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine shared with other models – the Venue and i20 – Hyundai’s new compact SUV is expected to utilise a new locally built 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine. This engine is also being engineered to be hybrid-ready, and so will likely be crucial to Hyundai’s future hybrid powertrains.
Hyundai Inster-based EV
Launch by end-2026
Hyundai’s answer to the likes of the Tata Punch EV and Citroen eC3 will arrive in the form of the Inster-based EV. This smaller, all-electric compact SUV is codenamed HE1i and is scheduled to launch in India by the end of next year. The new Hyundai EV will be produced at the company’s Sriperumbudur factory, with localised batteries from Exide. As mentioned above, the Inster EV gets two battery options abroad, 42kWh and 49kWh, with WLTP ranges of 300km and 355km, respectively.
Mahindra Vision S
Launch scheduled for 2027
Mahindra recently showcased 4 concepts based on its new NU_IQ platform, and the first of these to make it to production will be the Vision S in 2027. While Mahindra has confirmed that the Vision S previews a sub-4-metre SUV, it has yet to confirm that it will be an addition to the Scorpio range, joining the Classic and the Scorpio N. The upright, boxy SUV is likely to be offered with petrol and diesel engines at launch, though the NU_IQ platform is capable of accommodating hybrid and all-electric powertrains as well. Spy shots of the pre-production Vision S have surfaced online, giving hints of what to expect.
New Tata Nexon
Launch expected in 2027
Expected in Tata Showrooms near you in 2027, the next-gen Nexon (codenamed Garud) is already under development. The second-gen Tata Nexon will be based on a heavily modified version of the existing X1 platform. While details are scarce on the ground, the all-new Nexon is expected to have massive structural and aesthetic updates, outside and inside the cabin. The current Nexon’s turbo-petrol and CNG powertrains are expected to continue, but it remains to be seen if the 1.5-litre diesel engine will be offered, as upgrading it to meet BS7 norms could prove expensive.
Mahindra Vision X
Launch expected in 2027
Following the production of Vision S to market will be the production-spec Mahindra Vision X. This new compact SUV may be a replacement for the current Mahindra XUV 3XO, as the model has been on sale since 2019 with the XUV300 badge and got a major facelift (and the XUV 3XO moniker) in 2024. Underpinned by the Mahindra NU_IQ platform, the production Vision X compact SUV is expected to come with petrol and diesel engine options, along with the potential to accommodate hybrid and electric powertrains.
New Kia Sonet
Launch likely by 2027
Not much is known about the second-gen Kia Sonet at the moment. However, with the imminent launch of the new Venue – which is the Sonet’s badge-engineered sibling from Hyundai – the next-gen Kia compact SUV shouldn’t be too far behind. A 2027 launch would also mean that the current Sonet would have been on sale for 7 years, with a mid-cycle facelift in 2024. The new Sonet is likely to continue sharing its engine and gearbox options with the Venue and see revisions to its exterior and interior design, along with sporting more features.
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