Autofintechs takes a quick look at the top 5 SUVs launched in India in 2020 and became successful despite the Covid-19 pandemic that hammered the entire auto industry severely.
Despite the Coronavirus pandemic rocked the year 2020, and amidst so many disruptions, the Indian auto industry witnessed an array of launches, especially in the SUV segment.
The SUV is a high in demand segment in the Indian market that has been experiencing a host of launches, including both conventional fuel-powered models and electric cars as well.
Majorly driven by the compact SUVs, in 2020, there were launches like Hyundai Creta, Nissan Magnite, Kia Sonet, Mahindra Thar, Tata Nexon EV etc.
Many of these SUVs are completely new models in the domestic market, while some are upgraded ones with new features, technology, and powertrain as well.
Autofintechs has taken a quick look at the top 5 SUVs that were launched in India in the year 2020.
Hyundai Creta
If we have to select the top 5 SUVs that were launched in 2020, the second generation Hyundai Creta is certainly one of them. Unveiled at the Auto Expo 2020, the new Hyundai Creta was launched on 16th March 2020 and immediately garnered attention from the buyers. The new Creta came with fresh design and features.
Despite the Covid lockdown and economic uncertainty, the 2020 Hyundai Creta registered over 1.15 lakh bookings till October 2020 and became the bestselling SUV in the country. Besides boosting the South Korean auto major’s overall passenger vehicle sales in the Indian market, the SUV sold 72,091 units between April-November 2020.
Kia Sonet
If Creta grabbed the pole position among the top 5 SUSs launched in India in 2020, its sibling Kia Sonet comes closest to it. The Sonet again proved that compact SUVs are high in demand. Since its launch on 18th September at a starting price of Rs 6.71 lakh (ex-showroom), the SUV grabbed more than 50,000 bookings shortly. Also, the Kia Sonet became the bestselling B-segment SUV in the domestic market.
Kia Sonet became the second success of the new entrant South Korean automaker after Seltos. With its stylish design, premium features, appealing powertrain, the compact SUV grabbed a whole lot of attention. Till November 2020, the Kia Sonet sold 32,404 units.
Mahindra Thar
Many consider the Mahindra Thar as the poor man’s Jeep Wrangler. However, with the arrival of the new generation Mahindra Thar that was introduced on 2nd October 2020, the customers can proudly distinguish themselves. Not just a true-blue rugged off-roader, but the Mahindra Thar has become a lifestyle off-roader with a wide range of features, twin body styles.
Thanks to the new design, the 2020 Mahindra Thar garnered more than 20,000 bookings shortly after its arrival. The demand has shot up so high, that the buyers of the SUV currently have to wait for nine months. This time, Mahindra & Mahindra has introduced a petrol variant of the SUV alongside the diesel model. Surely the new Thar makes it to the list of top 5 SUVs launched in 2020.
Nissan Magnite
Nissan Magnite could be the game-changer for the Japanese car brand that has a minuscule market share in the Indian market despite being here for a significant time period. The Magnite compact SUV not only grabbed attention with its design, features, powertrain but impressed with a record-breaking starting price of Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
The Nissan Magnite truly disrupted the market with its pricing as it challenged several hatchbacks, sedans as well, besides the other compact SUVs. After launching on 2nd December 2020, the Nissan Magnite garnered more than 15,000 bookings in 17 days. The demand is high and the carmaker can only produce around 5,000 units at its Chennai plant, which resulted in a waiting period of nearly eight months.
Tata Nexon EV
Tata Nexon EV is the bestselling electric car in the Indian market after being introduced on 28th January 2020. The SUV competes with rivals like MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona EV. The Tata Nexon EV has sold more than 2,959 units between April-November 2020, which accounted for 70% of the total electric car sales in India.
The Tata Nexon EV comes as a very appealing proposition considering it is only Rs 1-1.5 lakh pricier than the Nexon Diesel AMT. Thanks to the EV policies announced by several states across the country, the Nexon EV is cheaper than its diesel counterpart in those states. The Nexon EV certainly grabs a spot among the top 5 SUVs launched in India in 2020.
