Introduction

If there is a car you ought to hold your horses for, that would be one of these upcoming electric SUVs.

The global automotive landscape is undergoing radical transformation and India is right in the middle of it, even as we speak. Car makers are challenging norms and redefining what sustainable high-performance transportation looks like, with a string of upcoming electric cars and SUVs (EVs). Here, we take a more detailed look at five of the upcoming electric SUVs that safe to say, promise to shape the future of personal mobility in India.

1. Tata Harrier EV

 

Tata Harrier Ev  will be Tata’s first electric SUV to feature AWD (all-wheel drive) capability since the Harrier EV will feature a dual motor setup, one each for front and rear wheels, it will come with a lot more offroading capabilities than the Harrier’s on-sale ICE-powered version misses out on talking about driving range

The Harrier EV will likely offer a real-world range of 500+ kmIf one would recollect, Tata recently introduced an advanced pure EV architecture on its new Punch EV compact SUV called acti. ev (Advanced Connected Tech — Intelligent Electric Vehicle), which will allow a lot more advanced and next-generation features like V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle charging), V2L (vehicle-to-load charging), over-the-air updates, cloud-based analytics and other such features across the product range.

When launched, the Harrier EV will rival the likes of the upcoming Mahindra XUV.e8, BYD Atto 3, Hyundai IONIQ 5, etc.

Expected price between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 35 lakh (ex-showroom/approx).

Expected Launch Date: End of 2024 or early 2025

2. Tata Curvv (Azura) EV

The Tata Curvv EV has been spied on numerous times while undergoing testing.

The coupe-style electric SUV may hit the streets sometime in mid-2024, well before its ICE sibling.

Tata had trademarked the Azura name in India a few months ago as for that matter, so Azura should indeed be its final production name.

Like that Punch EV, the Curvv EV will also sit on Tata’s new action. ev architecture, making it Tata’s 2nd second-gen EV model.

Like the Punch EV, the Curvv EV will also have a feature-rich cabin that includes V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle), V2L (Vehicle-to-Load), Alexa integration, software capable of OTA updates, advanced connected car tech, a frunk, and more.

Since it’s an electric vehicle, it’ll get a flat floor, so there should be no central transmission tunnel robbing the rear passengers of knee room.

Moreover, we expect it to come with a driving range of 400 to 500 km and a single motor front wheel drive setup.

Being the first mass-market coupe-style electric SUV, the Curvv EV will rival the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric, MG ZS EV, the upcoming Mahindra BE.05, etc.

Expected Price: Between Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh (ex-showroom/approx).

Expected Launch Date: Mid or second half of 2024

3. Mahindra XUV.e8

Mahindra XUV700’s electric version — the XUV.e8 — will likely be unveiled around 2024 end or early 2025.

Cosmetic and minute design changes notwithstanding, the XUV.e8 will get significant upgrades inside the cabin and interior.

For one, the SUV will ditch two 10.25-inch screens for the front dashboard in XUV700. The first happens to be the driver’s display, and the second is the infotainment touchscreen. As XUV.e8, it is likely to offer three of these screens — the third being a touchscreen for the co-driver/passenger (via Electronic Vehicle).

Additionally, the XUV.e8 will also get level 2 ADAS tech. We expect Mahindra to offer a 3 radar configuration in XUV.e8 instead of 1 in the XUV700.

When launched, the XUV.e8 will become the most expensive and premium model from the Indian SUV maker and will rival the likes of the upcoming Tata Harrier EV, BYD Atto 3, Hyundai IONIQ 5, etc.

Expected Price: Between Rs 35 lakh to Rs 40 lakh (ex-showroom/approx).

Expected Launch Date: End of 2024 or early 2025.

4. Skoda Enyaq

The Enyaq is scheduled to arrive on Indian shores soon and when it does, it’ll be Skoda’s first electric model. India will get the Enyaq in a single-motor, RWD configuration, with increased ground clearance, we assume. As we’ve mentioned before Skoda has confirmed that the Enyaq will be launched initially as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) and we expect the brand to take the CKD route at a later stage, based on the response from customers and the demand for the car.

The SUV should come loaded with features, such as a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors and auto/self-park features, etc.

The Enyaq, as we know, will get a dual motor, all-wheel drive setup. We’re not sure if there will be an option for a single motor, front-wheel drive/rear-wheel drive setup.

Moreover, based on its WLTP cycle range, it is expected to offer 400 to 500 km of driving range in India.

Upon launch, it will become the most expensive Skoda in India and will likely rival the likes of Volvo XC40 Recharge, Hyundai IONIQ 5, etc.

Expected Price: Between Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh (ex-showroom/approx).

Expected Launch Date: Q2 or Q3 of 2024.

5. Kia EV9

The Kia EV9 will be the most expensive and flagship model of Kia Motors

It is all set to launch at the end of 2024 or early 2025 in India.

E Expect the Kia EV9 to be a three-row electric SUV, which, in all likelihood, should be available in two seating configurations (6 and 7-seater). Moreover, we expect to also see it in dual motor all-wheel drive and single motor rear-wheel drive setup.

So, because it is based on the E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) – the same platform as the Kia EV6 – we expect it to be rated to about 500-odd km of a real-world driving range of.

On the safety front, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Kia EV9 come with level 3 ADAS (autonomous driving).

Moreover, Kia is likely to equip it with at least 150 kW DC fast charging if not the 350 kW DC charging that it gets in some international markets.

When it launches in India, we expect the Kia EV9 to compete with other premium SUVs from German brands like Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, etc.

Expected Price: Between Rs 70 lakh to Rs 90 lakh (ex-showroom/approx).

Expected Launch Date: 2nd Half of 2024 or early 2025.

Conclusion

Upon launch, the above-mentioned electric SUVs will alter the perception of electric cars in India by offering a better real-world driving range, faster DC charging, next-gen connected car tech, level 2 or 3 ADAS tech, and many more advanced features. With the arrival of these e-SUVs, 4-wheeler EV penetration in India will certainly increase and the EV adoption will witness significant growth. As a result of this, if you’re planning to buy an electric car shortly, we highly recommend you to wait and opt for any of these electric SUVs instead.

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