In a country with more than 1.3 million people in it, space is usually considered a luxury in India. Fortunately, Indians are big fans of hatchback cars that offer an ample amount of space and storage. Given the fact that the hatchback is so popular in the country, car manufacturers are motivated to launch newer, better, and more spacious models every year. Here’s a look at some of the upcoming hatchback cars that will be unveiled in India.
| MODEL | EXPECTED PRICE |
| Renault Kwid 2019 | 2.8 Lakh |
| Tata Altroz | 6.0 Lakh |
| Hyundai Grand i10 Nios | 7.99 Lakh |
| Renault Kwid EV | 10.0 Lakh |
| Honda Jazz 2020 | 7.5 Lakh |
| Expected Launch | September 28, 2019 |
| Engine | 0.8L Petrol, 1.0L Petrol |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual, Automatic |
Last year, the Renault Kwid 2018 made its way onto Indian roads and into Indian hearts as one of the most popularly driven vehicles in the country. Now, the company has announced the 2019 model that will most certainly have people ready to sell cars to accommodate for the newer version. While the 0.8L and 1.0L petrol engines remain identical from its previous iteration, the new Kwid should come with BS6 compliance for cleaner emissions. The affordability of the 2018 Kwid is what made it so attractive and with new additions to it, it most likely seems that the 2019 Kwid will be a bit more expensive. The car will come with dual airbags in front along with locking seatbelts for added safety. In terms of competition, the Kwid will take on the Datsun redi-Go and the Maruti Alto 2019.
| Expected Launch | November 15, 2019 |
| Engine | 1.2L Turbo-Petrol, 1.2L Naturally Aspirated Engine, 1.5L Diesel |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual, Automatic |
The Tata Altroz is a premium hatchback which features a plethora of handy features and powerful specs. Under the hood, the Altroz is fitted with the same 1.2L Turbo-Petrol engine found on the Nexon which also has a 5-speed manual transmission. There is also expected to be a 1.2L Naturally Aspirated Engine along with a 1.5L diesel engine with AMT. When it comes to features, the Altroz will most probably come with a 7-inch infotainment setup, a digital-analogue dashboard, and automatic climate control. The car is already being tested on roads across the country and should be hitting dealerships soon. With so much impressive information available on the car already, it might be time to prepare RC transfer papers for older, old cars at home.
| Expected Launch | November 30, 2019 |
| Engine | 1.2L Petrol, 1.2L Diesel |
| Transmission | AMT |
Hyundai has had a lot of success over the years with their i10 model and so it seems right to have the latest Grand i10 Nios set to take on Indian roads. Powering the car will be either a 1.2L petrol engine or a 1.2L diesel engine – both which were found on the previous model. Both variants will also come with AMT or Automated Manual Transmission along with their manual versions. There will be a total of 5 variants for the car, including the Sportz, Sportz Dual Tone, Magna, Era, and Asta. Exteriors are where the Grand i10 Nios truly get a makeover with the new grille design, boomerang LEDs, new bumpers on the front and back, and new tail lamps, all giving the car a modern look. On the inside, the car also gets an upgrade thanks to the 8-inch infotainment system with touchscreen. The air-conditioning vents are also now positioned centrally under the infotainment system for quicker and better cooling.
| Expected Launch | November 1, 2019 |
| Power | 26kWh Lithium-Ion Battery |
With most of the manufacturers turning to cleaner cars, Renault too has something to offer in the Kwid EV. Originally launched in China as the City-KZE, the Kwid EV stands out as one of the most anticipated electric vehicles in the country. Packed with a large 26kWh Lithium-Ion battery, this car will boast excellent mileage on a single charge. According to the company, the battery would charge in about 4 hours using a 6.6kWh AC charger while a DC option would reduce that time to less than half. The Kwid EV is also expected to carry a number of features that could include a 4G WiFi connection, an 8-inch infotainment system with a touchscreen, online streaming, and tire pressure monitoring. On the outside, the car is set to have a newer, cleaner, and sharper design with a new grille and bumper on the front.
| Expected Launch | August 15, 2020 |
| Engine | 1.2L Petrol, 1.5L Diesel |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual, 6-Speed Manual, 7-Step CVT |
The 2020 version of the Honda Jazz should take the country by storm given its already successful predecessor. In terms of performance, the new Jazz will house a 1.2L petrol engine that is matched with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 7-step CVT. There will also be a 1.5 diesel variant that will come with a 6-speed manual transmission only. With the petrol variant, the Honda Jazz 2020 offers a mileage of 18.2 Kmpl while the diesel variant will offer 27.3 Kmpl. Some of the features that will give the Jazz 2020 an advantage over its closest competitors are the dual airbags in front, rear parking sensors, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment setup, Google Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and cruise control.
As you can see, Indian buyers have a lot to look forward to in the hatchback segment of automobiles and most will be spoiled for choice. With a proper pre-owned car evaluation tool though, interested buyers could find a good deal on their existing vehicles and gear up for a new year of exciting cars.
