8 New 7 Seaters From Maruti And Toyota: YMC Electric MPV To New Fortuner Luxury SUV
After mid-size SUVs, we have seen a rise in the number of 7-seater vehicles in the Indian market. Brands like Maruti, Renault, and Nissan have models like the Ertiga, Triber, and Gravite in the affordable segment. This segment is steadily growing, with both MPVs and SUVs catering to buyers. Here is a list of eight such 7-seaters from Maruti and Toyota that are expected to launch in the coming years.
Maruti Suzuki is said to be working on an electric MPV for our market, currently known by the codename YMC. As this is an EV, Maruti will use the same HEARTECT-e platform as seen in the eVitara. It should be noted that this upcoming MPV will be bigger than the Ertiga and is expected to compete with the likes of the Carens Clavis EV in the segment.
Maruti has not revealed much about this eMPV yet. We expect it to offer battery packs similar to those in the eVitara, along with a comparable driving range. The launch of the YMC MPV was initially expected towards the end of this year, but given the challenges Maruti has faced with the eVitara in terms of launch and production, the YMC launch could be delayed.
One of the most popular MPVs in the Indian market, in both private and commercial segments, received an update a few years ago. We currently have the second-generation Ertiga in the market, which comes with petrol and CNG fuel options powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine.
The next-generation Ertiga is still a couple of years away, and it looks like Maruti might introduce another facelift to keep customer interest alive. The next-gen model is also expected to come with hybrid technology.
Maruti’s flagship model is also an MPV. The premium Invicto MPV is essentially a rebadged version of the Hycross. It is preferred by buyers who want a spacious, strong hybrid MPV but can do without features like ADAS. As the Invicto has been on sale for over two years, we expect it to receive an update soon. This will likely be a cosmetic update with minor design tweaks and some feature additions.
Like the eVitara, the Maruti YMC is being jointly developed with Toyota. This means once Maruti launches the YMC electric MPV, we can expect a Toyota version of the same in the market as well. Both versions will remain mechanically identical, but there will likely be differences in exterior design.
Toyota also sells a rebadged version of the Ertiga in the form of the Rumion. If Maruti launches an updated version of the Ertiga, the same updates will make their way to the Toyota Rumion. Just like the Ertiga, the Rumion is also expected to get a hybrid system in its next-generation update.
This is something many people are eagerly waiting for. The Fortuner, often considered the king of the D-segment, is due for a generation change. Toyota is already testing the next-generation Fortuner, and several digital renders have surfaced online, hinting at its design.
At the front, the Fortuner is expected to draw inspiration from the Hilux. It could feature sleeker headlamps, a larger grille, a redesigned bumper, and new tail lamps. It is also expected to offer more features than the current model while continuing with the 2.7-litre petrol and 2.8-litre mild-hybrid diesel engine options.
A heavily camouflaged version of what appeared to be a Hyryder was recently spotted in the mountains. It seemed slightly longer than the standard version, leading to speculation that it could be a 7-seater variant of the Hyryder. It is expected to come with minor exterior changes compared to the 5-seater version.
As we already know, Toyota is expected to discontinue the Innova Crysta from the market next year. The Innova Hycross has been on sale for a while now, and to compensate for the gap left by the Crysta, Toyota may introduce a facelift or update to keep the model fresh and maintain customer interest.