6 Upcoming Maruti Suzuki And Toyota MPVs
Maruti Suzuki and Toyota are brands that are extremely popular among buyers looking for reliable and affordable cars. Both brands are in a partnership, and as part of this tie-up, they have come up with new technologies and products for the Indian and international markets. Just like SUVs, 7-seater MPVs are also slowly gaining popularity among buyers in India. Here is a list of MPVs that Maruti and Toyota will be launching in the market soon.
After the e Vitara, Maruti Suzuki is currently working on its second electric vehicle, codenamed YMC. It is based on the same skateboard platform as the e Vitara. The upcoming EV is expected to be a seven-seater MPV featuring a premium-looking front end with a closed grille, Suzuki logo, open lower air dam, thick wheel-arch cladding, LED tail lamps, and more. The MPV has already been spotted testing on Indian roads.
The MPV will come with features like a panoramic glass roof, a large touchscreen infotainment system, an e Vitara-like driver display, automatic climate control, reclining seats, a wireless charger, Level 2 ADAS, seven airbags, a 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, and more.
It is expected to use the same 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery pack options. While the e Vitara is a front-wheel-drive EV, there is a possibility that Maruti might opt for a rear-wheel-drive setup for this MPV.
Once Maruti launches the YMC, Toyota is expected to launch an electric MPV based on Maruti Suzuki's YMC concept. Toyota's version of the YMC electric MPV is likely to arrive after the launch of Maruti's version.
It will be based on the HEARTECT-e architecture, which also underpins the eBella and e Vitara. The three-row electric MPV is expected to offer all the features available in the YMC and will come with 40 kWh and 60 kWh battery pack options.
It will rival models such as the Kia Carens Clavis EV, BYD eMax 7, and Mahindra XEV 9S.
Toyota recently announced that it will discontinue the popular Crysta MPV from the market next year. In order to fill the void, Toyota is now planning to launch a lower variant of the Innova Hycross Hybrid, which will be offered with fewer features than the current versions.
This will be positioned as an alternative to the Crysta, as the regular petrol version of the Hycross is not known for its fuel efficiency, which is not something fleet owners appreciate. The MPV will use the same 2.0-litre strong-hybrid engine with an e-CVT gearbox. This variant will not offer as many features as the higher trims.
Toyota is also planning a facelift for the Innova Hycross. Once that is released, we expect the changes and updates to make their way to the Invicto as well. The MPV will be offered with the same set of engines but with a slightly revised exterior design.
It remains to be seen whether Maruti will also launch an affordable hybrid version of the Invicto, similar to Toyota's strategy for the Hycross.
The Maruti Ertiga is one of the most popular MPVs in its segment among both private and commercial buyers. Maruti Suzuki is likely to launch a facelift sometime later this year to maintain customer interest.
As part of the update, we expect to see minor cosmetic changes and feature updates. The MPV will continue to be offered with the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with manual and automatic transmission options. The next-generation Ertiga is still a couple of years away.
Once Maruti launches the updated Ertiga in the market, Toyota is also expected to update the Rumion, which is its version of the Ertiga. It will come with the same engine options as the Ertiga, while the exterior design may receive minor styling revisions.