In this article, we’ll list down the top 5 family cars which are affordable, and feature-loaded, and why it could be one of the cars that you may end up buying.
Kia Sonet Facelift (Launch: December 2023)
Kia will be debuting the new Sonet Facelift next month which will see it getting numerous changes from the outside and the inside. The exterior design features a new aggressive looking grille, new LED Headlamps, new LED DRLs and Fog lamps at the front. The side profile will look the same except it’ll sport new design for the alloy wheels. Moving to the rear, new rear bumper design, and new connected LED tail lamps which looks similar to the Kia Seltos Facelift launched earlier this year for the Indian Market.
The interiors will get big changes as well like new infotainment system and digital instrument cluster which looks to be borrowed or similar to the Seltos Facelift. The centre console and the dashboard will be updated, new upholstery as seen in the leaked images.
Moreover, in features, the outgoing version already comes with ventilated seats, front and rear parking sensors, 10.25-inch infotainment system, wireless charging pad, LED Projector Fog Lamps, and so on. The new features include 360 Surround View Camera, 6 Airbags as standard across all variants, and ADAS which will be similar to the Hyundai Venue with Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, etc. It’s highly unlikely it’ll get Adaptive Cruise Control. The ADAS is likely to be exclusive to top trims only.
In terms of Powertrains, we expect no changes at all, and continue to be offered with 1.2 L NA Petrol with 81.8 BHP and 115 NM of torque paired to 5 Speed Manual Gearbox, 1.0 L Turbo Petrol with 118.35 BHP and 172 NM of torque mated to 6 Speed IMT, and 7 Speed DCT Gearbox, and lastly 1.5 L Diesel Engine with 114 BHP and 250 NM of torque mated to 6 Speed IMT and Automatic Gearbox.
Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor (Expected: Late 2023 – Early 2024)
Toyota was expected to launch the Fronx-based SUV in November 2023 just before the festive season, but November is now about to end and since we’ve got no updates, we expect Toyota to launch the SUV between late 2023 and early 2024. As for the exterior design, we expect it have front change inspired from either the Hyryder, or it could take some design elements from the Glanza. The Interiors however will just be logo and software change and nothing else.
In terms of Dimensions, the Toyota Taisor will measure the same as the Maruti Fronx, i.e, 3995mm in length, 1765mm in width, and 1550mm in height. It’ll feature wheelbase of 2520mm, ground clearance of 190mm, boot space of 308 litres, and Petrol Fuel Tank of 37 litres and Single CNG Cylinder of 55 litres.
When it comes to Powertrains, the Taisor will sport three options – Petrol, Turbo Petrol, and CNG. The 1.2-litre DualJet, Dual VVT petrol engine puts out 87.29 bhp and 113 Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed Manual and 5-speed Automatic Gearbox. The next is the 1.0-litre Turbo BoosterJet petrol engine which produces 98.69 bhp and 147.6 Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed Manual and 6-speed Automatic Gearbox. Last option is the 1.2-litre CNG producing 76.43 bhp and 98.5 Nm of torque paired to 5-speed Manual Gearbox only.
In Features, the Taisor will come with features like LED Projector headlamps, LED taillamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, analog instrument cluster, 9-inch infotainment system with Wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto, wireless charging pad, voice commands, 6-speaker Arkamy’s sound system, and height adjustable driver seat. Safety features include six airbags, 360-degree camera with rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps, heads-up display, Cruise Control, Traction Control, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Assist, ISOFIX anchorages, and Front Disc Brakes.
Lastly, the Urban Cruiser Taisor is expected to be priced from Rs. 7.8 Lakh for the entry-level variant.
Mahindra XUV300 Facelift (Expected: Early 2023)
As seen in the spy shots, the upcoming XUV300 Facelift will feature huge new C-Shape LED DRLs that were seen on the concept BE.05 electric SUV with little changes to the front grille, new bumpers, bonnet, and new set of alloy wheels. The rear will feature new LED taillamps and a LED light bar for a connected light sequence. The Interior will feature a new freestanding infotainment system that is likely to be an 10.25-inch unit replacing the outgoing version. Next to that is the four-spoke steering wheel that will be carried over from the outgoing version, the AC vent this time will be below the infotainment system and the center console will under some revisions as well.
The outgoing version comes with less features compared to its rivals like the newly launched Tata Nexon Facelift, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza, and so on. It has first-in segment feature like Dual-zone Climate Control. This could change as Mahindra could add features in their SUV like the ventilated seats, wireless charging pad, digital instrument cluster, LED Projector headlamps, drive modes, additional connected car tech features, and confirmed panoramic sunroof.
As for the safety, it offers features like 6 Airbags, ABS with EBD, all four wheels with Disc Brakes, Hill Start assist, Height Adjustable seat belt, Tyre-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), ISOFIX child anchorages, front and rear parking sensors, and so on. To enhance it even further, Mahindra could add the 360 Surround View Camera, and make some features standard across all the variants. Mahindra is expected to launch the XUV300 facelift in the early 2024.
New Maruti Swift (Expected: Early 2024)
Suzuki had labeled the Swift at the Motor Show as a Concept, but the model was almost production-ready. The test mules spotted in India were heavily camouflaged, but if you take a look at the headlamps, and the tail lamps, it was enough to confirm that this was indeed the new Swift. The new Swift gets redesigned front grille and bumper design while retaining headlamps and tail lamps shape but looks a bit sharper compared to the outgoing version.
Even though Suzuki calls it 4th Gen, the Swift is basically an heavily updated hatchback which means the dimensions are almost the same except its only 15 MM longer, 40 MM narrower, and 30 MM taller. The wheelbase remains unchanged, 2450 MM. Moving to the interiors, we barely get to see the interiors of the test mule, but as seen at the Motor Show, the interiors resemble the Fronx, Baleno, Brezza like the switchgear, HVAC controls, floating 9-inch touchscreen infotainment, analog instrument cluster, steering wheel, etc.
The Swift showcased was fitted with ADAS, but to keep the cost down, it’s likely the Indian-spec model won’t be fitted with ADAS. The alloy wheels seen on the new Swift was all blacked out and could’ve been the 16-inch wheels.
As for the powertrains, the concept Swift debuted all-new 1.2 L 3 Cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine which is codenamed under Z12. This new engine is capable of achieving fuel efficiency up to 40 KMPL, and it’s all set to replace the current K12 Unit. So, we expect the power of the Z12 engine to be lower, while the torque could be on the higher side. Additionally, the Concept Swift shown eas equipped with hybrid tech, however, it’s unlikely the Indian-spec will sport the hybrid tech.
Tata Punch EV (Expected: December 2023)
The latest spy shot comes from the Youtuber, Vipul Chavan, and this spy shots reveals new details of the Punch EV. For instance, the test mule almost gives away the exterior design of the EV. It looks like the Punch EV will follow the same design language as its elder sibling, Nexon EV facelift like the connected LED DRLs that spans across the whole width of the electric SUV. The lower bumper design features a vertical straight lines pattern which is different than the tri-arrow pattern on the ICE Punch.
Below the connected LED DRLs, it has cube-shape LED headlamps that could be split headlamps vertically positioned. Moving to the side profile, it largely remains the same, except it will be getting new aero-efficient 5-spoke alloy wheel design to help with the range. Moving to the rear, it’s unlikely it’ll get connected tail lamps, but the design will be tweaked and will look somewhat similar to the Nexon EV Facelift.
Earlier Spy Shots of the Punch EV had revealed updated interiors over the ICE version. The EV was seen sporting new 10.25-inch Infotainment System which could be available from mid to top trims while lower trims gets 7-inch unit. It’ll borrow the two-spoke steering wheel from the Nexon EV which has a display that illuminates the Tata logo. The EV will also get rotary dial gear shifters, and it’s possible it’ll get digital instrument cluster or maybe a redesigned instrument cluster that displays EV-related information.
Apart from this, the EV was said to be seen with a electronic parking brake and could be exclusive to top variant.
When it comes to Features, it’ll come with automatic climate control, 10.25-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, Wireless Charging Pad, Voice-activated electric sunroof, LED headlamps, and many more. As for the safety feature, it’s expected to come with 6 Airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Cruise Control, Tyre-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Disc Brakes for all wheels, 360 Surround View Camera, Rear Parking Sensors, and few more.
While we’ve no official word on the battery specs, but considering the Punch EV will be the fourth EV in the line-up, it can come with a battery pack bigger than the Tigor (26 kWh) to offer range of up to 500 KMs.
Tata has said, the Punch EV could hit the roads before the year ends, and since December is the only month left this year, expect the EV to launch in the mid to late December.
