In India, the Hyundai lineup provides most of the common body styles save for an MPV / people mover. While we have previously spied a 7-seater built in Crete, a new Hyundai MPV has now been spotted testing in the home country of the Korean carmaker.
The Hyundai spied model has been fully hidden and does not show any design specifics but its roofline suggests a sporty style. The dimensions indicate it could match the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga in India and be priced below the 7-seater Creta. The Indian-spec layout most possibly would have improved ground clearance.
The same 1.5-liter petrol and diesel engines as the current Creta and Kia Seltos could drive the compact Hyundai MPV. The petrol engine makes 115PS/144Nm in the SUV while the diesel engine generates 115PS/250Nm; all are supplied with a manual 6-speed transmission. The automatic petrol engine option is a CVT, while in the SUV the diesel model gets a 6-speed torque converter. Lower models may also have the Creta / Seltos 1.4 liter turbo-petrol engine option. It brings out 140PS and 242Nm in the SUV and is mated to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT (automatic dual-clutch).
Which this Hyundai MPV shares its underpinnings with is hard to say. With the Renault Lodgy departure, the small MPV segment in India actually has no competitors for the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and XL6. The Mahindra Marazzo that lies just between the Ertiga and the Innova Crysta is after the Ertiga. Toyota also aims to reach the segment early, and an MPV is being produced jointly with Suzuki. Ford would now join the MPV market as part of the Mahindra-Ford JV with a Marazzo-based model. The Hyundai MPV in question may reach the mix anywhere between the Ertiga and the Marazzo.
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