8 Rough & Tough SUVs Launching Soon: Mahindra Scorpio-N Facelift To New Toyota Fortuner
The acceptance for rough and tough SUVs has increased in recent years. If you are planning to buy a SUV that isn’t just another raised hatchback or soft-roader, here are some options to wait for- 8 launches expected to happen soon.
Marketed as India's first D+ segment SUV, the MG Majestor has finally been revealed in India and is expected to launch sometime in April this year. Deliveries are expected to commence by May. Spanning over five metres in length, it will be a capable off-roader. MG had showcased its off-road abilities at the reveal event. It is expected to be priced competitively and may eventually replace the Gloster in MG’s India portfolio.
Key design highlights of this SUV are LED DRLs, vertically stacked LED headlamps, a large, stylish grille, muscular front bumper, 19-inch wheels, twin exhaust tips, and connected LED taillights. Inside, it gets a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an 8-inch digital instrument gauge cluster, a 12-speaker JBL audio, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, level 2 ADAS and more.
As for the powerplant, the Majestor gets a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine making 214 hp and 479 Nm. It comes mated to an 8-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. Underpinning the Majestor is a rugged platform. The SUV comes with off-road hardware and technologies such as three differential locks, crawl control, 10 terrain modes, and more.
Another upcoming rough and tough SUV is the facelifted Scorpio-N. It has recently been spotted on tests multiple times. Going by the spy shots and videos, the facelift will bring significant styling changes and more features to the SUV. It will get a redesigned front grille, slightly restyled LED headlamps, a new front bumper with revised skid plate and restyled fog lamps.
This facelift aims to close the technology and feature gaps that have developed between the Scorpio-N and its rivals in the past few years. The new model will likely get features like a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats and more. With the facelift, more trims of the SUV are expected to see the addition of Level 2 ADAS features.
No mechanical changes are expected on the facelift. It will continue with current model’s engine options- 2.0L turbocharged petrol and 2.2L turbocharged diesel. Both these will be offered with manual and automatic transmissions. We expect the new Scorpio-N to debut in August this year.
The Scorpio Classic is also slated to get a facelift this year. This will be more of a functional upgrade. The design is likely to see revisions (updated front and rear ends and new wheels likely) and the overall cabin experience will be improved. The carmaker will likely give the SUV a larger infotainment unit, more storage areas and a few other features.
The powertrain department is expected to be left untouched. The SUV will continue to be powered by the 2.2L mHawk engine generating 128hp and 300Nm. It will be paired exclusively to a manual transmission and will come with a Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) layout.
Another expected launch this year is the ninth generation Hilux that recently entered production globally. The new generation of the pickup truck will get a new design, more features and a more comfortable cabin. The global-spec gets a fresh front fascia design which the carmaker calls ‘Cybersumo’ face. It is sharp and aggressive. It will have new wheels, bumpers, and lighting. Inside, the new Hilux will see the addition of more features like a larger touchscreen infotainment units and digital instrument cluster.
This generation of the Hilux will continue to use the IMV platform and will be powered by the same 2.8L turbocharged diesel engine as the outgoing model. The suspension is likely to see major improvements on the new model.
The Toyota Fortuner, a hot-selling model here, is also set to get a generational update this year. The new model will likely sit on a heavily upgraded version of the IMV platform. It will have notable design changes and will likely borrow many of its cues from the new Hilux. The front fascia will have the most notable changes. The rear end will be made sharper and more upmarket. The silhouette is likely to stand close to that of the outgoing model.
Even inside, it is likely to see the addition of several features and technologies- likely a large freestanding touchscreen, a new Land Cruiser-style steering wheel and more. The next-generation Fortuner will be offered with two engine options- 2.7L petrol and 2.8L turbocharged diesel engine. Manual and automatic transmissions will both be available.
Mahindra seems to be working on two important models- a facelift to the three-door Thar and a version of the Thar ROXX which we think would be powered by the smaller 1.5L diesel engine. Going by test mule sightings, the three-door Thar facelift will borrow some of its styling cues from the ROXX. It will have ROXX-like ‘Six-Pack’ grille, circular LED headlamps with DRLs, ROXX-like front bumper, and five-spoke alloys- suggest spy shots. No clear detail of in-cabin improvements are available at the time of writing.
Speculations point to Mahindra adding features like automatic climate control and a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display to the three-door Thar with the update. The model is expected to retain its current set of engines and transmissions- 2.0L turbo-petrol and 2.2L diesel, offered with both manual and automatic transmissions.
Image source: Rushlane
Not much is known about the ROXX test mule that was spied recently. We think Mahindra is testing the 1.5L turbo-diesel engine on the ROXX. This is the same engine that powers the lower rear wheel drive (RWD) variants of the three-door model.
JSW is gearing up to set up its own passenger vehicle vertical in India and a rebadged version of the Jetour T2 will be one of the first products to be introduced here. The T2-based SUV will have a different name when launched and will compete primarily with the Toyota Fortuner here. It will initially be brought as CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits and assembled at JSW’s plant in Maharashtra.
The company plans to bring the seven-seater version of the SUV to India, with the strong hybrid powertrain. In other words, the i-DM avatar. Powering it will be a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors and a 26.7 kWh battery pack. This setup will have a combined output of 375 hp and 610 Nm. All Wheel Drive is also likely to be offered on the India-spec. Expect the launch toward the end of this year or in early 2027.