TL; DR
- Hyundai confirms a new mid-size petrol-diesel SUV launching in India this festive season.
- The SUV is expected to replace the Creta’s current segment position as it moves upmarket.
- A sub-compact EV SUV, styled after the Kia Syros EV, is expected by end-2026.
Hyundai has confirmed a new petrol-diesel SUV for India. It is set to arrive during this year’s festive season, which is a part of the automaker’s broader two-model push planned for the rest of the financial year (April 2026 to March 2027).
Filling The Gap The Next Creta Will Leave
This new SUV is expected to slot into the company’s mid-size SUV segment, which is currently occupied by the Creta. Basically, it will be positioned as a like-for-like replacement in the ₹11 lakh (ex-showroom) price bracket. So does that mean that Hyundai is discontinuing the Creta?
No, that isn’t going to happen. Creta is the company’s lone star, the product that keeps it in the top automakers in the country. The reason why Hyundai is planning a replacement for the current-generation Creta is because the next-generation Creta is expected to grow larger, wider, and move up a segment (something that happened with the Seltos).
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If Creta moves up a segment, it’s starting price could be around ₹12 lakhs (ex-showroom), leaving some room in the ₹10 to ₹12 lakh (ex-showroom) segment, where the new model could fit in. Petrol and diesel powertrains are confirmed for launch, with a hybrid option reportedly following before the decade ends (in a few years).
A Second SUV Joins It Before Year-End
Hyundai isn’t stopping at one new SUV that replaces the outgoing Creta. The company will also unveiled a sub-compact electric SUV, which is also expected to debut before the end of 2026. It could be built around the same formula as the Kia Syros EV. We could get two battery pack options, Level 2 ADAS, connected car features, and full-LED lighting throughout.
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| Model | Segment | Powertrain | Expected Timeline |
| New Mid-Size SUV | Creta-equivalent | Petrol, Diesel (hybrid later) | Festive Season 2026 |
| Sub-Compact EV SUV | Entry EV SUV | Electric, dual battery packs | By end of 2026 |
The upcoming EV will enter a segment already home to the Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Renault Bridger EV, and Kia Syros EV. This will make it one of the more contested EV categories in the country right now.
I think Hyundai’s timing here is deliberate rather than coincidental. Launching a mid-size ICE SUV right as the next Creta prepares to move upmarket is a textbook segment-succession play, in my opinion. What I want to see is whether the new Creta shares its dimensions with the latest-generation Seltos or comes in even bigger.
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