Baby SUV boom in 2021
BOUNTY: NEW, MORE AFFORDABLE MODELS COMING TO SA THIS YEAR Carmakers rush to grab market share in this fast-growing segment.
The increase in compact SUVs is set to reach new heights this year as car manufacturers rush for market share in this rapidly growing market segment. A number of smaller SUVs – have made their debuts over the last year or so, and South African buyers will be even more spoilt for choice for more affordable options as the year progresses.
In December, the T-Cross edged out long-time segment leader the Ford EcoSport with sales of 823. This makes it VW’s most popular SUV and third best overall seller.
Fitting in above the T-Cross and below the Tiguan, the T-Roc is a compact SUV that recorded sales figures of 129 in December.
The Venue was Hyundai’s five-member SUV family’s best performer in December with sales of 580, placing it second on the Korean carmaker overall list.
The only Kia model that sold more units than the Seltos’ 302 in December was the Picanto with 337. The Seltos line-up was bolstered by a diesel derivative.
The WR-V’s total sales of 23 in December rates quite decently as it was only officially launched in November and in its first full month outsold all other Honda models bar the Amaze and BR-V.
The scene is set for an exciting battle on the local compact SUV front. Here’s what South Africans should expect in 2021:
SUZUKI VITARA BREZZA
Slotting in between the Ignis and Vitara, Suzuki officially showcased the Vitara Brezza to the media in December and hopes to launch it to market next month. It was Suzuki’s first car to be developed in India. An update in 2020 saw the 1.3-litre turbodiesel engine make way for Suzuki’s familiar 1.5-litre K15B four-cylinder petrol engine producing 77kW/138Nm.
TOYOTA URBAN CRUISER
Similar to the Suzuki Baleno and Toyota Starlet hatch backs, the Toyota Urban Cruiser and Suzuki Vitara Brezza share the same platform.
Toyota has not officially announced that the Urban Cruiser is definitely heading to South Africa. But there has been enough speculation about Toyota’s plans to release a compact SUV to slot in below the RAV4 to assume it might be the Urban Cruiser.
MAZDA CX-30
The new edition to Mazda’s SUV line-up fits in above the CX-3 and below the CX-5 – but it is still very much a compact SUV.
Expect the local CX-30 to offer only one engine option, possibly the 2.0-litre, when it debuts soon.
KIGER
Renault plans to roll out the it’s smallest SUV, the twin of the Nissan Magnite, in the third quarter of 2021.
Making its inter
NISSAN MAGNITE
Set to be unveiled in “early 2021”, Nissan’s baby SUV rides on the same platform as the Renault Triber and is also built in India.
Like other compact SUVs from India, it also falls into the sub-four metre category which qualifies it for tax exemptions in its home market. The Magnite’s national debut at the end of this month, the Kiger will be equipped with the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that does duty in the Magnite.
The Kiger will slot in below the Captur as Renault’s smallest SUV.
HRA0 1.0-litre turbo engine produces 74kW/160Nm and is mated to either a five-speed manual or X-Tronic CVT.
SONET
Set to touch down in April, the feature-packed Sonet will slot in below the Seltos as Kia’s smallest SUV offering. The Sonet is built in
India and is closely related to sister company Hyundai’s Venue.
The Sonet made its international debut in India last year with a choice of three engines. A Smartstream 1.2-litre four-cylinder and powerful 1.0 T-GDi – similar to the one offered in the local Venue, as well as the 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine found in the Seltos.