This Hyundai MPV rendering gives you a fair idea on how the Maruti Ertiga challenger will look like
Our rendering artist Pratyush Rout has come up with this speculative Hyundai MPV rendering based on the visual clues offered by a recently spotted prototype.
A heavily disguised production-ready prototype of the Hyundai 7-seater MPV was recently spotted testing in South Korea, indicating that it is not far away from its world premiere. Hyundai first toyed with the idea of a compact people carrier back in 2012 when it debuted the HND-7 Hexaspace design study at the Auto Expo. However, the market at that time was starting to embrace SUVs and the automaker eventually shelved its MPV plans.
Even though the compact crossover SUVs rule the Indian market now, the popularity of Maruti Ertiga and Toyota Innova Crysta prove that well-rounded MPVs still make a strong business case. Recently, a top Hyundai India official went on record to confirm that the company is currently evaluating the feasibility of a multi-seater high-occupancy product.
We think the upcoming Hyundai MPV would be a valuable addition to the brand’s Indian portfolio. Likely to be based on the new Creta‘s underpinnings, it would enjoy benefits of economies of scale thereby enabling Hyundai to arrive at a competitive price point.
As we can see in the rendering, the new Hyundai MPV would be sporting the quintessential hexagonal grille and is likely to employ the two-part headlamp design which can be seen on the Venue and new Creta. The profile features a smoothly arching roofline and generous daylight opening. The HND-7 concept, being 8 years old, has no influence on the new MPV’s styling. We expect the rear fascia to feature distinct LED lighting signature.
The previous spyshots from China revealed that the Hyundai 3-row MPV features a multi-function steering wheel identical to that of the Creta. Though the dashboard is currently under wraps, we expect to see quite a few components carried forward from its SUV sibling.
The people carrier is also likely to share its powertrain lineup with the Creta. If launched in India, the viable engine candidates include a 1.4-liter turbo petrol, 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol and 1.5-liter turbo diesel. Both manual and automatic transmissions are expected to be on offer.
The Hyundai MPV is likely to be positioned in the niche between the Maruti Ertiga and Toyota Innova Crysta. Like other Hyundai products, it will be equipped with state-of-the-art connectivity features, and will have a premium appeal. We expect the new Hyundai 7-seat MPV to launch in India sometime in the later part of 2021.
