It looks like 2026 will be a busy year for the Indian automotive industry. This year, we will see many new launches including facelifts, upgrades and all-new products. Here is a closer look at 10 popular affordable SUVs which are slated to get noteworthy upgrades soon.
Tata Punch EV Facelift
Tata Motors is set to launch the Punch EV facelift in India. The official images of the updated electric SUV are already out. Design changes align with those on the updated Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Punch. The front fascia gets reworked LED DRLs, tweaked headlamps, and a new front bumper. The rear now features new connected LED tail lamps and a new bumper.
Inside, the new Punch is expected to see the addition of new features. Some rumours even suggest that ADAS would be introduced on the new model. Time remains before we find out.
Thew Punch EV facelift will likely be offered with two battery pack choices- 35kWh and 45kWh, an upgrade of the pre-facelift’s 25kWh and 35kWh units. The new 45kWh unit is expected to return a range of around 489km per charge. Tata even put an experienced automotive journalist behind the wheel and hypermiled the new Punch.EV- an exercise in which it returned a range of 593.6 km per charge. The carmaker may also offer lifetime warranty on the new battery pack.
Maruti Brezza Facelift
The facelifted second-generation Maruti Brezza is also expected this year. It will have minor design improvements and feature additions over the outgoing model. One of the most interesting changes on the design front will probably be the transition to new four-spoke, swirl-style wheels.
Inside, the new Brezza will get a bigger touchscreens and may be even features like ventilated seats. Powertrain options will remain the same- 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol (K15C) and CNG, with a possible underbody CNG tank configuration debuting on the latter.
Skoda Kushaq Facelift
Skoda has revealed the facelifted Kushaq SUV in India. It gets major styling changes- a redesigned front fascia, new wheels, and a tweaked rear. Higher variants ride on 17-inch wheels, while the lower ones use 16-inchers. It comes in eight colours, including three new shades. Boot space has also increased to 491 litres. The new Kushaq will be available in five trims- Classic+, Signature, Sportline, Prestige, and MonteCarlo.
Inside, the Kushaq gets features like a panoramic sunroof, a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, a larger 10.25-inch instrument cluster, massage function for the rear seats, front parking sensors, dual-colour ambient lighting, Google Automotive AI Agent-powered voice commands, and more.
The new Kushaq continues to be based on the MQB A0 IN platform and will come with the same engines as the pre-facelift model- 1.0L turbocharged petrol and 1.5L turbo-petrol. The smaller engine makes 114 hp and 178Nm, and comes with a six-speed manual or an all-new 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The new 8-speed transmission is the biggest mechanical highlight of this product. The 1.5L engine produces 148hp and 250Nm, and comes mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox.
Kylaq With 8AT
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The Skoda Kylaq, today, is a hot-selling model. It is set to get an important update soon. Now, the Kylaq is available with the 1.0L TSI engine, offered with a manual and a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission. In the coming months, it will get the 8-speed AISIN-sourced automatic transmission instead of the current six-speed unit.
Volkswagen Taigun Facelift
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Volkswagen is also preparing a facelift of the Taigun SUV. Expected to be out in the second quarter of this year, it will have minor design changes and will have more features like a panoramic sunroof.
Powertrains will remain unchanged. It will continue to be powered by the familiar 1.0L TSI and 1.5L TSI turbo-petrol engines. Like the Kushaq, updated Taigun will also get its six-speed automatic transmission with the new 8-speed torque converter.
Mahindra Scorpio-N Facelift
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Mahindra will launch a facelift to the Scorpio-N in the coming months. It will get notable design changes and come with more features. The front fascia is expected to get notable restyling- larger grille, restyled headlamps and new bumpers. It will also have larger 19-inch wheels.
The cabin layout and material quality will improve on the facelift. It will also get a larger 10.25-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system, electronic parking brake and a fully digital instrument cluster. More importantly, the facelift will reportedly introduce ADAS features on more trims/variants. Engine options will remain unchanged- 2.2L turbocharged diesel and 2.0L turbo-petrol.
Scorpio Classic Facelift
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The Scorpio Classic is also known to get a functional update soon. Details are sparse at the time of writing, but we expect the overall design to improve on the new model. It will get a redesigned front grille, new bumpers and improved lighting. Inside, the facelifted SUV will likely get a better touchscreen infotainment system, more charging points and better upholstery.
Maruti Fronx Facelift
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Maruti Suzuki will launch the facelifted Fronx in the coming months. It will get notable styling changes and see the addition of more features including ADAS. The biggest highlight will, however, be the addition of a new strong hybrid powertrain.
Hyundai Exter Facelift
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The Exter is also set to get a facelift soon. Expected to be out in March this year, the biggest highlight of the facelifted Exter will be its infotainment system. It will use Hyundai’s next-generation infotainment system, based on the Android Automotive OS. This is a full operating system built into the car and much more advanced than the Android Auto we are familiar with.
The new Exter will come with a large 12.9-inch central touchscreen and a 9.9-inch digital instrument cluster. It is likely to see the addition of more features and will also feature minor design differences.
Honda Elevate Hybrid
Honda will give the Elevate SUV a hybrid powertrain in the coming months. It won’t be the same setup used in the City e:HEV. Elevate’s hybrid powertrain will use more energy-dense motors and a lighter battery pack. It is claimed to be more cost effective and efficient than the hybrid City’s powertrain.
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