New Delhi, October 6, 2026 (Udaipur Kiran): Hyundai Creta has remained one of the most popular mid-size SUVs in India for a long time. However, the competition in this segment is set to become tougher with three new SUVs from JSW Motors, BYD and Chery expected to enter the market.
The upcoming SUVs could offer petrol, hybrid and electric powertrain options. Here is what is known about the three models that could challenge the Hyundai Creta.
JSW Jaecoo J5
JSW Motors is expected to introduce an SUV based on the Jaecoo J5. It could become the company’s second SUV after the JSW Combat. The model may be offered with both EV and ICE powertrains.
Images of the SUV during testing suggest that its design takes considerable inspiration from Range Rover SUVs. Expected features include Level 2 ADAS, passive entry, seven airbags, power-adjustable and heated ORVMs, ventilated front seats, six-way power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The SUV could also get an eight-speaker Sony sound system, a 13.2-inch infotainment screen, a 540-degree camera and a 9-inch digital driver display.
The global version of the J5 is available with EV, HEV and ICE powertrains. The EV version gets a 58.9kWh battery and has a claimed range of around 400km.
The hybrid version combines a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 1.83kWh motor to produce 224bhp and 295Nm of torque. The ICE version uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 145bhp and 210Nm.
The India model could be priced around Rs 18 lakh to Rs 26 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). It may be launched in India in 2027.
BYD Atto 2
The BYD Atto 2 will be positioned below the Atto 3 and could compete with mid-size SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta. It is smaller than the Atto 3 and is available globally with both plug-in hybrid and pure electric powertrains.
The PHEV version combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with either a 7.8kWh or 18kWh battery. According to the company’s global claims, it can offer a total range of up to 1,000km and an electric-only range of up to 90km.
The EV version comes with 45.1kWh and 64.8kWh LFP Blade batteries. These offer claimed WLTP ranges of 463km and 604km, respectively.
Features on the Atto 2 include a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 360-degree camera, ADAS, six airbags and an eight-speaker sound system.
The SUV could be priced around Rs 19 lakh to Rs 30 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) in India. It may also be launched next year.
JSW Chery iCAUR V23
The electric SUV based on the Chery iCAUR V23 is another model from JSW Motors that has been spotted testing in India several times.
The global model is offered with two battery options. The RWD version gets a 59.93kWh battery and produces 134bhp and 180Nm. The AWD version comes with an 81.76kWh battery and produces 209bhp and 292Nm of torque.
The claimed range is 360km for the RWD version and 430km for the AWD version. The India-spec model is expected to be offered with both battery options.
The cabin could largely retain the design of the global model. The India-patented design of the Atto 2 also features a panoramic sunroof, which is not available on the model sold in some other markets.
With these three SUVs expected to enter the market, buyers in the mid-size SUV segment could soon have more petrol, hybrid and electric options to choose from.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.