Nissan’s Creta rival will be heavily localized and will have a lot in common with the upcoming Renault Duster.
01 Oct 2025 | 4941 Views | By Akbar Merchant
Nissan is gearing up to pull the covers off its all-new C-segment SUV on October 7 by previewing its final design ahead of its global debut. This new SUV will be Nissan’s most important launches for India in recent years. The Nissan C-SUV will go on sale by mid-2026, followed ...
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Nissan is gearing up to pull the covers off its all-new C-segment SUV on October 7 by previewing its final design ahead of its global debut. This new SUV will be Nissan’s most important launches for India in recent years. The Nissan C-SUV will go on sale by mid-2026, followed later by a three-row version by late-2026 to rival the likes of the Hyundai Alcazar and Tata Safari.
The new Nissan C-SUV will share its CMF-B foundations with the upcoming Renault Duster, courtesy of the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s common platform strategy. However, Nissan has previewed earlier that its SUV will wear a design of its own. The Nissan SUV gets unique front fascia with its own design identity seen on headlamp units, horizontal daytime-running lamps, and a wide grille with horizontal slats all helping it set itself apart from its Renault sibling.
Nissan is yet to reveal exact specifications, however we can confirm that the SUV is expected to debut with one or more petrol engine options. Alternative fuel options such as CNG and ethanol-based powertrains for future models are also being evaluated. Unfortunately, there will be no diesel engine on offer.
This new SUV is a make-or-break product for Nissan India, which currently has a very limited line-up – the Magnite being the only locally manufactured model on sale. By entering the hotly contested midsize SUV segment, Nissan will once again find itself up against established players like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Honda Elevate.
While Nissan hasn’t yet revealed what it will be called, we are told that the SUV will have a unique brand identity which will be unique to India. The October 7 design reveal should finally give us a clearer idea of how Nissan intends to carve its own niche in this crowded segment. A seven-seat derivative, due in 2027 is already under development to help Nissan broaden its portfolio in the midsize SUV space.