Six popular SUVs to get facelifts in the next nine months

In the coming months, there are comprehensive facelifts lined up for some of India’s most popular compact and midsize SUVs. This includes the likes of the Tata Nexon, Harrier and Safari, the Kia Seltos and Sonet, and even the Hyundai Creta. While some of these SUVs will see major cosmetic or feature upgrades, some are also expected to get mechanical upgrades. If you are looking to buy any of these SUVs, we suggest you wait a little longer.

1. Kia Seltos facelift – June/July 2023
The Kia Seltos has been on sale in India since 2019, and while a facelift for the Seltos has been around globally since mid-2022, it is finally expected to launch here by June or July this year. With this facelift, the SUV will get a redesigned grille and new headlamps with revised LED Daytime Running Lamps extending into the grille.

The rear will also be redesigned with new LED tail-lamps that are now connected by a light bar and reprofiled, dual-tone bumper with faux silver inserts. On the inside, the Seltos will get a new seamlessly connected, twin-screen layout and a revised centre console. Crucially, the SUV could even come with an ADAS suite. The 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines will be carried forward as is, but it will also benefit from the new 160hp, 253Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. The older 140hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol is no longer offered in the Seltos.

2. Tata Nexon facelift – August 2023

Test mules of the Nexon facelift have been spied testing on our roads numerous times now. The updated Nexon is expected to heavily borrow design cues from the Curvv ICE concept with a completely new front and rear, and full-width LED light bars.

The interior will also be majorly overhauled with a larger touchscreen, a revised centre console, a new full-digital instrument cluster and a two-spoke steering wheel inspired from the Curvv concept. We are also told that the Nexon facelift will get the all-new 125hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine while the 1.5-litre diesel mill is expected to continue as is. Prices for the Nexon facelift will be announced in August. Expect the cosmetic and equipment upgrades to eventually also make it to the electric versions of the compact SUV.

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3. Tata Harrier facelift – October 2023
The Harrier facelift will borrow styling elements from the Harrier EV concept that was showcased at the 2023 Auto Expo. The front and rear will, therefore, be completely redesigned with new vertically oriented headlamps and tail-lamps on the bumper, full-width LED light bars, and a much sharper design language.

The Harrier was recently updated with new features such as ADAS and a larger and improved touchscreen, but the facelifted model is expected to come with a redesigned dashboard as well. The refreshed Harrier will continue with the 170hp, 2.0-litre diesel engine as is, but Tata’s new 170hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, which debuted at the Auto Expo, could also be offered on the Harrier facelift. Expect prices to be announced in October, just before Diwali.

4. Tata Safari facelift – October 2023
The flagship Safari SUV will also get a similar set of updates as the Harrier. In fact, heavily camouflaged test mules of the Safari facelift have been spied testing on our roads with design cues borrowed from the Harrier EV concept.

As is the case now, the facelifted Harrier and Safari SUVs will continue to share most of their design, although the latter will get its own unique rear-quarter. Expect the Safari to also receive design and equipment upgrades that the Harrier gets. Both SUVs will continue to share their powertrain options, which means apart from the 170hp, 2.0-litre diesel engine, the Safari is also touted to receive the new 170hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. The Safari facelift is expected to launch at the same time as the Harrier facelift.

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5. Kia Sonet facelift – December 2023
Following the Seltos, Kia will also roll out a mid-lifecycle update on the Sonet compact SUV which, too, has remained unchanged since its launch in March 2021. Test mules of the Sonet facelift were spied testing overseas for the first time a short while ago. Although the test mule that was spotted was heavily camouflaged, it hinted at a major redesign of the front and rear.

The interior is also expected to get a major overhaul along with a step up in the equipment list, although there have been no pictures of the interior of the Sonet facelift yet. Unlike other cars in this list, however, the mid-lifecycle update on the Sonet will only bring cosmetic updates, and therefore, it will continue with its existing 1.2-litre petrol, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options.

6. Hyundai Creta facelift – January/February 2024
While Hyundai has already given the Creta a facelift in markets like Indonesia and Russia, an updated model will launch in India only by early 2024. The India-spec Creta, in fact, will look completely unique from versions that are sold abroad. A camouflaged test mule was recently spied with design cues similar to the upcoming Exter and the new Verna.

The Creta facelift is also expected to come with a majorly revised interior and get new additions to its equipment list like a 360-degree camera and ADAS, among others. Under the hood, the Creta facelift will continue with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and diesel engines, but replacing the current 140hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol will be the new 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol that will be offered on the Seltos first. There will also be an N Line version right from launch in India that would receive cosmetic and mechanical upgrades.

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