Riding high on the success of the Seltos, Kia Motors India is now readying its second model for India – the Carnival MPV. But that’s not the only model Kia has lined up for 2020 – the Korean carmaker has now confirmed it will launch its second SUV later this year.
Along with the announcement of a hike in prices for the Seltos, it has now been confirmed the Kia QYI compact SUV will be launched in India in the second-half of 2020. After introducing the Carnival MPV at the 2020 Auto Expo, Kia is likely to launch its compact SUV (codenamed QYI) closer to August 2020, as the company aims to “further strengthen its Utility Vehicle brand image in India”, according to the statement.
Details on the Kia QYI compact SUV are scarce at this point, but what we do know is that it will share its underpinnings with its cousin, the Hyundai Venue. That said, while it will borrow its mechanicals from Hyundai’s compact SUV, the Kia QYI will have a completely different (and more rounded) design. As spy pictures have previously revealed, the Kia QYI will get Kia’s signature ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, and is likely to avoid going down the split-headlight route. It will also have a completely new interior and is expected to pack in lots of features, including a large touchscreen infotainment system and Kia’s UVO connected-car tech.
Engine and gearbox options for the Kia QYI are expected to mirror those of the Hyundai Venue, so there will be petrol and diesel options to choose from, along with the option of a manual and a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It will be interesting to see if Kia introduces ‘Tech Line’ and ‘GT Line’ variants for the QYI, like it did for the Seltos, to create greater differentiation between the standard and sportier versions of the SUV.
While the final production model will only be revealed later in 2020, it remains to be seen if Kia chooses to debut the QYI as a thinly-disguised concept at the Auto Expo 2020, like how it showcased the Seltos as the SP Signature a few months ahead of its global debut.
When it is launched in the second-half of 2020, expect the Kia QYI’s price to be in the range of Rs 7 – 11.5 lakh (ex-showroom) as it will take on the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport, Mahindra XUV300 and the upcoming Renault HBC compact SUV.
What would you like to see on Kia’s compact SUV in terms of features? Let us know in the comments.
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