Hyundai ix25 Compact SUV to come in August

Hyundai is planning to launch the ix25 compact SUV in August to make hay of the ensuing festive season. The company finds this time of the year the most appropriate for a major product introduction, something that worked very well for the Elite i20 that came in August 2014. 

The ix25 has been developed specifically for the Chinese and Indian market. Compact SUVs are big number churners in China as well, much more than in India, which is why it was first introduced there. For India, the ix25 will want a share of the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster pie and will be priced closer to the Duster. Maruti Suzuki plans to launch the SX4 S-Cross in the second quarter of the year so it’s going to be quite a busy segment in a few months time. 

The ix25 is smartly styled and gets its proportions spot on. It will be feature rich too. In China, the ix25 gets projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, a panoramic sunroof, touch-screen multimedia system, electric driver’s seat adjustment and heated and cooled seats among other features. The Chinese ix25 also comes in a 4WD variant. Since Renault has introduced a 4WD Duster here, Hyundai will be watching its success closely.

Hyundai India tells us that the ix25 will be a step up from the current portfolio in the ride and handling department. The steering will have more weight and while low speed ride will be good, stability at high speeds on the highway was a priority during development of the car. 

The ix25 will not be a sub 4-metre SUV with an overall length of 4270mm so expect larger engines, similar to the ones in the Verna to power to power it.