In the compact Sports Utility Segment (SUV), many car makers are actively trying to squeeze out a considerable market share. Manufacturers like Renault, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford and Nissan are competing with each other in the compact SUV segment. In the recent past, a company that has enjoyed a huge amount of success is Ford as its model EcoSport has been instrumental in creating a new chapter for the company in India. With its aggressive price tag and bulk of features, EcoSport has garnered the attention of many car buyers in India. Also to mention, the availability of EcoSport in manual and automatic transmission options has helped in turning the segment upside down. However, on the other hand, Renault Duster is still holding on to its place in the compact SUV segment but from time to time the sales of vehicle have been dropping by a slight margin.
Ford EcoSport is currently available in a 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission system, which is only comes with 1.5-litre TiVCT engine option. The mileage for this automatic variant stands at 16.15 kmpl, according to company claims. The other thing to mention about the success of Ford EcoSport AT is its aggressive pricing. Carrying an ex-showroom price of Rs.8.67 lakh in Delhi, the automatic version of Ford EcoSport is a good buy considering the different aspects of the car. So with the proper mixture of price and features, Ford seems to be on the right track in the Indian car market.
Reports have suggested that the launch of an automatic variant of Duster might be on the cards, considering market developments. However, the company has not divulged any information regarding the same but industry experts are saying that the car might make its headway start in the country by 2014. In Brazil, automatic variant of Renault Duster is already on sale while for Russia, company officials have confirmed an early 2014 launch for the same. It is likely that Renault might gave away the six speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) system, which renders better fuel efficiency and less CO2 emissions as compared to conventional transmission. Talking about the expected price of Duster automatic in India, it might be around Rs. 1 lakh more than the top-specification trim.
Talking about the latest entrant in the compact SUV segment, Nissan Terrano, the performance shown by the car during the initial stages of its launch has been satisfactory but not competitive. The car was able to generate a considerable amount of interest amongst Indian buyers but soon after its launch, the hype reduced significantly. So, looking upon the slowly declining consumer interest in Nissan Terrano, it is likely for the company to infuse a fresh lease of life in its compact SUV by offering an automatic variant.
It was highly doubted that Nissan would be introducing an automatic variant of Terrano during the initial stages since its launch. Till now, the company has not announced any plans of introducing an automatic variant of Terrano as Nissan probably did not feel the need. However, since competition is getting stiffer in the compact SUV segment, the company could soon overhaul its plans. As seen by industry experts, India might witness the launch of Nissan Terrano with six-speed automatic transmission by next year.
