Charge of the crossover brigade: forthcoming SUVs

Family and fleet-friendly with increasing style and practicality: unlike the cars themselves, the all-conquering SUV sector shows no sign of getting smaller. Here are ten forthcoming SUVs to watch

SEAT Arona – small SUV

The SEAT Arona is the second SUV in the Spanish company’s portfolio. Launched after the sales success of the larger Ateca, the Arona is SEAT’s answer to the Citroën C3 Aircross, the Hyundai Kona and the Kia Stonic. Based on the same ‘MQB A0’ platform as the new Ibiza, the Arona takes the style of the Ateca and shrinks it down to a smaller package. It’s no less practical, though, with 400 litres of luggage space and seating for five.

Just like the Ateca and upcoming Škoda Karoq, the Arona features efficient petrol TSI and diesel TDI engines, including a three-cylinder 1.0-litre model with 93bhp, as well as a more powerful 113bhp version. A 1.5-litre engine with cylinder deactivation also features, as do a pair of 1.6 diesels. SEAT’s ‘Drive Profile’ system offers ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’, ‘Eco’ and ‘Individual’ settings, while the latest on-board technology includes smartphone mirroring and LED interior and exterior lighting.

Jaguar e-Pace – medium SUV

The E-Pace is Jaguar’s second SUV after the larger and well‑received F-Pace went on sale in 2016. Like its bigger brother, the new E-Pace offers seating for five, and ‘sports car design and dynamics’, according to the British firm. The E-Pace also follows in the wheel tracks of the i-Pace all-electric SUV, which is yet to go on sale. Unlike that car, the E-Pace is powered by the latest ‘Ingenium’ diesel and petrol engines, with power outputs ranging from 148 to 297bhp, and CO2 emissions from 124 to 181g/km.

Front-wheel drive versions of the new baby Jaguar SUV which wear 17-inch wheels and are fitted with the 148bhp diesel engine have a claimed economy figure of 60.1mpg. All-wheel drive versions are also available, as are six‑speed manual and nine-speed automatic gearboxes. All engines are EU6 compliant, while AdBlue systems also feature on diesel models. Order books are open now, and prices start at £28,500.

Hyundai Kona – small SUV

The Hyundai Kona is ‘a true SUV with four-wheel drive, and the latest powertrains’, claims the South Korean company. New‑generation diesel technology and turbocharged petrol engines feature in the small SUV’s range. Slotting in below the established Tucson and Santa Fe, the small car-sized Kona may be the smallest of the three, but is certainly the most distinctive.

The Kona has a two‑tone roof, something which is fast becoming a ‘must-have’ feature in the sector, while a choice of 10 exterior colours offer a wealth of individual combinations. Twin-stack headlamps and plastic body cladding are also arresting visual features. Inside, an optional eight-inch infotainment system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Hyundai has sold more than 1.4 million SUVs in Europe since the introduction of the Santa Fe in 2001, and it hopes the Kona will add to that impressive tally.

Volvo XC60 – medium SUV

The Volvo XC60 builds on the style and desirability offered by its larger XC90 sibling, and replaces the first-generation XC60 which has been on sale for nine years and accounts for around 30 per cent of Volvo’s global sales. at the top of the XC60 tree is the award‑winning T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain, also seen in the XC90.

With 407bhp, acceleration from 0-62mph takes just 5.3 seconds. The Swedish company’s 190bhp D4 diesel engine will also feature in the new XC6 range, as will the 235bhp D5 with ‘PowerPulse’ technology. The petrol-powered T5 will deliver 254bhp, while the T6 with both turbo and superchargers is capable of 320bhp, but won’t be sold in the UK.

Volkswagen T-Roc – medium SUV

Based on the Volkswagen Golf, the T-Roc will share styling cues with the latest sixth-generation Polo and new Tiguan. Expected to debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September, the new car will take on established rivals such as the SEAT Ateca and the recently refreshed Nissan Qashqai.

As well as brighter and funkier interior styling than current Volkswagen models, the T-Roc will add more flair to the SUV sector.
A raft of petrol and diesel engines will power the new German arrival, with a small-capacity turbocharged petrol engine expected to provide an economical highlight, as it does in its Spanish SEAT cousin.

A 1.5-litre engine with cylinder deactivation is also expected to star, while a brace of more traditional diesel units will also feature. DSG semi‑automatic gearboxes will also be offered as well as four-wheel drive on larger-engined models.

Vauxhall Grandland X – large SUV

The 4,477mm-long Vauxhall Grandland X takes it place alongside the Mokka X and recently-introduced Crossland X and completes the British car manufacturer’s range of SUVs. The largest of the trio, the Grandland X will go on sale in early 2018, after a debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

Vauxhall claims generous cabin and luggage space (512 litres) for five people, while Grip Control enhances traction on rough surfaces. Safety technologies including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and drowsiness alert systems, as well as adaptive LED headlamps will also feature. An optional two-tone finish, with the roof in contrasting black, will add an extra touch of personalisation.

Nissan Qashqai – medium SUV

The Nissan Qashqai established a new crossover SUV sector when it was launched in 2006. Updated for 2017 with lightly refreshed styling featuring Nissan’s new ‘V-Motion’ front grille, the latest version of the Japanese crossover has higher-quality interior fittings and new ‘monoform’ seats for added comfort.

Emissions start at a fleet‑friendly 99g/km for the dCi 110 diesel-engined version, which also has a combined cycle fuel consumption of 74.3mpg. A higher output 127bhp diesel engine and a pair of petrol models with 113 and 160bhp complete the range. On sale now, prices start at £19,295.

Škoda Karoq – medium SUV

A replacement for the much-loved and slightly oddball Yeti, the new Škoda Karoq shares many similar features to the SEAT Ateca launched in 2016. Sitting under the larger Kodiaq in Škoda’s SUV range, the Karoq features two petrol and three diesel models, ranging in power from 113 to 187bhp.

All the engines feature direct injection, as well as stop-start and brake energy recovery technology. The top-line and lowest‑emission 2.0 TDI comes as standard with four-wheel drive, a 7-speed DSG semi‑automatic gearbox and 115g/km, while the 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine has cylinder deactivation technology. A new digital instrument display is offered for the first time, while the Karoq will go on sale in the second half of 2017. More SUVs will follow.

Kia Stonic – small SUV

South Korean carmaker Kia claims that the ‘B-SUV’ segment for supermini-sized crossovers currently accounts for 1.1 million new car sales in Europe each year – around seven per cent of the market – and is forecast to expand to more than two million annual sales by 2020.

To capture some of those sales, it has launched the new Stonic crossover. Like the Citroën C3 Aircross, personalisation is key: the car’s ‘targa’-style roof features a two-tone paint finish, while the Stonic will be available with up to 20 two-tone colour combinations – and five distinctive colours for the roof.

On sale in Q3 2017, a range of lightweight turbocharged petrol and diesel engines power the Stonic, each paired with a manual transmission. A 1.0-litre T-GDI 117bhp engine starts the range, while a 1.6-litre diesel unit will offer the lowest emissions and highest efficiency.

Citroën C3 Aircross – small SUV

French carmaker Citroën says that the new C3 Aircross compact SUV has a ‘fresh and assertive’ personality. While we can’t vouch for that, it does have the funky new style embodied by the company on the award-winning C4 Cactus and C3 supermini and an array of driver assistance systems to ensure it can tackle the rough stuff.

Grip Control®, Hill Descent Assist, a colour head-up display and smartphone wireless charging are among the technological highlights, while personalisation is strong, too, with up to 90 exterior colour combinations. PureTech petrol and BlueHDI diesel engines power the French newcomer which goes on sale in the UK on 1 November.