Hyundai Ai3 Small SUV (Tata Punch Rival) Spotted On Test In India | V3Cars

23 March 2023
By Amit Saraswat
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Hyundai’s upcoming small SUV to rival the popular Tata Punch was caught testing in India recently. Codenamed the Ai3, the upcoming SUV will likely launch around the 2023 festive season.

Upcoming Hyundai Ai3 Small SUV Spotted

The upcoming Hyundai Ai3 SUV will sit below the Venue in the brand’s portfolio and is likely to be positioned as an SUV-equivalent of the Grand i10 Nios hatchback. Although the test car was spotted with camouflage, the spy shots give us a rough idea about its design. The new Ai3 small SUV from Hyundai is likely to follow the carmaker’s new design language while offering a tall stance and boxy proportions. Like the Hyundai Venue B2-segment SUV, the upcoming small SUV could feature split LED headlights and connected LED tail lights.

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Hyundai Ai3 Design Details

A prominent glass house along with a steeply raked front windscreen are the key takeaways from the latest spy shots. The upcoming Hyundai Ai3 could be the tallest small SUV in its class, which consists of the Tata Punch, Maruti Suzuki Fronx and Citroen C3. Given that the Grand i10 Nios already boasts a tall boy design, the new SUV is likely to have a tall riding stance. The test mule that was caught on camera was equipped with steel wheels, which hints towards it being a base variant and the presence of fixed front and rear headrests further reinforces this hunch.

Hyundai Ai3 Powertrain Details

Since the new small SUV from Hyundai is likely to share its platform with the Grand i10 Nios, it is safe to assume that it will also borrow the 1.2L normal petrol engine from the Nios hatchback. Furthermore, considering the popularity of CNG powered vehicles these days, Hyundai may also offer the Ai3 with a factory-fitted CNG option for cost-conscious buyers.

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Hyundai Ai3 India Launch Timeline

Hyundai could launch the new Ai3 small SUV in India during the 2023 festive season. The Hyundai Ai3 is likely to hit the production line soon and the bookings may commence towards the middle of 2023. The new small SUV from Hyundai will lock horns with the Tata Punch, Maruti Suzuki Fronx and Citroen C3. The Tata Punch currently leads the small SUV segment and it recently crossed the 1.75 lakh unit sales milestone in India.

Also Read: Updated Tata Punch Now More Fuel Efficient Than Before

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amit Saraswat

Born and brought up in Agra, he grew up reading magazines more than textbooks. With a keen interest in cars, he decided to make his future in automotive journalism and is currently helping in content at V3Cars.