Something interesting is happening in the Indian SUV market right now. Three new SUVs are heading our way, all boxy, all bold, all carrying a Defender-like stance that turns heads wherever it goes. They are coming from JSW in partnership with Chery, China’s largest independent automaker. Together, they are about to make the SUV segment in India more competitive than ever. So which three are they? And should established players be worried? Let us get into it.
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1. Jetour T2 – Upcoming JSW SUVs
This is the first and arguably the most exciting of the three. Designed under the leadership of a former Porsche designer, the first look of T2 shows an off-road-capable vehicle with its wide wheel arches, rigid bumpers with yellow tow hooks, and a spare wheel mounted on the tailgate. It has also scored 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP crash tests.
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So, the T2 is expected to arrive as a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 154 bhp paired with dual electric motors for a combined 221 bhp and 390 Nm. A 26.7 kWh battery pack is expected to deliver up to 139 kilometres of pure electric range. Inside, it will get a 15.6-inch touchscreen powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155, a 12-speaker Sony audio system, ventilated seats with a massage function, 360-degree cameras, ADAS, and Active Noise Cancellation, completing a feature list that would embarrass cars costing far more.
The car is expected to launch in Diwali for a price of around Rs 18-30 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
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2. Chery iCar V23
This is a fully electric, rugged SUV with round headlights. Its front fascia resembles the Jeep Wrangler’s due to its bumper styling. A detail borrowed straight from the electric Mercedes G-Class is its rear look, with an external storage box in place of a spare tyre. This is 4.2 metres long with 210 mm of ground clearance and off-road approach and departure angles of 43 and 41 degrees respectively.
Two powertrain options are expected: a rear-wheel-drive 136 bhp version with a 59.93 kWh battery delivering around 401 km of range, and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive 211 bhp version with an 81.76 kWh battery, stretching that to 510 km. Fast charging at up to 104 kW means a meaningful charge (mention percentage) in under 30 minutes. Moreover, the iCar V23 has already been spotted heavily camouflaged on Indian roads.
The car is expected to launch between late 2026 and early 2027, with variants starting from Rs 20 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
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3. Chery J6 – Upcoming JSW SUVs
The Chery J6 EV is the most premium of the three, and longer than the iCar V23 at 4.4 metres, it comes with 19-inch alloys, offers 225 mm of ground clearance, and has a design similar to the Defender. It is the kind of SUV that makes you stop and look in a car park full of identical crossovers.
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The J6 is available in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. A 69.77 kWh battery pack provides a claimed range of 418 to 470 kilometres per charge, with fast charging from 30 to 80 per cent achievable in approximately 30 minutes. The feature list includes ventilated front and rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, ADAS with lane-keep assist and forward collision warning, 360-degree cameras, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. However, the J6 has not been officially confirmed for India.
The price of the Chery J6 EV could be around Rs 25-35 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
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Hi, I’m Ravindra Meena , a bike and automobile enthusiast. I share honest reviews, mileage tests, and latest updates about bikes, cars, and EVs to help you make the right choice. Stay connected for real-world insights and trending auto news! 🏍️🚗