Renault Boreal, Nissan 7-seater SUV, MG Starlight 560, Cherry Tiggo, And Hyundai Ni1i

The Mahindra XUV 7XO was launched earlier this year as a successor to the XUV700, sporting notable design changes and a fresh set of features. While it remains one of the most popular and competitive offerings in its segment, the segment is going to become even more crowded as several models are set to arrive soon. We have listed 5 of them, which will directly take on the XUV 7XO.
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Renault Boreal – Upcoming 7-Seater SUVs

Renault Boreal is essentially going to be a 7-seater version of the Renault Duster. It is expected to be launched in India by early 2027. The SUV will be based on the same platform as the Duster, with more room to accommodate an extra row. It has already been spotted in India, being tested under heavy camouflage. The French automaker has already revealed the Boreal SUV in July 2025 in international markets. The spy images suggest that the India-spec Boreal will closely resemble the new Duster SUV. 

In terms of features, the Boreal will likely borrow most of them from its 5-seater counterpart. These include a 10.2-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch fully digital driver’s display, auto AC, ventilated front seats, and a powered tailgate. Passenger safety is expected to be taken care of by 6 airbags and level 2 ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems). 

The India-spec Duster gets three powertrain options. These include 1.0-litre turbo petrol (102bhp/160Nm), a 1.3-litre turbo petrol (160bhp/280Nm) and a 1.8-litre petrol hybrid engine (163bhp/172Nm). The Boreal is expected to come with the same engine options as the Duster. The Renault Boreal is expected to be priced between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 28 lakh (on-road Mumbai).

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Nissan Tekton 7-seater

Nissan is also expected to introduce a 7-seater version of the Tekton by the end of 2026 or early 2027. The Tekton 7-seater will be based on the Renault Global Modular Platform (RGMP), which also underpins the new Duster. The Tekton has a bold yet modern SUV design language, which includes a V-motion grille and C-shaped LED DRLs. It also gets 18-inch alloy wheels and connected LED taillights.

Inside, the Tekton 7-seater will feature a multi-layered dashboard design. It is expected to come loaded with amenities like a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and auto AC with rear AC vents. On the safety front, it is expected to include 6 airbags and level 2 ADAS as seen on the new Renault Duster. 

Nissan will likely offer the Tekton 7-seater with the same powertrain options as the Duster. These include 1-litre turbo petrol (102bhp/160Nm), a 1.3-litre turbo petrol (160bhp/280Nm) and a 1.8-litre petrol hybrid engine (163bhp/172Nm). It could be priced from Rs 16 lakh to Rs 25 lakh (on-road Mumbai).

MG Starlight 560 – Upcoming 7-Seater SUVs

MG already has Hector and Hector Plus, which can be considered as rivals to the Mahindra XUV 7XO. However, these products have been on the market for a long time, and since their inception, there haven’t been any major updates. Now, MG is all set to change this with the upcoming Starlight 560 SUV. It is also sold under the Wuling badge in the Chinese market.  The Starlight 560 boasts a striking design compared to any of the current MG cars under 30 lakh. It gets sleek LED DRLs and headlights, 5-spoke alloy wheels, and a longer and flatter bonnet for a sophisticated look. 

MG cars have long been known for their in-cabin experience, and the Starlight will take it a step further. It will have a minimalistic dashboard layout with a large touchscreen in the centre, along with a digital driver’s display. Its feature list will also include a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, powered front seats, wireless charging, a 360-degree camera, and a complete suite of Level 2 ADAS. 

The MG Starlight is expected to come with multiple powertrain options, with the highlight being a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, which could be a combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 20.5 kWh battery (197 bhp and 230 Nm). This setup will offer a pure electric range of 100 km and a combined range of 1,100 km. It is expected to be priced from Rs 16 lakh to Rs 26 lakh (on-road Mumbai).

Cherry Tiggo 7L

Cherry, a Chinese automaker, is going to mark its India entry in partnership with JSW, and Tiggo 7L is going to be one of its first offerings in the country, which will directly rival the XUV 7XO. The Tiggo 7L has already been patented in India in April 2026, and could arrive on our shores by mid-2027. The Tiggo 7L stands out with its massive grille at the front, a contemporary SUV silhouette, and modern LED DRLs and taillights. 

Just like most modern cars, the Tiggo 7L gets a modern dashboard layout featuring a large 15.6-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. It could also come with amenities like ventilated and powered front seats, a wireless phone charger, and level 2 ADAS. While in the Chinese market, the Tiggo 7L comes with two engine options – 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (154 bhp) and 1.6-litre turbo petrol (197 bhp) – with dual clutch transmission, we expect the India-spec version to come with only one of the engine choices mentioned above. The Cherry Tiggo 7L could be priced between Rs 16 lakh and Rs 23 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).

Hyundai Ni1i – Upcoming 7-Seater SUVs

The Hyundai Ni1i is going to be an all-new 3-row SUV from the Korean carmaker in India to take on the Mahindra XUV 7XO. The Ni1i will likely be positioned above the Hyundai Alcazar but is expected to be priced below the previously available Hyundai Tucson flagship SUV. The Ni1i could come with strong-hybrid tech and could be one of the most fuel-efficient 3-row SUVs in the segment. Hyundai still hasn’t confirmed the launch timelines for the Ni1i. But we expect it to mark its India debut by 2027.