January 2026 Car Launches : Naye saal ki shuruaat dhamakedar launches ke saath—Mahindra XUV 7XO triple-screen beast, Kia Seltos Gen2 K3 platform warrior, Maruti’s pehli EV e Vitara, aur Renault Duster ka comeback—sab milke ₹6 lakh se ₹26 lakh segment mein competition ko aag laga denge.
Ye sirf facelifts nahi hain—ground-up redesigns, platform shifts, ADAS Level 2+, electric powertrains, panoramic displays—automakers ne 2026 shuru karne ke liye apna sabse bada arsenal unleash kiya hai jab buyers festive hangover se bahar aa rahe hain.
January mein 7 confirmed launches plus 2 reveals expected hain, har segment covered—compact SUV, midsize SUV, EV, MPV—choice ka tsunami where wallets will decide winners. Chaliye ek-ek karke dekhte hain kon kis date ko kya leke aa raha hai.
1. Kia Seltos Gen2 – January 2 Launch
Kia sabse pehle batting karne aayegi January 2, 2026 ko new-generation Seltos ke prices announce karke jo already production mein hai aur bookings ₹25,000 mein live hain.
K3 global platform upgrade SP2 se, dimensions 95mm lambi 30mm chaudi ho gayi—4460mm length with 2690mm wheelbase crushing rear legroom complaints forever.
Trinity Panoramic Display—dual 12.3-inch screens plus 5-inch climate touchscreen—BMW iDrive competitor at half price, 18-inch alloys, dual-pane sunroof, 64-color ambient lighting scream premium.
21 ADAS features on GTX+ variants including Smart Cruise Control Stop & Go, Lane Keep Assist, Front Collision Avoidance—safety tech democratized to ₹11-20 lakh bracket.
Triple engine lineup continues—115PS 1.5L NA petrol, 160PS turbo-petrol DCT beast, 116PS diesel workhorse—transmissions covering manual, iMT, DCT, CVT—every preference satisfied.
Estimated pricing: ₹10.99-19.99 lakhs ex-showroom—just ₹20k hike over Gen1 despite massive upgrades crushing Creta, Grand Vitara value proposition brutally.
2. Mahindra XUV 7XO – January 5 Global Debut
Mahindra drops the XUV700 facelift bomb on January 5 as rebranded XUV 7XO—bookings already open signaling immediate deliveries post-launch.
Triple-screen cockpit borrowed from XEV 9e electric twins dominates dashboard—dual 12.3-inch displays plus 10.25-inch center screen running latest AdrenoX 2.0 OS with OTA updates.
Harman Kardon 16-speaker audio with 1400W amplifier, 540-degree camera, ADAS visualisation graphics on cluster, powered boss mode for front passenger seat—luxury redefined.
Exterior gets LED lightbar connecting headlamps, revised grille inspired by electric siblings, new bumpers, 19-inch aero alloys—distinction from XUV700 crystal clear.
Engine options unchanged—200PS 2.0L turbo-petrol, 185PS 2.2L diesel twin-turbo—manual, automatic, AWD choices continue alongside.
Pricing expectations: ₹14-26 lakhs ex-showroom—premium over XUV700 justified by tech avalanche yet undercutting Fortuner comfort levels.
3. Maruti Suzuki e Vitara – Mid-January Launch
Maruti finally enters EV game with e Vitara Nexa flagship after countless delays—showcased at Auto Expo 2024, production form revealed December 2025, launch confirmed January 2026.
Heartect-e platform rides 49kWh or 61kWh battery packs—base 144PS motor FWD, top 174PS variant promising 543km ARAI range crushing range anxiety.
5-star Bharat NCAP rating already secured, ADAS suite standard, seven airbags, TPMS, dual 10.25-inch screens, ventilated seats, wireless charger, sliding rear seats—feature list rivals ₹30L Germans.
Dimensions measure 4275mm long—compact footprint for city maneuverability yet spacious cabin thanks to skateboard EV architecture advantages.
Charging: DC fast-charge 20-80% in 35 minutes, home AC charging overnight—infrastructure readiness critical for sales success.
Estimated pricing: ₹18-25 lakhs ex-showroom—directly battling Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV400, MG ZS EV while leveraging Maruti’s legendary service network.
4. Nissan Gravite MPV – January Unveil, March Sales
Nissan resurrects India fortunes with Gravite sub-4m MPV—first of three new products planned for market revival confirmed for January 2026 unveil.
CMF-A platform sharing underpinnings with Renault Triber promises 7-seater practicality under 4 meters maximizing tax benefits and parking ease.
Exterior design teases show aggressive front fascia departing from Triber’s conservative styling, new LED headlamps, sculpted bumpers, alloy wheels—differentiation clear.
Interior expected to pack 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, rear AC vents, multiple storage solutions catering large families.
1.0L turbo-petrol engine likely—around 100PS power targeting 18-20kmpl efficiency for daily commutes and cab operators eyeing fuel savings.
Pricing strategy: ₹6-8 lakhs ex-showroom—slotting between Triber and Ertiga targeting value-conscious buyers needing third row without ₹10L+ budgets.
5. Renault Duster Gen3 – January 26 India Unveil
Renault brings back iconic Duster nameplate after 4-year absence on Republic Day January 26—emotional return for brand that once dominated compact SUV sales.
CMF-B platform global architecture promises better dynamics, new exterior completely reimagined yet retaining original silhouette nostalgia—vertical LED DRLs, connected taillights spotted.
India-specific tweaks confirmed in teasers—wheel design, lighting signature, interior materials adapted for local tastes and pricing expectations.
Triple-screen setup rumored—not on global spec—showing Renault’s serious intent to match Seltos/Creta tech levels after years of feature deficiency criticism.
1.5L turbo-petrol expected alongside possible 1.0L base variant from Kiger for affordable entry point—transmissions likely manual and CVT automatic.
Launch timeline: Unveil January 26, market arrival by March 2026—₹10-16 lakhs expected pricing undercutting rivals while loaded with features.
6. Tata Harrier & Safari Petrol – Early January
Tata Motors expands Harrier-Safari lineup with 1.5L Hyperion turbo-petrol borrowed from Sierra but tuned higher—ending diesel-only limitation finally.
170PS/280Nm expected outputs—6-speed manual only initially, no automatic yet—positioned for buyers wanting petrol refinement without premium pricing.
OLED infotainment display, Level 2 ADAS, new Ultra trims join alongside fresh Luxe Red exterior shade and revised cabin themes—mid-cycle freshness.
Dimensions unchanged—Harrier 5-seater targeting families, Safari 7-seater for larger clans—both leveraging Omega Arc platform’s robustness.
Pricing addition: ₹18-22 lakhs for petrol variants—slotting ₹50k-1 lakh above equivalent diesel trims yet saving long-term on fuel price volatility.
Immediate competition to Jeep Compass petrol, MG Hector petrol, Mahindra XUV700 petrol—segment finally getting genuine alternatives to diesel dominance.
7. Skoda Kushaq Facelift – Mid-January Launch
Skoda refreshes Kushaq compact SUV after 2021 debut—first major update bringing Czech precision closer to Korean feature abundance.
Panoramic sunroof segment-first for Skoda, 360-degree camera, Level 2 ADAS, connected LED taillights, redesigned grille—visual and tech upgrades addressing buyer complaints.
Interior tweaks include revised dashboard, new upholstery, ambient lighting—premium feel matching ₹15L+ positioning against mass-market rivals.
1.0L TSI and 1.5L TSI turbo-petrol engines continue unchanged—6-speed manual, 6-speed torque-converter, 7-speed DSG transmissions retained.
Pricing expectations: ₹11-19 lakhs ex-showroom—marginal ₹30-50k hike justified by feature additions yet maintaining value edge over Germans.
Twin Slavia facelift follows later in January with identical updates—Skoda doubling down on feature-rich strategy after years of playing minimalist.
The Verdict – January Mein Choice Ka Explosion
January 2026 single-handedly delivers more variety than many quarters combined—EV debut from India’s largest carmaker, platform shifts, ADAS democratization, iconic nameplate returns—buyers spoiled rotten.
Budget ₹6-10 lakhs: Nissan Gravite (if practicality king)
₹10-15 lakhs: Kia Seltos base, Kushaq facelift, Duster (value sweet spot)
₹15-20 lakhs: Seltos GTX, Harrier petrol, e Vitara base (premium reach)
₹20-26 lakhs: XUV 7XO, Safari petrol, e Vitara top (tech leadership)
Waiting periods hitting 2-3 months on popular variants, festive discounts evaporating—book early or miss delivery timeline for summer road trips.
January 2026: Na sirf launches, balki segment definitions rewritten—buyers winning, brands bleeding for market share.