The Indian SUV market is seeing a lot of action in the three-row space, and a new Japanese contender is gearing up to join the fight. A heavily camouflaged test mule of an upcoming 7-seater SUV has been spotted testing, and even under wraps, it reveals a few key details about what is coming.
New Japanese 7-Seater SUV Spotted Testing
The SUV in question is the 7-seater version of the Nissan Tekton. Nissan has recently launched the Gravite and the Tekton in India, and the 7-seater SUV is the next product in its lineup. It will be the company’s second 7-seat SUV in India after the X-Trail, which was sold as a CBU import.
Nissan has already confirmed that its 7-seat SUV will arrive in 2027. Speaking about the model, it has been revealed that this SUV will be completely different and not just an extension of the Tekton, even though it will share the CMF-B platform with the 5-seat SUV.
Design & Interior
As for the design, the test mule was heavily camouflaged, but the extra length over the 5-seat Tekton is clearly visible. The additional length is noticeable behind the rear wheels, where the rear quarter panel is longer and the rear quarter glass is bigger.
At the front, the SUV continues to get the inverted L-shaped LED DRLs and LED headlamps seen on the Tekton. The camouflage hides the rest of the front end, but it is expected to get a revised grille and a new bumper to set it apart from the 5-seater.
The major change is at the rear. The Tekton’s C-shaped LED tail-lamp has been replaced with a boomerang-shaped design. The LED light bar connecting both tail lamps also looks thicker, and the rear windshield appears to be flatter as well.
Nissan is yet to reveal anything about the cabin. As the name suggests, the SUV will get three rows of seats, and the third row is expected to follow a 5+2 layout. The SUV is also expected to add some features over the Tekton, given its higher position in the lineup.
Powertrain
In terms of powertrain, the 7-seater is expected to skip the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine offered on the Tekton. Instead, it is likely to use the 1.3-litre four-cylinder direct-injection turbo-petrol engine, which is also available on the 5-seat model. It is expected to get a front-wheel-drive layout with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed wet dual-clutch automatic gearbox. There is also a slim chance of a strong-hybrid option later on, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Expected Pricing
The Nissan Tekton 7-seater is expected to be priced between Rs 17 lakh and Rs 25 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) when it arrives next year. In the segment, it will rival the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari, and Hyundai Alcazar.