What is the story about?
Several major launches from brands like Maruti Suzuki, Tata, Mahindra and Hyundai are expected to land right around Diwali 2026, and that timing matters
because festive-season arrivals usually come with fresh variant strategies, updated safety kit and, in a few cases, genuinely new body styles rather than incremental updates. None of these five are confirmed with exact prices or dates yet, so treat what follows as reported expectations rather than official announcements. For anyone planning to buy this festive season, knowing what's about to arrive could mean the difference between booking now or holding off for a newer version. Here's what's worth holding off for if you're planning a festive-season purchase.
1. Tata Safari EV
Expected to launch around Diwali, the Safari EV will be Tata's first three-row electric SUV, built on the same Acti.ev+ platform as the Harrier EV. Reports point to 65kWh and 75kWh battery options, a claimed range near 600km and pricing in the Rs 23-30 lakh bracket — positioning it as a direct rival to the Mahindra XEV 9S.2. Mahindra Thar Facelift
Spy shots show the 3-door Thar adopting a front end closely inspired by the Thar Roxx including a similar grille and circular LED headlamps. Expected additions include a 360-degree camera, rear disc brakes as well as a more feature-rich cabin, while the existing engine lineup is likely to carry over unchanged.3. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Facelift
Reports suggest the Grand Vitara update, expected around the festive season, will bring Level 2 ADAS, a powered tailgate and an underbody-mounted CNG tank for extra boot space — closing feature gaps that have existed against rivals like the Creta and Seltos.
4. Hyundai Bayon
Spy shots of the India-bound Bayon show a bigger, boxier SUV than the crossover currently sold in Europe, positioned to sit between the Venue and the next-generation Creta. Expected additions include Level 2 ADAS hardware and a factory-fitted CNG option, with a festive-season launch window being widely reported.5. Tata Sierra Special Editions
Alongside these bigger launches, Tata is reportedly planning appearance-focused special editions of the Sierra and Sierra EV timed for the festive season, giving existing Sierra buyers a way to differentiate their SUV without changing the underlying mechanicals.Whether these launches land exactly on schedule, or slip into early 2027 as pre-launch timelines sometimes do, will depend on how each manufacturer's production and testing wraps up over the coming weeks.
