The 2008, 9th Auto Expo has opened a flood gate for car consumerism in India. More than 40 models of cars are lined up for launch in the upcoming year. The Indian car buyer is, for the first time, to get a choice of 35 SUVs in India by 2010. The Indian consumer has never had so many options before. Last year as many as 3.5 Lakh SUVs were sold in the Indian car market. This is an amazing figure considering that small car owners are yet to graduate to mid-sized cars in India.

The SUVs coming to India range from entry level utility vehicles like the Mahindra Bolero and Tata Sumo Grande to the more sophisticated Volkswagen Tiagen and BMW X5. SUVs are admired for their sturdy frame and off-road capabilities, which are perfect for Indian roads, not to mention the comfortable and large interior space that is not found in small cars.

The Honda CR-V has been lapped up by urban masses looking for something different than the usual sedans. CR-Vs stylish looks and plush interiors drove up sales, even though it has a starting price of Rs 17.15 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). It is available with two engines, a 2.0-litre i-VTEC that churns out 141 bhp and a 2.4-litre i-VTEC that delivers 161 bhp. A 6-speed manual and a 5-speed automatic are the transmission choices available. Even though the Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Pajero have failed to pose a tough competition to the Honda CR-V, the recently launched Chevrolet Captiva shows promise.