Nissan India has launched Renault Duster-based compact Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) Terrano in India but the hype and frenzy around it has not been as good as Ford EcoSport.
It is understood that Terrano has failed to beat EcoSport's booking record, though the company is yet to release the official numbers.
According to Motoroids, san Terrano garnered over 6,000 bookings since 1 September and sources informed them that the waiting period for the SUV could be extended up to 45 days.
However, EcoSport had received more than 30,000 bookings within the first 17 days of its launch in India on 26 June and it has been ruling the Indian automarket in the SUV segment by selling 4,715 units in July and 5,372 units in August, which was much higher than that of Duster's figures.
Carzoom, in its camparison article of Nissan Terrano and Ford EcoSport, stated that the former encorporated features that Renault Duster lacked, which could boost its sales.
"After all these changes and add-ons, we certainly believe that the trophy, EcoSport just snatched away from the Duster will have some serious danger hovering upon it," said the report. However, the site went on to give the verdict that EcoSport is the best new car in the compact SUV segment.
Terrano was launched in India on Wednesday, 9 October, with a starting price of ₹9.59 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and it can be booked with an advance payment of ₹50,000, which is refundable. To be available in seven variants and six colours; Pearl White, Blade Silver, Saphire Black, Sterling Grey, Bronze Grey and Fire Red, it is expected to give some real competition to EcoSport and Duster in the Indian auto market.
On the other hand, the price of EcoSport is between ₹5.59 lakh and ₹8.44 lakh at the time of its launch on 26 June. Its sales have been remarkably good at a time when Indian auto market was going through a lull period.
The company has suspended the bookings of the SUV, due to heavy demand and the delivery date has been pushed to December and early next year. It is reported that only two variants (the entry and middle variants of the diesel model) out of 10 are currently on sale and the waiting period of some of the variants has been extended upto 12 months.
It is too early to say if Terrano will affect the sales of EcoSport, but it looks like the new SUV will not pose a big threat to the latter, considering the huge price difference.
