Maruti Suzuki may have been late to the segment, but the Auto Expo 2016 saw the world premiere of the highly-anticipated Maruti Vitara Brezza, the company's first sub-4 meter SUV which is due to launch in the coming weeks. This story takes a detailed look at the compact SUV, which poses a serious threat for the EcoSport and TUV300.
Maruti Vitara Brezza Launch Date
Dealers of Maruti Suzuki have started accepting bookings for the Vitara Brezza for a sum of INR 21,000. Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that the Vitara Brezza will be launched on the 8th of March. While the S-Cross is retailed through Maruti's NEXA chain of outlets, the Vitara Brezza will be sold through regular Maruti dealerships.
Maruti Vitara Brezza Price
Prices of the Maruti Vitara Brezza are expected to undercut its nearest rival, the Ford EcoSport (the Ford EcoSport is priced from INR 8.19 lakhs, ex-Showroom, New Delhi for its diesel variant), primarily thanks to the 98 percent localization the company has achieved. The Mahindra TUV300 on the other hand starts from INR 7.1 lakhs, ex-Showroom, New Delhi. Expect the Maruti Vitara Brezza price to be between the TUV300 and the EcoSport (INR 7.1 - 8.2 lakhs).
Maruti Vitara Brezza Exterior design
The design and development work on the Vitara Brezza was done by Maruti engineers in India, making it the first Maruti product to have been wholly developed without involvement from Japan. The result is a butch-looking, well-proportioned compact SUV with design inferences trickling down from the Suzuki's global compact SUV, the Vitara.
The Vitara Brezza gets a floating roof-like design and Maruti will also offer contrast roof colors on the top-end ZDi+ variant. Continuing the SUV theme, designers have given the sub-4m SUV skid plates at the front and rear and cladding over the wheel arches and side running boards. The top-end variant sees chunky 215/60 tyres on 16-inch alloy wheels.
As reported earlier, the Vitara Brezza is not based on the Swift's platform, nor is it based on the Baleno's aluminium-intensive lightweight architecture, but is built on the Suzuki Global C platform. When launched in the country, it will be priced between the Swift and the S-Cross, the latter which is retailed exclusively through NEXA outlets.
At the tape, the Vitara Brezza measures 3,995 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width, 1,640 mm in height and 2,500 mm in wheelbase. The compact SUV has a ground clearance of 198 mm and boot space of 328 liters. The top-end variant is equipped with projector headlights, LED daytime running lights, integrated turn signals on the wing mirrors, rear wiper and washer and a chrome garnish for the registration plate enclosure. Depending on the variant, the car will either sport a chrome-finished grille or a silver grille element.
Maruti Vitara Brezza Interior
The Maruti Vitara Brezza sports a familiar interior with parts having been shared from other Maruti products like the Swift and S-Cross. The dashboard sports an all-black theme with a piano-black finish for the center console, and likewise the seats are upholstered in a black fabric as well.
Though the steering wheel design is borrowed from the Swift, the top-end ZDi+ variant sports integrated controls for the cruise control, apart from buttons for the music system and answering and ending phone calls.
The instrument cluster is an all-new design, unseen on any Maruti or Suzuki product till date, and even sports 'mood lighting'. Drivers will be able to select from five colors including Pink, Blue, Orange, White and Red. The multi-information display nestled between the tachometer and speedometer is expected to provide data on fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption, available range, average speed, etc.
The center console of the Vitara Brezza sports rectangular AC vents and the touchscreen SmartPlay entertainment system which gets in-built navigation, Bluetooth support and also acts as a display for the reverse camera. On mid-variants, Maruti is expected to provide its 2-DIN Bluetooth-enabled music system also seen on the mid-variants of the Baleno.
Below the center console rests controls for the automatic climate control system, a power socket, and an USB and AUX-in port. A cubbyhole beneath that can store mobile phones or even wallets. Maruti has also done well to equip the Vitara Brezza with a center armrest at the front and rear.
Moving to the back, the Vitara Brezza offers more-than-adequate legroom and headroom, with the rear seat back also offering adjustable headrests. However, the Vitara Brezza does not get rear AC vents, even on the top-end model.
Coming to the boot, the Vitara Brezza features an almost rectangular trunk capable of lugging 328 liters. The loading lip is comparatively low, and unlike the EcoSport, the bootlid of the Vitara Brezza does not open sideways. For added practicality, the rear seat back offers 60:40 folding capability with an option to fold completely flat.
Maruti Vitara Brezza Engine and Gearbox
Maruti has confirmed only a diesel engine for the SUV. The engine in question is the tried-and-tested 1.3-liter DDiS four-cylinder motor which powers the company's portfolio from the Swift to S-Cross models.
On the Vitara Brezza, this engine will develop 90 PS at 4,000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm, and will be paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox driving the front-wheels. A petrol variant of the Vitara Brezza is expected later in its lifecycle, with Maruti hinting that it may use its GDI engine (1.0-liter three-cylinder Boosterjet turbocharged engine) on the Vitara Brezza. This engine is being manufactured in India already for the export-spec Baleno.
Maruti has not announced its Auto Gear Shift (AGS - automated manual transmission) for the Vitara Brezza. In this segment, the TUV300 is the only product to offer an AMT, whereas the Ford EcoSport features a 6-speed Powershift dual-clutch transmission with a petrol engine.
For the moment, the Vitara Brezza is set to be offered only with 2WD, much like its rivals the EcoSport and TUV300. Given the lack of demand, Maruti is unlikely to offer a 4WD variant of the Vitara Brezza, at least for the Indian market. The EcoSport offers a 4WD variant abroad, and Mahindra announced that the TUV300's platform is capable of a 4WD system, hinting that export markets could benefit from it. It remains to be seen if the export-spec of the Vitara Brezza features this technology.
Maruti Vitara Brezza Mileage
Maruti is yet to disclose the ARAI-rated mileage of the Vitara Brezza, but in a recent interview, Mr. C.V. Raman, Maruti-Suzuki's executive director for engineering, stated that the compact SUV will not disappoint mileage conscious buyers. Given the company's track record for tuning the 1.3-liter DDiS engine, one can expect the Maruti Vitara Brezza mileage to cross 20 km/l in the ARAI test.
Maruti Vitara Brezza Variants
According to reports, the Maruti Vitara Brezza variants will add up to a total of six: LDi, LDi (O), VDi, VDi (O), ZDi and ZDi+. A driver airbag will be part of the standard kit, whereas the LDi (O) and VDi (O) variants will add a passenger airbag, ABS and EBD in addition.
On the top-end ZDi+, the Vitara Brezza will have receive projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, 16-inch alloy wheels with 215-section tyres, roof rails, front and rear skid plate, cruise control, steering-mounted audio controls, power folding and adjustable wing mirrors, a touchscreen SmartPlay entertainment system with reverse camera, reverse parking sensors, automatic climate control, front and rear armrest and keyless entry with an engine starter button.
Maruti Vitara Brezza Accessories
The Vitara Brezza will be available with a host of customization options, the company hinted at the recently-concluded Auto Expo 2016. From contrast roof colors (available on the ZDi+), to body stripes, decals, diamond-cut alloy wheels, silver skid plates and color-coordinated interior finish and seat covers, Maruti aims to target the young audience with this compact SUV.
Maruti Vitara Brezza competitors
The Maruti Vitara Brezza, when launched, will compete with the Ford EcoSport and the Mahindra TUV300, while the yet-to-launch Tata Nexon will also pose a challenge once its introduced in the market.
While the TUV300 is an old-school ladder-on-frame, rear-wheel drive product, the Vitara Brezza and EcoSport offer a monocoque platform with a front-wheel drive layout.
Recent developments
The Brezza has been spotted during its TV commercial shoot, and a report on Economic Times states that the deliveries will begin on March 21.
