Maruti Grand Vitara : The competition in the SUV segment in India heated up further @ the Indian home turf of Maruti Suzuki when the company finally rolled out the much awaited Grand Vitara to the Indian car bazaar with a price tag of Rs. 16.67 lakh(for the two wheel drive) and Rs. 18.57 lakh,ex-show room Delhi.
With this product, Maruti has ventured into the premium segment and stand as a strong rival against other popular vehicles in the same segment like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Toyota Hyryder in the country.
The Grand Vitara is designed to provide an ideal balance of style, on-road performance and relative fuel efficiency, and continue with Maruti’s reliability and low-cost maintainence track record.
The SUV will debut a new, contemporary design for a more modern and stylish look with a host of best-in-segment features, elevating its appeal and offering a new value proposition to address the evolving customer needs in the premium SUV segment.
Bold and Premium Design
The Grand Vitara is definitely an eye-catching vehicle. Outside, a large front grill, sculpted lines and inlaid LED headlamps project strength to the world.
It’s even premium-looking with its chrome accents on grille and sculpted bonnet. Maruti has tried hard to make the Grand Vitara look bold and upmarket—nothing like any of the cars you’ve seen in Maruti’s portfolio.
The SUV is available in both dual tone and single tone colors that spectacularely add to its stylish look.
With those sporty looking alloy wheels, roof rails and well finished modern tail-light setup running across the rear, it really feels like a world car that’s been customized for Indian roads.
Cozy, Feature-Laden Cabin
Slide in behind the wheel and the Grand Vitara will feel modern and functional.
Meanwhile, its dual-tone (black and ivory) dashboard with soft-touch materials, leatherette seats, and ambient lighting lend it a classy flavor. The inside is roomy enough for everyone’s legs and heads.
When it comes to amenities, the Grand Vitara more than fills the bill. It gets a 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, panoramic sunroof and ventilated front seats.
The head-up display, a feature more commonly found in luxury cars, is also available on the SUV.
For the safety, it gets 6 airbags (on higher trims), ABS with EBD, hill-hold assist, rear-view camera, and ESP, infusing confidence in both the driver and the occupant.
Engine Choices and Hybrid Tech
The Grand Vitara gets more advanced line-up of engines and is thus a unique offering in the Maruti offerings. It comes with two engine options:
1.5L Smart Hybrid Petrol Engine (mild-hybrid):- Balanced performance and excellent mileage.
1.5ft. Tuneable Strong Hybrid Engine (Toyota supplied): It has higher fuel efficiency with assistance from electric motor and also can run in electricity accessed at lower speed.
The hybrid variant can drive up to 27.97kmpl of fuel efficiency, which is so far the best in the segment.
Meanwhile, the hybrid also manages a decent 20.5 kmpl as well, making the Grand Vitara a fuel efficient option in a SUV garb.
Each engine has a manual, automatic and e-CVT transmission choices for both options, so buyers can be flexible depending on their driving requirements.
Price and Variants
To fight the dominant players, Maruti Suzuki has priced the Grand Vitara extremely aggressively.
The base mild hybrid variant to cost about ₹10.80 lakh (ex-showroom), while the top-end strong hybrid variant to touch ₹19.80 lakh (ex-showroom).
It comes in a variety of trims which can be customized to meet a specific set of needs and prices. Whether you’re after economy, leading edge tech, or just plain luxury, there’s a Grand Vitara that’s just the right fit.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Premium Styling: Aggressive outing and elegant in outing are segment-leading.
Fuel Economy: Superb miles per gallon, particularly in hybrid versions.
High tech: Stuffed with features such as panoramic sunroof and HUD.
Hybrid Technology: Environmentally friendly drive with reduced emissions.
Trusted Brand Value: Comes with excellent service network and trust of Maruti.
Cons:
Costly Top-End Variants: The powerful hybrid iterations are expensive.
Few Diesels: No traditional diesel for mainstream purchasing.
Boot space in hybrid version: Slightly cut down due to the placement of battery.
Not So Sporty Performance: Engine is mileage oriented than thrill.
Long Waiting Time: Delay for popular versions due to the high order.
Maruti Grand Vitara Final Verdict
The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara signifies a new direction for the brand when it comes to premium cars.
It’s always been amongst the leaders in terms of design, its hybrid powertrains combine efficiency with power and the interior is packed with features even in its most basic configuration all of which make it a solid player in the mid-size SUV space.
If all that matters is that the SUV is good looking and fuel frugal and with company behind it that can deliver excellent after sales services – bring the Grand Vitara on.