The new-generation Vitara with premium features and 7-seat configuration likely to debut at upcoming Delhi Auto Expo
The new-generation Vitara SUV will more likely make its domestic debut at the upcoming Auto Expo before going on sale in the same year. Maruti Suzuki has the Global C platform based Vitara Brezza as its only SUV in the Indian market and it is indeed the best-selling SUV in the whole country.
With Hyundai Creta enjoying a great deal of success in a slightly premium segment compared to the Vitara Brezza by regularly averaging over 11,000 units monthly through last year, Maruti Suzuki is expected to aim a big pie with the Vitara upon arrival.
The new-generation Hyundai Creta is widely reported to have more upmarket features with seven seater option as it focusses on addressing a wider band of customers. The upcoming Maruti Suzuki Vitara is no different, as it will offer three-row seating arrangement to compete not just against Creta but the upcoming Tata Buzzard as well. 
In July last year, the Suzuki Vitara sold globally received a mid-cycle refresh with notable design revisions to extend the lifetime of the existing generation. The cabin received a brand new instrument console with Apple car play and Android Auto connectivity along with the addition of a myriad of driver assistance and safety features.
Suzuki introduced a new 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo petrol engine into the Vitara’s lineup with 111 PS maximum power and 170 Nm of peak torque and it replaced the obsolete 1.6-litre unit. It is connected to either a standard five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission as an option.
The arrival of the Vitara has been speculated in India for long but nothing materialized and no official statements were made on the company’s behalf. However, we did manage to spot the current generation of the premium SUV last year locally.
With the premium SUV segment getting all bunched up in the coming years, the largest automaker in the country could be eyeing a sweet spot with the Vitara. Kia’s Indian entry will be led by the debut of a Hyundai Creta challenger based on the SP concept showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo. MG Motor and PSA could be step up to the plate in the near future.