Maruti Suzuki Vitara is expected to be powered by Fiat sourced 1.6-litre diesel engine; likely to get a all new 1.5-litre petrol unit as well
Hyundai’s increased market share in the last three years can be related with the success of the Creta since it entered into the compact SUV space. It has a well-regarded product and rose to the fame of being the bestselling product along the popular Grand i10 and Elite i20. Moreover, it showed the expanded potential the segment possessed and made other manufacturers to think about launching their own SUVs and address customers leaning towards the adoration of premium SUVs just above Rs.10 lakh.
Although not a direct competitor, Maruti Suzuki’s Vitara Brezza, introduced in early 2016, has been up with the sales of Creta and subsequently took its place as the industry bestseller amongst all SUVs. With good levels of customisation, Maruti Suzuki has managed to rack in the customers despite being sold with a single engine and transmission option. Having been observing the dominance of Creta, we can exclusively reveal that MSIL is preparing to bring in an outright rival.
Speculations of Maruti Suzuki’s Creta rival have been on the swing for far too long and for the first time we have the clear indications of it on the road. Excitingly, it is not in its beginning stage of development and looks production ready to hit the market by the end of this year or in early 2019.
With Hyundai Creta getting a likely facelift later this year, it will be interesting to see how the Maruti Suzuki Vitara stacks up when it goes on sale around the same time or a few months down the line. Maruti Suzuki is expected to stick with the iconic Vitara badge and it bodes well for a family of crossovers alongside the Vitra Brezza.
Unlike the subcompact Vitara Brezza, the Vitara will measure more than four metres in length and has a crossover appeal. In international markets, it was born through the roots of the off-road focussed Grand Vitara and has a family-oriented sleek design as the Creta. It measure a length of 4,175 mm, width of 1,775 mm and stands 1,610 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,500 mm.
Comparatively, it has smaller dimensions than the Creta but Maruti Suzuki will likely make it a compact package and nimble to drive with good power-to-weight ratio. The Creta is sold in a variety of engine options such as 1.6-litre petrol, 1.4-litre diesel and 1.6-litre diesel. The Maruti Suzuki Vitara could use an Fiat sourced DDiS 1.6-litre diesel and a all new 1.5-litre petrol power plants on the upcoming Vitara.
It could get optional AllGrip four-wheel-drive system from Suzuki to take the fight to Mahindra XUV500. Spotted in India uncamouflaged wearing Atlantis Turquoise colour scheme, the Suzuki brand logo was concealed and the nameplate on the tailgate was ripped off. Maruti Suzuki could go as far as challenging the Jeep Compass with the more premium Vitara and thus it may have a long list of equipment and personalisation options apart from being retailed in a number of variants.
In a similar fashion to the Vitara Brezza, the upmarket Vitara will have a boxy old-school exterior while the interior will be roomy and have spacious feel to it. Needless to say, it will come equipped with touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity alongside other driver assistance and safety features. It could be priced competitively at around Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh (ex-showroom).