MS Vitara Brezza
Now comes with a petrol motor
Ever since its launch at the 2016 Auto Expo, the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has utterly dominated the sub-4m compact SUV space. Despite having only a diesel variant and having to contend with new arrivals like the Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300 and the Hyundai Venue, the Brezza remained the segment leader in terms of sales. The 2020 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza was unveiled at the Auto Expo and as we already know, Maruti Suzuki has made some big changes to the Vitara Brezza, primarily under the skin. The much awaited petrol variant is finally here, but on the flip side, the diesel is no more.
Before we get to that, though, there are certain changes to the exterior that need pointing out. There are revisions to the front end with new headlamps housing LED projector units and LED DRLs running along the lower edge, which also double up as the turn indicators. The Brezza sports a new bumper, housing LED fog lamps and you also get a new grille. These changes might be minor, but collectively they help add a touch of premiumness to the front end. Over to the side, you will find new 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels while the Vitara Brezza’s posterior sports a revised bumper along with new tail lamps featuring a revised LED signature. The
cabin of the Brezza sees the addition of new features like an auto dimming rear view mirror and auto folding outside rear view mirrors as well as a leather wrapped steering wheel. The MID’s gear shift indicator now displays the gear you need to shift to instead of just an up or down arrow as was the case with the earlier version of the Brezza.
Out goes the 1.3-litre diesel, which wasn’t being upgraded to meet BS VI emission norms, and in comes a 1.5-litre K-Series petrol motor that also does duty on the Ciaz and Ertiga. Maximum power output stands at 103bhp and peak torque at 138Nm. Transmission choices include a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed torque convertor automatic. The engine serves its purpose well. Power delivery is linear and it feels potent enough for daily urban use. If you want to get the most out of the engine though, you’ll want to keep it above 3,000-3,500rpm or so but like we said, for regular users the engine does the job quite well throughout the rev band. Plus, it tends to get noisy post the 3,000rpm mark. A very likeable characteristic of the Brezza’s drivetrain is the fact that the gearbox doesn’t need to be worked to get the most out of it. Even in a higher gear at lower speeds, the Brezza can get a move on easily without warranting a downshift.
We also got a chance to drive the 4-speed torque convertor equipped variant. Again, for daily commutes in the urban jungle the transmission doesn’t give much to complain about. It does feel a little out of depth if you show any sort of aggression with the throttle, but since the primary goal of the Vitara Brezza automatic is to make life easier on our
jam packed roads, there won’t be any complaints from most buyers. Unlike the manual variant, the Brezza automatic features Maruti Suzuki’s Smart Hybrid system. Essentially a mild hybrid setup, it adds an integrated starter generator and a lithium-ion battery pack that assists while accelerating and brings to the table an engine start/stop feature. Coasting recharges the battery but there is no regenerative braking on offer. Needless to say, the system helps enhance fuel efficiency with the AT variant posting an overall figure of 18.76kmpl versus the manual’s 17.03kmpl.
Ride quality gets a thumbs up from us. Even over bad roads the Vitara Brezza feels comfortable and is stable at triple digit speeds. In fact, it is one of the better handling compact SUVs out there and feels more than willing if you decide to partake in some enthusiastic driving. Compared to the outgoing diesel variant, the Vitara Brezza petrol’s steering feels a tad lighter.
Prices start from 7.34 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base Lxi grade. The top-of-the line Zxi+ manual dual tone variant we drove is priced at
Rs 9.98 lakh (ex-showroom) while the Zxi+ AT is priced at Rs 11.15 lakh for the single-tone and Rs 11.40 lakh for the dual-tone trim, which is a bit expensive in our opinion. Dropping the whole Smart Hybrid setup would’ve enabled Maruti to shave Rs 50,000 to 60,000 off the ex-showroom price, but the company says it was easier to plonk the petrol auto drivetrain with mild hybrid tech as is, instead of making changes since the setup is already in use in the Ciaz and Ertiga. While the starting price is now lower compared to the outgoing diesel variant, other grades are now more expensive. The primary reason is that the use of a 1.5-litre petrol motor prevents the Brezza from availing small car tax benefits that require a sub4m vehicle to have petrol motor 1,200cc or lower. The lack of a diesel may hurt sales a little since there still is strong demand for diesels in this segment. Or it might not keeping in mind buyer preferences quickly shifting towards petrol. The 2020 Vitara Brezza remains a great buy and with it Maruti Suzuki looks set to continue its strong run in the compact SUV space.