THE BIG DEAL
TEAM AUTO TODAY FINDS OUT WHAT MAKES THE VITARA BREZZA A CLASS APART
The affordable SUV from Maruti Suzuki has perhaps been the most awaited vehicle in the Indian automotive industry in recent years and we take it for a spin. Why Vitara Brezza will go down in the annals of Indian automotive industry is because it was conceived, designed and engineered by a predominantly Indian team. The result is in fact excellent. The car looks good and seems like a much larger SUV than it actually is. It will perhaps be the best looking sub-4m car in the country and incorporates the best of Suzuki design that has been successful in the past—including the floating roof concept from the Swift with the blacked out pillars. In addition, the car is available with white, black or body coloured roofs as part of the Urban, Sport and Glamour packages. A bold front grille with projector headlamps, muscular sides and accentuated wheel arches with 16-inch wheels all add to the SUV-looks.
The SUV is powered with a diesel engine only for now, though Maruti says an appropriate petrol engine option will be added at a future date. The engine is the same 1,248cc unit that powers most of the Maruti-Suzuki diesel range but in the Brezza the unit is tuned to a max power output of 90bhp and peak torque of 200Nm, the same figures as on the S-Cross. It is mated with a five-speed gearbox with an intention to make the Vitara Brezza a sprightly performer.
The interiors keep pace with the exterior and are in-sync with the bold sporty approach. The Brezza feels like a large hatchback to drive. Large tyres help provide adequate grip while cornering and the car feels stable on all road surfaces. It is sprightly in the lower gears and makes for an excellent urban commuter. While the airbag on the driver’s side is standard in all variants, ABS with EBD and a passenger side airbag is available as standard on the top two variants and available as an option on all the other variants.
Added to the looks of a large SUV, is the ultra fuel efficient powertrain which makes the Vitara Brezza affordable to run as any car in its segment, as well as segments above and below. The long wait for an SUV from Maruti has not been in vain.