EVEN FROM LOW CITY SPEEDS IN HIGH GEARS, THE S-CROSS HAS THE ABILITY TO PULL AWAY WITHOUT THE NEED OF A DOWNSHIFT
to a new SmartPlay studio, 7-inch touch screen unit. The system can now give you live traffic updates and has voice recognition tech as well. The instrument panel though largely similar comes with a few more display options. You see the new S-Cross features Maruti Suzuki’s Smart Hybrid tech and as a result the insignia has changed. Now there is an option to see what the system is doing on the IP. Apart from that the S-Cross continues to be the same large and comfortable crossover we knew it to be.
The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross now gets only one engine option which is the 1.5-litre K-series petrol engine which is deployed in numerous other Maruti Suzuki cars. The motor generates 105bhp@6,000rpm and 138Nm of torque generated at 4,400rpm. One can also choose between a 5-speed manual transmission and an automatic. To further enhance efficiency the company has also added the Smart Hybrid Tech in this vehicle. The Smart Hybrid system with li
ion dual battery system offers idle start-stop, torque assist functions and brake energy regeneration as well.
On the go the S-Cross feels decently brisk. The free-revving engine allows one to accelerate quickly to higher speeds. However what we found unique was the amount of torque it was delivering. Even from low city speeds in high gears, the S-Cross has the ability to pull away without the need of a downshift. It almost feels like a diesel without the clatter. On the downside though, we found the engine to be a bit noisy when the revs pass the 3,000rpm mark. But below it and at a usual city speed, the engine will be barely audible in the cabin. The other thing which is worth mentioning is the fact that the start/stop system on the S-Cross is rather sensitive. Even if the crossover goes into idle for a few seconds the system kicks in and cuts out the power. At the same time it is ultra responsive when kicking in to turn on the engine again. We were driving the 5-speed manual version and found the gearbox to be slick. The clutch was light too and overall the S-Cross seems to be a nice drive. The company claims that the MT version offers an efficiency of 18.55kmpl which is brilliant for a larger than 4m vehicle.
The S-Cross retains most of its erstwhile charm of being a comfortable to drive crossover. The suspension is well tuned to tackle the rough stuff and passengers will remain comfortable inside the spacious cabin. Overall priced at Rs 11.15 lakh (ex-showroom), this S-Cross Alpha variant is good value.
With the launch of the Triber in August 2019, Renault proved that a sub-4m MPV with could be done and done rather well. However, Renault hasn’t just carved out room for people, but found room for improvement as well having recently launched the Triber AMT variant. In terms of the way the car looks, nothing has changed save for the addition of an “Easy-R” badge to the rear denoting the presence of a 5-speed automated manual transmission. Inside, the only changes are the new gear lever and a tweaked MID relaying information pertaining to the gear selected to the driver. The features list remains largely the same.
The 5-speed AMT pairs with the 1.0-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol motor that produces 72bhp of maximum power and 96Nm of peak torque. Slot into D and the engine revs