Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza had a change of heart in 2020 to meet BS6 emission regulations, that meant bidding good-bye to the age-old diesel mill and welcoming Maruti’s tried and tested 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine. While we would’ve loved to see both the powertrains working their magic in the compact SUV segment, Maruti clearly doesn’t share the same feeling. From a diesel-only model, it has now become a petrol-only model, and this transition has altered the character of the car. Compared to its diesel counterpart, the petrol format offers much better NVH levels with a refined ride quality. Power delivery is linear, and there is no low-end lag like before. However, power builds conservatively in the mid-range of the rev band, and it’s only between 4,000 and 6,000rpm that the Brezza feels especially willing. The 4-speed torque convertor falls short of complementing the engine. Shifts are executed at an average speed but it hesitates to respond to quick down shifts. If your usage is going to be primarily within the city then this gearbox should be fine. The steering no longer has the heavy feel to it, instead, it now feels much lighter. It’s great for an urban setting and tackles heavy-traffic without breaking a sweat, but it lacks the accuracy from the previous set-up. In over 7,000km+, the Brezza saved up a considerable amount of our time frequenting a fuel station. The 15kmpl efficiency is thanks to the mild-hybrid system which comes with an integrated starter generator and a lithium-ion battery pack that assists while accelerating and brings an engine start/stop feature, which we found to be extremely helpful during rush hour. Coasting and braking helps in transferring the power back to the battery. This holistic system helps out in reducing the wear and tear of the brakes.

THE 4-SPEED TORQUE CONVERTOR FALLS

SHORT OF COMPLEMENTING THE ENGINE