Maruti Grand Vitara : The compact SUV segment is getting hotter by the year, but Maruti Suzuki’s Grand Vitara has found its trench through clever positioning.
A product of joint development by Suzuki and Toyota, this car is Maruti’s more serious effort to crack the extreme upper end of India’s mass market.
Distinctive Presence
First impressions count, and the Grand Vitara is an impressive brute. The aggressive front fascia boasts split LED headlamps and an oversized grille that gives it greater presence than its size should provide.
The profile is modern in form and the chrome accents inject a hint of premium premium rather than an overdose of it.
The Grand Vitara, unlike many in this highly competitive class, actually has some visual personality.
Although detuned slightly for local fuel quality, it does appear to be substantially more expensive than it actually is – a psychological advantage (and a strange one, to be sure) that is known to appeal to status-conscious Indian consumers eager to make a statement.
Various Priorities, Different Powertrains
Beneath the surface, prospective buyers have real decisions to make beyond all the feature checklists. Borrowed from Toyota’s engineering portfolio, the strong hybrid system combines a small petrol engine with an electric one.
This arrangement offers an outstanding fuel-efficiency of around 25 – 28 km/l in real-world conditions – a realm not many cars se in, leave along a proper hatchback.
The mild hybrid version meanwhile gives you a more familiar drive courtesy of its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine.
It is less high-tech, though you can have all-wheel drive – real all-wheel drive other than competitors who simply add rugged styling cues.
The e-CVT transmission in the strong hybrid definitely leans more towards smoothness rather than engagement, which is great for commuting in the city, not so much for a blast on a rural road.
The manual gearbox of the Spitfire, albeit the mildest of hybrids, adds some driver engagement, despite that its 6-speed automatic transmission gives a level of convenience without heavy efficiency compromise.
Daily Living
Inside, the cabin is more about attention to detail than flashy gimmickry. The stacked dashboard mixes a variety of textures and materials to avoid visual blandness, while the 9-inch infotainment screen is seamlessly integrated with the rest of the dashboard rather than looking like it was tacked on as an afterthought.
Physical climate controls score the practicality points with how easy it is to use them while driving.
Up front, the seats provide solid support for extended stints in the saddle, and the backseats offer sufficient room for average-size adults. The large panoramic sunroof illuminates the cabin and gives a more spacious feel, despite the petite dimensions.
Weekend jaunts fit in with enough luggage space, but families could have to pack judiciously for longer vacations. In the hybrid model, some cargo room is given up for battery packaging – a standard tradeoff in this technology.
Road Behavior
On the road, the Grand Vitara offers a fine compromise between ride and body control.
Normal Indian roads are soaked up very well without distracting the people inside, and it’s still planted during directional shifts.
Feedback is numbed in the steering, but it is weighted well for both city crawling and highway cruising.
Noise suppression is impressive as well, with minimal wind and road intrusion at highway speeds.
The strong hybrid is electric only in city crawls, where you need paths of serene silence more and more in a congested city.
Strengths and Limitations
Pros:
Best-in-class fuel economy with powerful hybrid version
Best in class exterior aesthetics punching well above its class
Popular option like genuine AWD available in mild hybrid form
Compliant ride perfect for all sorts of Indian roads
Strong trust and the largest service network in brand perception
Equipment packed features list: Ventilated seats and head-up display
Cons:
price premium for hybrid technology
Infotainment screen sometimes takes a second to catch up
Limited luggage space in hybrid simulation
Lower-cabin hard plastics here and there.
E-CVT optimization for fuel economy not dynamic behind wheel.
Rear middle seat a bit uncomfortable due to high cushions
Maruti Grand Vitara: Final Assessment
Grand Vitara is a successful upmarket evolution from Maruti Suzuki without any compromise from the brand.
The strong new hybrid system provides real-world benefit, and it comes with the reliability and service coverage that helped establish the reputation of the company.
The Grand Vitara is an interesting option for urban families who do behind-the-scenes weekend recreation because it only does it as well as the others.
It spans the void between mass-market appeal and upmarket desirability – a zone increasingly crucial in India’s changing vehicle spectrum.