Maruti Grand Vitara

Maruti Grand Vitara Expert Verdict

Maruti Grand Vitara Detailed Review

• Grand Vitara Exterior

  The Grand Vitara is an all-new product and does not look like any other vehicle from Maruti or Nexa platforms. This is a well-proportioned SUV that sits high up on the ground and brings in a fresh wave of air in the mid-size SUV segment. The front is dominated by sharp DRLs (daytime running lights) and a large, bold grille. The DRLs also double up as indicators and look very cool. A similar modern treatment is also visible at the rear. The LED taillights look fab and are connected by a light bar that runs across the width of the vehicle. The sides of the rear bumper also house the vertical light panel for the indicators and reverse parking light. A roof-end spoiler and shark fin antenna are standard across all variants. 

  The side profile showcases the flat shoulder line and a sloping roof.  The Grand Vitara sits on 17-inch wheels - alloys are reserved for the higher versions. Nexa offers a total of 9 colour options including three dual tone ones. 

  Summary

  Great looking SUV with modern and muscular elements. Lovely DRLs!

• Grand Vitara Interior

  The cabin of the Grand Vitara is well laid and looks premium from the word GO. Maruti has used a lot of soft-touch materials at various places on the dashboard and this does make the cabin look upmarket and luxurious, very important as this is a segment full of options. There is ample space for tall adults up front and this includes headroom as well as shoulder space. Visibility remains nice though the Grand Vitara, unlike some of its rivals, does not offer powered seats as of now. That said, thanks to the huge sunroof, the cabin remains airy. 

  Those looking at the Grand Vitara from a family point of view will be happy to know that the rear bench is spacious. Both headroom, as well as knee room, is more than adequate but not as much as the Creta. On the good side, both the front and rear seats are very comfortable. 
  The boot space of this SUV depends on which engine you pick. For the regular Smart Hybrid model, the Grand Vitara offers 373 liters of boot which is decent enough for the segment. The Strong Hybrid, due to the presence of a battery pack, offers just 265 litres of boot space and this could be a hindrance for family buyers. 

  Summary

  Premium interiors with ample space for five. Boot space could be an issue.

• Grand Vitara Engine

  Maruti is offering a choice of two powertrains with the Grand Vitara. The first option is the same engine we see in the XL6 or the Brezza. This 1.5-litre engine is non-turbo (naturally aspirated) and produces 103 PS of power and 136.8 Nm of torque. You can either have this with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine excels in both fuel economy and smooth operation. However, outright acceleration is weak. The 5-speed manual can also be had with a segment-first AWD (all-wheel drive) option. The second powertrain is a strong hybrid set-up in which you can drive the car on EV power as well. Along with an engine, there is an electric motor with a large battery pack. If this pack has enough battery, EV only mode takes over wherein the engine remains off, thereby saving a lot of fuel. This strong hybrid is only available with an automatic gearbox and offers a claimed economy of almost 28 kmpl. During our stint with the car for a few days here in Delhi, it gave us an easy 22-24 kmpl in traffic conditions, with the air-con running. That’s about 20-25% more than what mid-size diesel SUVs do. Plus the pure EV mode also makes the drive very silent. In addition to this, Maruti is also bringing up the CNG version of the Grand Vitara

  Summary

  Two engines on offer. Segment first AWD great for adventure seekers.

• Grand Vitara Safety And Features

  Maruti cars have often been criticised for being unsafe but the Grand Vitara promises to erase this misconception. It has been co-developed with Toyota and Maruti will be aiming for a minimum 4-star rating as per global NCAP. Plus, from the base version onwards, the Grand Vitara comes with dual front Airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX child seat anchorages. Plus it is fully compliant with pedestrian protection, full frontal impacts, frontal offset and side impacts. The top-end version comes with as many as 6 Airbags, a panoramic sunroof, full digital console, cooled seats, a head-up (HUD) display, 360 view camera, TPMS or tyre pressure monitoring system and even paddle shifters (smart hybrid automatic). The AWD model also gets modes of Auto, Sport, Snow and Lock. The only feature missing here is the power adjustment option for the driver’s seat. The Grand Vitara also comes with a Suzuki Connect feature for a remote understanding of the vehicle including remote AC start. 

  Summary

  The most feature loaded Maruti ever!

• Grand Vitara Ride And Handling

  The Maruti Grand Vitara offers a good mix of ride and handling. Driven with a load of just one driver, the ride feels slightly on the firmer side, but just about. However, when driven with a load of more passengers, the ride feels perfect and very comfortable. The SUV manages bad roads with ease and the rear does not bottom out even with a full load. Likewise, the high ground clearance aids off-the-road driving, especially in the AWD model. 

  Inspite of being an SUV, the Grand Vitara is easy to manage and drive in urban conditions. The view from the driver’s seat is nice, the steering does need too much effort and overall light controls to make it a good city car. We did drive the car from Udaipur to Delhi as well and the highway manners were excellent. This included high-speed driving with a load of four people and luggage. The 360-view camera also comes in handy when parking the car in tight spots. Overall, the Grand Vitara offers a balanced ride quality and passengers will be at ease

  Summary

  Easy to drive, comfortable over various road conditions