With the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder out of the bag, it is Maruti’s turn to reveal its take on the mid-size SUV segment. Rumored to carry the Vitara nameplate, the new SUV is expected to be revealed on the 20th of July. Though the SUV will share a lot of its parts and mechanicals with the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, it will have its own unique styling and identity. Let’s take a look at what we can expect from it:
Also read: Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Breaks Cover!
What to expect
The new SUV will be based on Suzuki’s Global C platform which underpins the Suzuki S Cross, Brezza, and Hyryder. Its wheelbase will be similar to the Hyryder and we expect it to have similar dimensions as well. For reference, the Hyryder is 4365 mm long, 1795 mm wide, and 1635 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2600 mm. The design is expected to be similar to other Suzuki cars abroad to give it a global identity. It is expected to have LED headlights with LED DRLs, LED taillamps, and a healthy dose of cladding all around. Other expected design elements include silver skid plates for the front and rear and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Like the Hyryder, the interiors will share a lot of parts with the newer Maruti cars. Maruti could also differentiate between the mild Hybrid and strong Hybrid variants by giving different interior themes for both. Expect extensive use of leather for the upholstery and inserts all around the cabin. The center stage will be taken up by a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that gets Android Auto and Apple Carplay. It will also get Arkymys sound tuning and 55+ Suzuki Connect connected car features including remote vehicle ignition. Other features will include ventilated leather seats, a 7-inch MID, push-button start/stop, automatic climate control, a heads-up display, 360-degree parking camera, a panoramic sunroof, and an auto-dimming IRVM.
Engine options in the mid-size SUV will be the same as the Toyota Hyryder. The first engine is a 1.5-liter mild-hybrid unit that produces 101 Hp and 136 Nm of torque. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Though it comes as a front-wheel-drive as standard across all variants, the mild hybrid manual variant can be exclusively paired to an All Wheel Drive powertrain with selectable terrain modes. The other engine is a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated Atkinson Cycle engine that makes 92 Hp and 122 Nm of torque.