The Maruti Suzuki Omni was launched in 1985. Nothing much has been changed in the van since then, apart from a few facelifts. Maruti Suzuki still manages to churn out around 5000 units of Omni every month. It is a basic minivan offering a cargo variant, an ambulance variant and a family variant with 5-seater and 8-seater layouts. Maruti Suzuki is now offering much needed accessories with the Omni in its limited edition variant. The limited edition Omni features a CD player with an auxiliary port, 4-speakers, floor mats, LHS rear view mirror and new seat covers.
The Maruti Suzuki Omni is known for its fuel efficiency, space and practicality in congested areas with a turning radius of about 4.1 metres. The Omni is powered by a 3-cylinder, 786cc engine producing a maximum power output of 33 BHP at 5000 RPM and a peak torque figure of 57 Nm at 2500 RPM, mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox. The engine sits under the front seats powering the rear wheels of the van. Performance is decent considering the low weight of this vehicle.
The minivan lacks high speed ability, essential safety features and has a dated design. There are no direct rivals for the Omni in the market at this price point but the Tata Venture offers a good level of equipment in the minivan segment starting at a price of Rs. 4.56 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). The Omni generates a fuel efficiency figure of 14.7 km/l in petrol version and 10.9 km/kg in the LPG version. The Maruti Suzuki Omni offers six colors and comes with a starting price of Rs. 2.17 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi).
