Maruti Suzuki has been testing the sub-4 metre compact SUV, the Vitara Brezza in India. It is likely to be launched in the first quarter of 2016 with an attractive price tag.
The latest segment which has suddenly gained popularity in India and rightly so is the compact SUV segment. Poor road conditions has made high ground clearance a requirement of most car buyers. Also, as traffic in the cities is rising, people are wanting to shift towards smaller yet spacious cars. Both these points are the USP’s of compact SUV’s. Ford tasted success with the EcoSport which got a great response from customers making it the best seller in the American carmaker’s stable. Now, the Japanese giant wants to enter the segment and dominate it.
The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza takes inspiration from the Vitara concept which debuted at the Paris Motor Show last year. Powering the compact SUV would be familiar engines; the 1.4-litre K-Series petrol engine used in the Ertiga and Ciaz and the 1.3-litre diesel motor seen in many Maruti Suzuki cars. The highlight however would be the AMT equipped diesel variant which is in consideration. With attractive pricing and lots of features, it shall pose as a great rival to the Ford EcoSport which has become costly since its launch.
However, positioning the compact SUV in its lineup would be a problem for Maruti Suzuki. They will also be launching the Across SUV in India this year which will be loaded with features like keyless entry, 16-inch alloy wheels and basic safety equipment. There is bound to be pricing overlap amongst the two vehicles and some amount of cross shopping might happen. However, as long as the customer stays within the brand, the largest car manufacturer of India shall be happy. We expect the Vitara Brezza to be priced between Rs. 8-12 lakhs (on-road) depending on the variant.
Source – GaadiWaadi.com