In terms of Maruti Suzuki’s evolution, the Grand Vitara can be considered a milestone – it’s the company’s best assault on the ever-vibrant mid size SUV market.
This flagship product demonstrates Maruti’s seriousness to break away from their small car only image and offer the same reliable and value for money products in a more premium segment of the market.
The strategic significance of the Grand Vitara goes beyond just product expansion as it represents the path that Maruti wants to take in future in a more competitive and sophisticated automobile environment.
Design Philosophy: Brave, yet Delicate
The Grand Vitara makes a bold visual statement, blending distinctive SUV toughness with advanced design detail. Fronted by high-set, bold grille and split color, LED DRL headlamps combine with the available striking LED signature on each side.
This increasingly common positioning on global SUVs helps give the Grand Vitara an imposing presence on the road without going overboard on styling.
“The thing that sets the Grand Vitara apart is its restraint,” notes automotive designer Vikram Menon. “Where many of its rivals go overboard with muscly design cues in a bid to establish toughness, MSIL has crafted something more balanced and grown-up – an indivisible piece of design that should age with the kind of grace and dignity these very pages urge of any design, rather than the gallery gimmicky type, that’s all show today and embarrassment tomorrow.”
Looking at the car from the side, the proportions seem well balanced, with a wheelbase of 2,600mm keeping things roomy inside. The character lines are sharp but not overbearing and the contrasting roof available on premium models gives a visual lightness that nearly nothing in this segment has yet to match.
The rear finishes off the holistic design with horizontal LED storage lights and a tailgate which expresses a feeling of width and stability.
Interior Experience: A Leap up to Premium
Step in, and you know that the Grand Vitara is a different league from Maruti’s bread-and-butter vehicles. The horizontal dashboard layout consists of a free standing 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system for easy visibility and to keep the driver’s focus on the road.
There’s been some effort lavished on material quality here that compares favourably to older Marutis/complaints of cost-cutting with soft-touch surfaces employed for all major points of contact followed by tactful attention to detail via contrast stitching and satin chrome highlights.
And seating comfort gets a lift from well-outlined front buckets with ventilation on the higher trims, a definite plus in Indian weather conditions. In the back, legroom is a major strength, due in part to the long wheelbase, and the panoramic sunroof found the on high-end models helps maintain an airy openness throughout.
“It’s the interior that probably marks the biggest leap for Maruti,” says Priya Venkatesh, an expert in interior design. “They seem to have moved the needle on this part, which was a perception gap for long history versus some competition on their product quality — be it touch feel on the plastics or so on.”
Practicality is good too with plenty of storage in the cabin and a 373-litre boot that grows dramatically with the rear seats split and folded. Nits: Little touches such as rear air conditioning vents, the multi-USB charging ports and the wireless charging pad indicate attention to the users’ daily needs today.
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POWERTRAIN INNOVATION: STRONG HYBRID LEADERSHIPThough the 2022 Tucson comes with a variety of internal combustion, pure hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the model being launched in the U.S. is a case where a hybrid comes first.
The Grand Vitara’s biggest step forward comes under the clamshell bonnet, where a potent hybrid system has been borrowed from Toyota collaboarationistory.
This brilliant hybrid setup mates a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter petrol engine to an electric motor and battery pack for 115driving force and excellent fuel economy that’s rated right at around 27.97 km/l in standard test procedures.
The difference from mild hybrid systems is that this two-mode hybrid can run on pure electric power for short distances, with the system continuously deciding which power source to use to be efficient.
It is paired to a continuously variable transmission (e-CVT) that offers smooth power delivery with none of the stepped efforts of traditional autos making for a polished drive ideally suited to the city.
Along with the hybrid, Maruti will continue to offer its in-house developed K15 1.5-litre petrol engine which is capable of churning out 103 hp of power and is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
This known engine brings a more traditional drive, enough efficiency (20 km/l), and comes in some models with the Suzuki’s AllGrip Select system with several driving positions, having an authentic 4×4 which is quite rare in this segment.
“The hybrid powertrain is a major strategic change for Maruti,” says Rajiv Sharma, an analyst in automotive technology. “By leveraging Toyota’s proven hybrid technology, they have leapfrogged the typical technology evolution cycle and are well positioned to set the pace for efficiency in a segment where the cost of running a car is a critical consideration in Indian car buyers’ minds.”
Integrating Technology: Tied In and Turned On
The Grand Vitara adopts modern standards of technology with Suzuki Connect, an advanced connected car technology which offers over 40 features including geofencing, vehicle tracking, driving behavior analysis and various remote operations via smartphone.
The platform delivers monthly vehicle health reports and service reminders, and allows for remote climate pre-conditioning, which is especially useful in extreme climates.
The infotainment also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s a delicious-sounding premium Arkamys audio system in the cabin.
A head-up display – a first for this class of vehicle – also makes it easier for driver to concentrate on the road ahead, projecting essential driving information directly into the driver’s line of vision to help minimise time spent not looking at the road.
Safety is well catered for, with six airbags, ESC, hill hold assist and a 360-degree camera system offered on pricier models. The global C-platform (which is also used for the Toyota Corolla) is responsible for the robust foundation of the car, helping it achieve a 4-star safety rating on the GNCAP.
Ride & Handling :Well-rounded personality
The (X) Grand Vitara serves up a driving experience more tuned to comfort and refinement than all-out sportiness; a fitting proposition, given its target audience.
The suspension, with MacPherson struts and a torsion beam at the back (save for all-wheel-drive variants, which get a more sophisticated multi-link rear), does a good job of cosseting occupants even when the roads get rugged.
Steering response is a good compromise between city friendliness and highway weight. NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) suppression is a clear step forward from previous Marutis, and the cabin is significantly but not inordinately quieter, in particular in the hybrid variant when in electric-only mode around town there’s long stretches where you practically glide in silence.
“What is impressive about the Grand Vitara’s driving experience is its maturity,” says automotive analyst Sanjay Kumar. “Instead of trying to provide sporty handling that few owners would actually use to its full potential, Maruti has concentrated on aspects that improve daily usability — of which stable ride quality, predictable handling, and good see-out are the most important — while still providing adequate dynamics for the odd spirited drive.”
Market Position/Landscape and Competitive Dynamics – Maruti Grand Vitara
The Grand Vitara goes up against a tough tussling crowd with the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and now with newcomers from the thriving Chinese brands.
Maruti’s game plan Painting the Grand Vitara as a segment technology trendsetter — with its hybrid power plant — and using MUL’s superior servicing reach and unparalleled service track record to snare the rather critical segment of customers in the price bracket.
Pricing also appears to be carefully tuned, ranging from competitive entry-level models to upper-middle trims that still undercut the competition. The powerful hybrid models, despite the price premium, indulge the need for speed and still offer a strong value when comparing overall cost of ownership, including the levies saved on fuel throughout a hypothetical ownership period.
“Maruti’s stance with the new Grand Vitara is indicative of the company’s growing understanding of the Indian auto market,” says market analyst Amrita Patel.
“Instead of focusing only on the upfront purchase price, they’re trying to make consumers look at the total cost of ownership including fuel efficiency, maintenance cost and resale value — areas in which Maruti has historically been strong,” he added.
The Grand Vitara is more than just another addition to an overcrowded segment; it’s an indication of Maruti Suzuki’s desire to change for the better and a signal to the market about what to expect from a company that has done more than cars can ever repay them.
With an Indian insight driven, volunteering and community services based SUV hard to come by in a market cluttered with look-alike SUVs, the Grand Vitara’s domestic credentials only serve to make its case sound even stronger.