Maruti Suzuki looks beyond EVs, expects hybrids to gain mass favour

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 21 Jul 2022, 11:07 AM

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Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is the only mid-size SUV - apart from the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder - to offer hybrid technology.

Maruti Suzuki has entered the mid-size SUV segment with the new Grand Vitara SUV while pre-bookings for the model have been opened for a token amount of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>11,000.

In terms of exterior design, the model features a split headlamp design and projector headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lamps.

At the rear, there is a sleek LED tail lamps. Maruti Suzuki will offer the Grand Vitara in six monotone colors and three dual-tone colors.

In terms of dimensions, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara measures 4345 mm in length, 1645 mm in height, 1795 mm in width and 2600 mm in wheelbase.

On the inside, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara gets a dual-tone theme of black and brown. The seats are finished in faux black leather with champagne gold accents in strong hybrid variant whereas the smart hybrid variant will get silver accents.

2022 Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara comes loaded with features such as heads-up display, digital instrument cluster, 360-degree parking camera, and connected car technology. Other features on offer are ambient lighting, front ventilated seats, keyless entry, rear AC vents, a push button to start/stop the engine, and USB ports among others.

The Grand Vitara SUV also gets wireless phone charging feature. There is also a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

In terms of safety features, 2022 Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara gets six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, hill descent control, rear disc brakes, hill hold assist, electronic stability program,

Maruti Suzuki will offer the Grand Vitara in two engine options. There is a 1.5-litre mild hybrid engine that we have seen on other Maruti Suzuki vehicles while the other one is a new 1.5-litre strong hybrid engine that has been developed with Toyota.

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Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is the flagship model from the company and will be sold through Nexa retail chain.

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Maruti Suzuki has entered the mid-size SUV segment with the new Grand Vitara SUV while pre-bookings for the model have been opened for a token amount of ₹11,000.

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In terms of exterior design, the model features a split headlamp design and projector headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lamps.

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At the rear, there is a sleek LED tail lamps. Maruti Suzuki will offer the Grand Vitara in six monotone colors and three dual-tone colors.

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In terms of dimensions, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara measures 4345 mm in length, 1645 mm in height, 1795 mm in width and 2600 mm in wheelbase.

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On the inside, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara gets a dual-tone theme of black and brown. The seats are finished in faux black leather with champagne gold accents in strong hybrid variant whereas the smart hybrid variant will get silver accents.

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2022 Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara comes loaded with features such as heads-up display, digital instrument cluster, 360-degree parking camera, and connected car technology. Other features on offer are ambient lighting, front ventilated seats, keyless entry, rear AC vents, a push button to start/stop the engine, and USB ports among others.

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The Grand Vitara SUV also gets wireless phone charging feature. There is also a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

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In terms of safety features, 2022 Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara gets six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, hill descent control, rear disc brakes, hill hold assist, electronic stability program,

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Maruti Suzuki will offer the Grand Vitara in two engine options. There is a 1.5-litre mild hybrid engine that we have seen on other Maruti Suzuki vehicles while the other one is a new 1.5-litre strong hybrid engine that has been developed with Toyota.

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An all-electric Maruti Suzuki has the potential of taking electric vehicle (EV) technology to the masses in India but the country's biggest car maker remains confident of alternate green technologies to find as much favour, potentially having similar benefits for the customer as well as the environment. As such, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara was unveiled on Wednesday as the company's first mid-size SUV as well as its first model with strong hybrid technology.

When it comes to fully electric vehicles (EVs), Maruti Suzuki has adopted a wait and watch policy because for the country's largest car maker, volumes matter big time. Therefore, pursuing a strong hybrid technology may offer a balanced approach, provided there are also incentives attached of various nature. “The government's support to EVs is good . .. to support some more green technology is even better," Chief Executive Hisashi Takeuchi told news agency Reuters. "I believe the government will support all technologies as far as they are good and contribute to a better India."

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The Grand Vitara therefore will have to play a pivotal role for Maruti Suzuki in the coming years, especially because an all-electric Maruti Suzuki is not expected till at least 2025. The mid-size SUV is not just the flagship product from the brand but one that is claiming to be the most fuel-efficient SUV in the market with a mileage of over 27 kilometers to a litre. The variant with the mild hybrid technology claims to deliver around 21 kilometers to each litre. These are significant figures, also especially because Maruti Suzuki ditched diesel engines at the time of the switch to BS 6. Diesel engines are more fuel efficient than petrol counterparts.

But while Grand Vitara has the bragging rights against rivals because of mild and strong hybrid technology, Maruti Suzuki has also been backing CNG for quite some time now with the likes of Ertiga CNG finding a whole lot of favour. Company officials tells HT Auto that such is the nature of the strong demand that while Maruti Suzuki would like to expand CNG technology to most other models in the portfolio, it is choosing for now to cater to the existing demand.

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First Published Date: 21 Jul 2022, 11:06 AM IST