Maruti Grand Vitara

How much will the Grand Vitara cost me?

The most affordable (Sigma) variant of the Grand Vitara SUV starts at Rs 10.99 lakh and prices go up to Rs 20.99 lakh (ex-showroom) for the top-spec strong hybrid automatic (Alpha Plus) grade.

How many variants does the Grand Vitara have?

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara comes in four main variants - Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha. Depending on which variant you choose, you can buy a petrol manual, petrol automatic, CNG manual or all-wheel drive manual version of the Grand Vitara. The strong-hybrid Grand Vitara is offered in the Zeta Plus and Alpha Plus variants and this is only available with an automatic transmission.

Which variant offers the best value for money?

The Grand Vitara delivers the most value at two extremes - the base model or the fully-loaded one.

The Sigma variant offers a decent list of equipment for the price. While it misses out on a music system, adding one on separately is more cost-effective. If you’re not on a strict budget, the fully-loaded Alpha variant also offers good value for money and delivers better bang for buck than the Zeta variant. In the hybrid models, the Zeta Plus variant is more value for money than the Alpha Plus grade. That being said, the added features of the Alpha Plus, such as ventilated seats or a 360-degree camera are complicated to retrofit from the aftermarket.

What kind of features does the Grand Vitara offer?

The features list of the Grand Vitara includes a 9-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 6-speaker music system, ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger, leatherette seat upholstery, highline tyre pressure monitoring (shows actual tyre pressures), 6 airbags (2 as standard), all-wheel disc brakes and ISOFIX child seat mounts.

Is the Grand Vitara a spacious car?

The Grand Vitara is spacious for four adults even if they’re just over 6 feet tall. The seats are large and very supportive. Headroom, though, could have been better especially in the rear seats. While the Grand Vitara is a 5-seater car, the cabin width is not ideal to seat 3 passengers at the rear.

As for the boot space, it depends on which version you buy. The hybrid models have their battery pack placed in the boot area and subsequently, while the standard petrol model has 373-litres of boot space, the hybrid has 265-litres of boot space. Do note that CNG models offer even lesser boot space than the hybrid, due to the larger size and cylindrical shape of the CNG tank.

While the hybrid Grand Vitara’s boot can fit a full-sized suitcase, fitting multiple large bags without removing the parcel tray is difficult. So if you’re picking up relatives returning from overseas with large bags, you will probably have to use the 60:40 split rear seat to make space for all their luggage, sacrificing seating space in the process. It’s better to split your luggage in medium-small sized bags. Fitting two large bags is easier in the standard petrol Grand Vitara.

What engines and transmissions does the Grand Vitara offer?

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is available only with petrol engine options:

• 1.5-litre petrol (K15C): This 4-cylinder petrol engine delivers good refinement and performance for those who just want a convenient city car and have an easy going driving style. While its performance is good for most use cases, high speed overtakes or driving on inclines (especially) with a full load will make you feel the need to rev the engine harder and stick to lower gears. As standard, this engine drives the front wheels and gets a 5-speed manual transmission. This same engine and transmission combination is offered with the CNG (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) models as well. A 6-speed automatic transmission is also available but this gearbox is not offered with a factory-fitted CNG kit, nor do you get the option of an all-wheel drive automatic Grand Vitara.

• 1.5 litre petrol hybrid (M15D): This engine scores extremely high on fuel-efficiency. The 3-cylinder petrol engine works with an electric motor to power the front wheels and there’s a battery pack that supports pure EV driving under low load conditions. This is an automatic and front-wheel drive only drive option and while it’s not as refined as the Grand Vitara’s standard petrol engine, it does offer better performance along with much lower fuel consumption, managing around 250-300km more per tankful of petrol. For more extensive highway use or for users who have to drive in heavy traffic regularly, this engine can be considered although it does cost more to buy as well.

What Mileage Can I Expect From The Grand Vitara?

The claimed mileage figures are as given below

• Petrol manual: 21.11kmpl

• Petrol automatic: 20.58kmpl

• Petrol all-wheel drive: 19.38kmpl

• CNG: 26.6km per kg

• Petrol hybrid: 27.97kmpl

Does The Grand Vitara Offer Enough Safety Features?

Safety features like 6 airbags (only 2 as standard), ABS with EBD, all-wheel disc brakes, ISOFIX child seat mounts, a rear camera or 360-degree camera, rear parking sensors and 3-point seatbelts for all occupants are offered with the Grand Vitara. It also gets ESP, hill-hold and a highline tyre pressure monitoring system. The Grand Vitara has not been crash tested by Global NCAP or Bharat NCAP.

What Colours Is The Grand Vitara Available In?

The Grand Vitara is available in the following colour options: NEXA Blue, Arctic White, Splendid Silver, Grandeur Grey, Chestnut Brown, Opulent Red, Midnight Black. Arctic White, Splendid Silver and Opulent Red are offered with the option of a black roof and mirrors. Do note, some colours are available only with select variants.

We especially like:

• Midnight Black: A good option for those who like the stealth look for their car

• Opulent Red dual-tone: One of the lighter colour options available with the Grand Vitara that has a very different appeal in the light vs at night

Is The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Worth Buying?

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is a comfortable, spacious and feature-loaded compact family SUV. The ride and handling is also confidence inspiring while the hybrid option is tempting for those who want diesel-like fuel-efficiency with a petrol engine’s smoothness. However, it is not as exciting to drive as turbo-petrol options that rivals offer nor does it feel as premium inside as the Kia Seltos or MG Astor. Additionally, the Grand Vitara does not offer advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like rivals such as the Kia Seltos, MG Astor, Honda Elevate or Hyundai Creta, if you feel the need for this feature.

What Options Can I Consider Besides The Grand Vitara?

Available in the same price range as the Grand Vitara are the MG Astor, Honda Elevate, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Toyota Hyryder, VW Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. Sedans like the Hyundai Verna, VW Virtus, Skoda Slavia and Honda City are also available in a similar price range. In fact, the Honda City Hybrid is another (rare) hybrid option.

What else do I need to know?

Tata will be launching the Tata Curvv SUV-coupe this year which will be available with petrol, diesel and electric powertrain options.