Maruti Suzuki’s 1.5-litre Diesel Engine To Make A Comeback In 2021

• Diesel Maruti Suzuki cars seem to be poised for a comeback.
• The 1.5-litre diesel engine will be upgraded to meet BS6 emission standards.
• First BS6 Maruti diesel car to possibly be the Ertiga.
• BS6 diesel Marutis could command around Rs 1.4 lakh premium over petrol manual models.

Earlier in August 2019, we reported about the possibility of diesel-powered Maruti cars making a comeback in the BS6 era. Now, reports suggest that sources from the company have confirmed the BS6 iteration of the 1.5-litre diesel engine will most likely be launched by the end of 2021. Maruti Suzuki had earlier announced a petrol-only portfolio during the transition to BS6 era due to the high costs associated in upgrading diesel engines to meet stringent emissions. 

Maruti Suzuki earlier said it would bring back diesel models if there is sufficient demand, and looking at the current trends, oil burners do rack up a decent amount of sales. In fact, Hyundai, Kia, Tata and Mahindra have enjoyed a decent amount of success with the diesel variants in their respective lineups. Currently, Maruti Suzuki has a petrol-only portfolio but continues to have the largest market share in the country. The addition of diesel models could reel in even more customers. 

The diesel engine that will make a comeback is Maruti Suzuki’s inhouse-developed 1.5-litre unit in its BS6 iteration. Power figures for the upgraded motor are yet to be revealed, but we expect it to remain unchanged at 95PS and 225Nm. This engine was offered with a 6-speed manual and we expect the same to continue as well. 

The above mentioned powertrain, in its BS4 iteration, was found under the hoods of the Ertiga and Ciaz. We expect the updated motor to make its debut in the Ertiga as the BS6 diesel model has been spotted testing for a while now. It could make its presence felt in models such as the Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and the XL6 as well. 

The first BS6 diesel Maruti car is likely to be launched by the end of 2021. The BS6-compliant diesel models could command a premium of around Rs 1.4 lakh over the petrol manual variants.

Source: PTI