Suzuki gives the Grand Vitara a face-lift

Indian car market numero uno Maruti Suzuki has a wide ranging product portfolio and exhaustive service network that puts it in a league of its own.

However Maruti Suzuki has missed out on the unprecedented boom in the SUV segment since its only SUV or rather soft-roader, the Grand Vitara does not have a diesel engine.

The 2013 facelift for the Suzuki Vitara has incorporated minor changes as well as styling changes, what we are primarily interested in is the 1.9 litre DDiS diesel engine. The motor has been tweaked for lower emissions and improved fuel efficiency. 

Exterior changes include a new front bumper with more black plastic inserts and a new grille, revised fog lamp housings, headlights with black inserts, turn indicators incorporated into the outside rear-view mirrors, new 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, and 16-inch space saver spare wheel. It will be available as 3- or 5-door model, and the latter that makes best sense for India gets a 6.1 touchscreen navigation system that also doubles up as infotainment system featuring CD, radio, SD card, USB, Bluetooth, iPod and iPhone connectivity. The interiors get a new seat trim. 

The four-cylinder, two-valves-per-cylinder 1.9-litre DDiS diesel motor makes 129PS of power and 300Nm of torque and is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox that sends power to all four wheels in 4WD mode, besides an economical two-wheel drive mode. 

Priced competitively, the diesel Grand Vitara will truly stir up its segment in India. 

Also read: Maruti Suzuki stops Kizashi import