The Indo-Japanese automaker has finally entered into the highly competitive mid-size SUV segment with the launch of the Maruti Grand Vitara. It’s the company’s first strong hybrid car and most feature-packed SUV on offer. Buyers can get its mild hybrid variants within the price range of Rs 10.45 lakh – Rs 16.89 lakh and the strong hybrid variants are priced between Rs 17.99 lakh – Rs 19.49 lakh (all, ex-showroom). Maruti Suzuki has been betting big on the Grand Vitara and aims to regain 50 percent market share in the SUV segment.
The carmaker aims to strengthen its SUV market with a range of new models including the Maruti Baleno Cross (codenamed – YTB) and 5-door Jimny. Both SUVs will make their first public appearance at the 2023 Delhi Auto Expo in January. Reports suggest that the Baleno Cross compact SUV will hit showrooms a month after its official unveiling – i.e., February 2023. It will essentially be the production version of the Maruti Future-e concept that first broke cover at the 2020 Auto Expo.
Unlike the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara that underpins Suzuki’s Global C platform, the Maruti Baleno Cross will be designed on the Heartect architecture. The compact SUV will mark re-introduction of the brand’s Boosterjet turbo petrol engine. This time around, the motor complies with the BS6 emission norms and benefited with the mild hybrid technology. Both manual and automatic gearboxes will be on offer.
The new Maruti YTB (Baleno Cross) could also be offered with a 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol engine. The Dualjet motor delivers power worth 89bhp and 113Nm of torque. The carmaker might also use the 1.5L Dualjet petrol motor that’s good enough for 103bhp. Being a premium offering, the new Maruti compact SUV will be sold via Nexa dealership network. Its prices are likely to be between Rs 8 lakh – Rs 11 lakh (ex-showroom).
Rendering Source
