GRAND VITARA

GRAND VITAARA

As Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is rebadged Grand Vitara with only Styling Change – fuel efficiency is similar to Grand Vitara

• Yes in looks Maruti Grand Vitara looks bigger – longer than Creta, Seltos, Kushaq, Taigun to a considerable extent and even longer than MG Astor. Car definite looks Macho and has a differentiating road presence

• Suspension feels lot mature. Ride and Handling Experience in terms of Steering Feedback, Mature Suspension (where not excessive soft as like Creta, or excessive stiff as Seltos) along with decent steering feedback is what the strength of Maruti Grand Vitara.  Let me disclaim – saying decent steering feedback is only in comparison to Maruti or Hyundai or MG Astor. However, if you bring in Skoda Kushaq or VW Taigun – the handling of Kushaq and Taigun feels lot better on higher speed

• Pretty Reliable and After Sales Service Experience which will be like having no surprises. Smart Hybrid System developed by Maruti Suzuki for years in there car range and Electric Hybrid is what developed by Toyota for bullet proof reliability. Spares will be competitive. Yes – Battery Cost in Smart Hybrid (with Car Battery and Second Lithium Battery together will cost in around Rs 17,000 – which may work for 4 to 5 yrs and need replacement of same). Toyota and Maruti in Electric Hybrid is Self Charging Car offering 8 years Warranty on Battery

• Engine Performance well one need to have expectations correct. If you like car with Relaxed Drive, upgrading from yester-years Swift, Dzire, I20 or Honda Jazz kind – you wont find any complaints with enough low end torque and decent mid range (till 100 kmph) . But if you have ever driven Diesel Engines in past or Turbo Petrol from Creta, Seltos, XUV700, Scorpio N or even Venue, Nexon in Sports – you will have every reason to crib on why power flowing slowly.

• Base Sigma Model of Maruti Grand Vitara is most Value for Money as has Push Ignition, Auto Climate Control with Rear AC Vents, Projector Headlights, LED DRL, ESP, Hill Hold Assist, 17 Inch Wheels with Wider R215 Tyres for enhanced Stability, Shark Finn Antenna and lot more. Only need is Touchscreen Music System with Android Auto and Apple car play and a great experience in Value price point for car buyer

• Maruti and Toyota when planned to develop this car designed to make it 5 Star Compliant in Crash worthiness. Brezza already scored 4 Star. Although Grand Vitara crash test not performed, but build quality definitely feels impressive and thanks to all 4 disc brakes, ESP – safety element of Grand Vitara is second to none.

• For a Buyer looking for 360 Degree Camera, Ventilated Seats, Headsup Display, Larger Size Sunroof, Advanced HD Pro Touchscreen, Push Ignition, Voice Commands with Connected Car, LED Projectors, 17 Inch Stylish Alloys, 6 Airbags with ESP Safety will all be impressed as top end Model is Fair well equipped in Features

What you Wont Like in Maruti Grand Vitara

• Rear Seat Headroom, Legroom Space, Shoulder room Space – feels mediocre. Yes – car marginally feels more spacious as against Astor but Astor has better headroom and if compare Grand Vitara against Creta, Seltos, Kushaq, Taigun – you can experience more Spacious Cabin in competition cars. So much so by seeing the interior theme and space – its just a marginal edge (basis marginal legroom space as better and rear seat recline angle, however headroom space is strict limited for taller passengers. Having said same – Seats are pretty cushiony and decent seating comfort is there

• Interior Feel Feedback although on standalone basis looks acceptable. But in comparison to feel in Modern Age SUV definite feels medicore. The Interior theme looks directly lift from Brezza and although Brezza feels okay from Compact SUV Standards, but when you come closer to spending in like 15 Lakh from Delta Variant to 22 Lakh Price Range – these interiors do not offer as plush feel as what the expectation is

• Pricing other than Sigma feels like too much stretched. Look at 1.75 Lakh On road Price Difference in Grand Vitara Delta and Sigma but in features gets onlyConvenience: Cruise Control, Rear View Camera, Boot Lamp, Ambient Footwell Light in Front

  Style: Silver Skid Plate in Front and Rear

  Infotainment: 7 Inch Smart Pro Play Touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple Car PLay with Suzuki Connect with Steering Mounted Bluetooth

• Grand Vitara Zeta cost almost 2.5 Lakh higher than Delta but in featuresSafety: 6 Airbags (as against 2 in Delta)

  Convenience: Rear Wash Wiper, Automatic Headlight on in Low Visibility, Power Fold ORVM

  Style: LED Projectors (as against Halogen Projector in Delta), Chrome Beltline Garnish, Soft Touch Instrument Panel with Premium Stitch

  Infotainment: Signature Smart Pro Plus HD Touchscreen (as against Smart Pro in Delta) with Premium Arkamys Sound System

Feels like pricing too much stretched in Middle Models leaving Value for Money approach

• Not a Performance Enthusiast Car. If anyone experienced in Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Creta Turbo. Seltos Turbo or MG Astor Turbo – with Grand Vitara he will feel like himself wondering in a pretty Slow car. No Enthusiasm as such in both 1.5 Smart Hybrid or Electric Hybrid in both Manual and Automatic as against the Turbo Petrol Engine and not only that whether its Smart Hybrid or Electric Hybrid. Even- if you compare against 1.5 Litre Naturally aspirated Petrol Engine of Creta, Seltos – these cars although too not great in performance but still feels marginally more quicker in acceleration response as against Grand Vitara / Hyryder

• Limited Boot Space with just 355 Litres in Mild Hybrid and Electric Hybrid at 255 Litres. You really will miss on space for large baggages if go with Electric Hybrid despite of spending in 20 Lakh

So Should you buy Maruti Grand Vitara

Have Expectations correct. If you have expecation of

• Safe Car
• Fuel Efficienct SUV
• Decent Handling
• Mature Suspension
• Rich Features
• Pretty Reliable experience

then yes opt for Maruti Grand Vitara, but if care for

• Immaculate Performance
• Immaculate Handling as like German Cars
• Space Factor Wise in Headroom and Legroom, Boot Space
• Plush Interior Feel
• Value for Money in Price, Features Difference in Delta, Zeta, Alpha

you may be disappointed with Grand Vitara

So overall, my view is

If you are in Mid 40s, 50s or Senior Citizen and love Relaxed Drive with Fuel Efficiency, Reliability, Matured Suspension and upgrading from yesteryear Cars to New Age Feature Loaded Car – will love Grand Vitara

However, if you are in 20s, 30s or 40s or even upper age bracker but seek Fun to Drive Experience, Immaculate Performance, Chaueffeur Driven Car with Decent Headroom or Underthigh Support – you will likely be disappointed with Grand Vita