The Grand Vitara will be positioned above the Brezza subcompact SUV at prices starting from around Rs 9.5 lakh (ex-showroom). It will likely be based on the Global C-platform and will have a long list of safety features, including six airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, electronic stability control and all-around disc brakes.
With a length of 4.3 metres, the Grand Vitara will share the wheelbase with the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyder along with powertrain options and other mechanicals. The two SUVs join the very competitive segment currently dominated by the Creta and Seltos, with the Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushak, MG Astor, Nissan Kicks, and more. The USP of the Grand Vitara will be in the form of its lightweight and robust hybrid powertrain. Also, the new Maruti SUV is expected to feature four-wheel drive as well.
The mild-hybrid Grand Vitara will likely use the 1.5-litre four-cylinder K15C DualJet petrol engine also found on the Ertiga, XL6 and Brezza, making around 1102 hp and 136 Nm of torque. The stronger hybrid variant will get a 1.5-litre TNGA Atkinson cycle-based unit from Toyota, which will also allow EV-mode only.
The Maruti Grand Vitara comes with a host of features including a digital driver display, panoramic sunroof, 9-inch touchscreen and 360-degree camera. Maruti will offer its flagship SUV with ventilated front seats, heads-up display, wireless phone charger and ambient lighting.