New Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara debuts as Toyota Hyryder's twin

In essence, the new Grand Vitara and Urban Cruiser Hyryder are the latest shared products to spawn from the Toyota-Suzuki alliance. 

A few days back, Toyota India stole the show by revealing the Urban Cruiser Hyryder – the brand's first-ever self-charging strong hybrid offering in the country. And today, it's Maruti Suzuki's turn to unveil its counterpart – the Grand Vitara. What makes both these models significant is the fact that they are the first midsize SUVs in the country to offer strong hybrid technology and all-wheel drive.

Like the Hyryder, the Grand Vitara's key highlight is that it will go on sale with two petrol powertrain grades – mild hybrid (Smart Hybrid) and strong hybrid (Electric Hybrid). The former features Maruti Suzuki's 1.5-liter K15C DualJet VVT motor with an integrated starter generator (ISG). The 1,462cc four-cylinder petrol motor develops 101.6bhp and 136.8Nm of torque. Gearbox options include a standard five-speed manual and a six-speed torque converter automatic (with paddle shifters). Moreover, the mild hybrid grade also comes with a segment-first all-wheel-drive (AWD) system – Suzuki AllGrip – which offers four user-selectable operation modes (Auto, Sport, Snow, and Lock).

Thanks to the presence of features like Brake Energy Regeneration and Idle Stop/Start, the mild hybrid grade of the Grand Vitara returns a fuel-efficiency figure of 21.11km/l.

The strong hybrid grade offers a Toyota-sourced 1.5-liter TNGA Atkinson cycle engine, which develops 91bhp and 122Nm of torque. The hybrid system comprises a 177.6V Li-ion battery and an AC synchronous motor. The hybrid component develops 79bhp and 141Nm of torque. Combined, the hybrid powertrain, mated to an e-CVT gearbox, develops a maximum power of 114bhp. Unlike the mild-hybrid grade though, the storing hybrid variants will be offered with front-wheel-drive only. However, there are four drive modes on offer as well – Normal, EV, Eco, and Power.

Thanks to self-charging tech, the strong hybrid grade of the Grand Vitara has an unprecedented fuel economy of 27.97km/l, which easily makes it the most fuel-efficient SUV on sale in the country.

In terms of features, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara comes equipped with a Colored Head-Up Display, a 360-degree surround-view camera with approaching object detection & dynamic reverse gridlines, and a Smart Play Pro + infotainment system with a nine-inch HD touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Premium features like ventilated front seats, a fully-digital instrument cluster, and a panoramic sunroof are also on offer.

Key rivals to the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara are the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder.

Read more:

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