One of the great features is that the steering wheel adjusts for both rake and reach. Many SUVs have only rake adjustment.
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Dropped by to check out the Grand Vitara at a nearby Nexa showroom. What I saw was a carefully thought-out product that is capable of rocking the leaderboard in this segment. The mix of features, and what it does and doesn't offer is not a mistake or an omission by any stretch of the imagination.
For starters, the design while not in your face has enough flair to keep things interesting. The rear design is definitely the stand out. For me, I liked the strong shoulder line that forms a ledge just below the window line. This actually starts right from the front fender behind the tail light and continues right around the back over the tail lamps. The front has the right touches starting from the big air dam to give the requisite SUV face. I love the DRL treatment which doubles as an indicator. However, the actual headlamp treatment could have been better. They look like fogs in this respect. Come to think of it, I could not find any provision for fog lamps. Also perhaps a little too much front overhang for my personal taste.
What I also liked is that Maruti has not gone overboard with chrome. Even in the front, the massive chrome strips are offset by the expanse of the black grill to provide the right balance. The cladding too is tastefully done and from a side profile, the 17-inch wheels provide a good balance to the body. It definitely does not look under-tyres like the previous generation XL-6 did. With all the accents, this car will look smashing in white in my opinion. The alloy design is also changed from those staid Maruti-fare in the past.
The interiors while a step-up from the Maruti fare with the soft leather inserts, the toggle-shaped button elements and the layering of the dashboard do not exude that premium-ness that Kia or the Creta do. However, it would be good to remember that this has always been the case right from the days of the Santro till date. I like the steering wheel which looks compact and without the large expanse of grey plastic on the horn pad as on my 2017 Baleno. Unfortunately, the top-end Alpha variant was not on display so I could not check out the panoramic sunroof. Another great feature is that the steering wheel adjusts for both rake and reach. Lot of SUVs have only the rake adjustment.
Individual reading lamps for rear passengers are a good touch.
I think Maruti should definitely invest in some R&D in their power window buttons! While they do the job, I am tired of seeing them since the days of my Swift VDI.
The rear seat offers enough leg room and is comfortable enough. The large glass area also provides a sense of space especially with the quarter glass as well. However, I echo the general opinion that the cabin is a little down in width. I am not sure if it would be as comfortable as my Baleno with two car seats and a passenger in the middle. What is commendable is that Maruti has made it an authentic 3-seater by providing a three-point belt for the middle passenger as well. Especially for dads like me who are forced to relegate baby seats to the two sides when only a lap belt is provided for the middle seat.
The boot is well shaped. At 380 litres it's not going to win any awards but it's big enough and well shaped. What I would have liked a bit more is perhaps more depth. The spare wheel is of 17-inch on a steel rim. So no space saver nonsense with a size smaller.
With the All-Grip and strong hybrid versions, I feel Maruti provides enough differentiation on the mechanical side to keep things interesting. I don't think that the 1.5-litre engine will be a put-off for many buyers either given that the Seltos HTX with its 1.5 petrol is the bigger contributor to the Seltos sales. It's just 10 bhp and 8 Nm up on the GV's power. While personally, it does not cut it for me, I don't think it's not going to be a turn-off for a lot of buyers. Depending on which variant you opt for it undercuts the HTX by 20,000 to 90,000 rupees. This is going to be an interesting battle.
While I did not get a price list, the SA mentioned that it would be around 20 lakhs on-road for the Alpha All Grip, 22 lakhs for the Zeta+ strong hybrid and 24 lakhs for the Alpha+ strong hybrid.
Now, Maruti can we please have that delicious 1.4 BoosterJet with All Grip as an RS version?
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