One of the biggest gambles in the competitive SUV segment will be another product, a new mid-size 5-seater SUV by Maruti Suzuki, which will be positioned between Brezza and the Grand Vitara in the lineup.
The new SUV confirmed under the code name Y17 is likely to be named as Maruti Escudo with a newly trademarked nameplate. The model will most probably be launched in the Diwali 2025 festive season.
Strategic Positioning: Larger than Brezza and cheaper than Grand Vitara
The Maruti Escudo is aimed at customers in need of high quality SUV experience, but in a price range that Nexa does not enter. The Grand Vitara will be a Nexa exclusive car, the Escudo, though, will be sold via the Marut venture showroom banner, again underlining its status as a fair value car.
Sitting in a range between the most famous midsize SUVs, such as the Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos, the Escudo should be a bit more expensive than the Brezza but cheaper than the Grand Vitara, which potentially will make it compete with both of these models in the price range.
Design & Features: Grand Vitara DNA, Minus the Frills
The Escudo can use the styling details and the overall styling of the interior to have the same design language as the Grand Vitara. To maintain the prices, however, it might forego the flashy features and finishes. It will also be longer, even perhaps longer than the Grand Vitara.
Dimensionally speaking, since it will be larger than Brezza and will be sold above the sub-4 metre category, which currently makes it bigger in terms of interior space and boot size.
Powertrain: An old 1.5L Mild Hybrid Configuration
The Escudo would also be blessed with the 1.5-litre NA petrol engine in the Grand Vitara under the hood. This combination produces 103bhp in this mild hybrid powertrain, with use of either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic.
The powerful hybrid is even likely to be bypassed to preserve the price-competitive edge and class separation, since at present that is the sole alternative available on the Grand Vitara through the Toyota-supplied 1.5L Atkinson cycle engine.
A reasonably large, yet with a good balance of performance and prices, the Maruti Escudo might just be the right combination that urban SUV buyers with lower package requirements may be wanting, a safe and comfortable midsize option after being sidelined by the growing offers in the compact-long route.
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