Maruti has just sold its sixth lakh unit of the Vitara Brezza SUV. Having launched back in 2016, it has taken five years to achieve this milestone.
- Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza was first launched in India in 2016
- Currently sold with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two gearbox options
- Next-gen Vitara Brezza expected to be unveiled by end-2021
Maruti Vitara Brezza: The story so far
Maruti announced prices for its first compact SUV, the Vitara Brezza, back at the Auto Expo 2016 and since then, the SUV has been a blockbuster product for the brand. The Vitara Brezza had surpassed the half-a-million or 5,00,000 sales milestone in January 2020, which means the next 1,00,000 sales have come in just 12 months. While the first 1,00,000 unit sales for the Vitara Brezza came up in12 month, the 1,50,000-unit sales mark came up in a scant 17 months, the 2,00,000 mark in 20 months, the 3,00,000 milestone was crossed in 28 months, the 4,00,000 landmark in 35 months, the 4,50,000 milestone in 41 months, and half-a-million units in 46 months.
The 6,00,000-unit milestone would have been achieved much sooner if it weren’t for a slowing down of sales following Maruti Suzuki India announcing its plan to drop diesel cars from its line-up from April 2020. Add to that been the overall market slow down and the arrival of newer rivals like the Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV300, both also available with petrol engines. But Maruti Suzuki fought back with the launch of the petrol-engined Vitara Brezza, which arrived in February 2020.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza: Now sold as petrol-only
The carmaker used Suzuki’s K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine to replace the original Vitara Brezza’s 1.3-litre diesel. The Vitara Brezza petrol shares its 105hp and138Nm, BS6-compliant petrol engine with other Marutis like the Ciaz, Ertiga and XL6. A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard, while a 4-speed torque converter auto is available as an option. Interestingly, Suzuki’s SHVS Smart Hybrid tech is reserved for automatic versions of the compact SUV only. The 1.5-litre K-series petrol engine has a fuel efficiency figure of 18.76 kilometres per litre for the automatic, and 17.03kpl for the manual. Maruti has already begun work on the next-gen Vitara Brezza, which will see light of day sometime later this year.
For the new Vitara Brezza, Maruti is likely to stick with the rugged, upright stance, and generous width that made the Brezza so popular. What’s more, the next-gen SUV could also see a return of the Maruti Suzuki 1.5 litre diesel engine. Read our full story here.
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