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The fact that Tata Motors is trying to make deeper inroads in the booming compact SUV segment became apparent with the aggressive pricing for the Nexon AMT. But Maruti Suzuki is unwilling to yield even an inch in what is possibly the most hotly contested segment in India right now. In less than a week after the Nexon AMT’s launch, it has fired right back with the Vitara Brezza AMT. Here's how the two stack up on paper:
Engines and gearbox
The big difference between these two compact SUVs is in the engine options they offer. While the Tata Nexon is available in both petrol and diesel, the Vitara Brezza has been diesel-only from the time of launch.
As for how their engines match up on paper, the Vitara Brezza's 1.3-litre, four-cylinder DDiS 200 engine is smaller, and, with 90hp and 200Nm of torque on tap, is less powerful too. In comparison, the Nexon's 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel churns out a more significant 110hp and 260Nm of torque, and the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol produces 110hp and 170Nm of torque.
Offered only with a five-speed manual till now, the Vitara Brezza now gets the option of a five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). With the Nexon, you get a six-speed AMT.
| Powertrain | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maruti Vitara Brezza AMT | Tata Nexon AMT | ||
| Fuel | Diesel | Petrol/Diesel | |
| Engine | Four-cylinder, turbo | Three-cylinder, turbo/four-cylinder, turbo | |
| Displacement | 1248cc | 1198cc | |
| Power | 90hp | 110hp/110hp | |
| Torque | 200Nm | 170Nm/260Nm | |
| Transmission | 5-speed | 6-speed | |
Variants and features
Maruti will offer the Vitara Brezza AMT in a number of variants. In the range-topping ZDi+ form, the Brezza gets exactly the same level of equipment as its manual counterpart. That means auto climate control, the SmartPlay infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, electrically foldable ORVMs, reverse camera, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and alloy wheels come standard. For those who do not want all the kit that's on offer with the ZDi+, there's a lower-spec ZDi trim, and for those on a tighter budget, there's a VDi variant, too. The VDi loses most of the goodies that are on offer with the ZDi+, but retains essentials such as two airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors and keyless entry, among other things.
Such choices are not available with the Nexon AMT... not at this time, anyway. We have learned Tata is working on bringing more affordable variants of the Nexon AMT, but as of now, Tata is only offering the Nexon AMT in one fully-loaded trim. Features such as projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels shod in 215/60 tyres, 60:40 split-folding rear seats, a Harman-sourced 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is Android Auto compatible and a wearable smart key are standard.
Pricing
Maruti has played it smart by offering multiple variants of the Vitara Brezza AMT from day one. The VDi variant is priced at Rs 8.54 lakh, making the Brezza the most affordable AMT-equipped compact SUV. And yes, while the Nexon AMT may offer a whole lot more in the way of features than the Brezza VDi, at Rs 10.3 lakh, it is also nearly Rs 1.8 lakh more expensive. Even the range-topping Brezza ZDi+ undercuts the Nexon AMT by Rs 10,000, while offering a nearly identical features list. Things promise to get even more interesting once Tata rolls out the mid-spec versions of the Nexon AMT.
We have sampled the Nexon AMT and found it to be noticeably better than other AMT cars on the market. It remains to be seen just how good a job Maruti has done with the AMT on the Vitara Brezza, but you can be sure that when we bring the two together, it'll be one big fight among the compact SUVs.
| Prices (ex-showroom-Delhi) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Maruti Vitara Brezza AMT | Tata Nexon AMT | |
| Petrol variants | Rs 9.41 lakh (XZA+) | |
| Diesel variants | Rs 8.54 lakh (VDi) | Rs 10.59 lakh (XZA+) |
| Rs 9.31 lakh (ZDi) | ||
| Rs 10.49 lakh (ZDi+) | ||
Also see:
Maruti Vitara Brezza AMT launched at Rs 8.54 lakh
Tata Nexon AMT to get even more affordable
2018 Tata Nexon AMT video review
2018 Tata Nexon AMT review, test drive
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