Maruti Vitara Brezza review, road test

Diesel, compact SUV, Maruti. The ingredients are all there but do they make for the perfect recipe? We find out.

Published on Jun 02, 2016 07:00:00 AM

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Vertical and upright stance, high ground clearance lend the Brezza its SUV credentials.

Dashboard design is devoid of design flair,is functional and build quality is average.

If you think the straightforward approach of the exterior is too boring, then the interiors will perhaps disappoint you further. The dashboard design is quite ordinary and devoid of any design flair. The only thing of interest is the neat ‘squarical’ (Maruti’s term for the squarish-circular dials) shaped dials with backlighting that can change colours. There are five mood lighting colour options – yellow, orange, blue red and white and some of these shades closely match the Brezza’s corresponding exterior colour which is quite cool. Elsewhere in the cabin, if you’ve previously owned Marutis, you’ll find many familiar bits – the steering wheel, gear lever, power window switches and Maruti’s SmartPlay infotainment unit , all doing duty in the Brezza. While all this parts sharing may be great for saving costs, it robs the Brezza of a bit of the uniqueness.

The built-to-a-cost approach is also evident in other areas like the gear lever plastic shroud that is cheap and has a sharp inner edge. The vanity light also does not come on automatically when you flip up the vanity mirror flap and a major irritant is the boot light that also has to be manually switched on, which is quite annoying if you have to grope for the light in darkness with your hands occupied. The rear parcel shelf mounting too is a simple peg in a hole that, at times, pops out and causes the shelf to rattle over bumps.

Maruti has wisely spent money on a woven roof lining and plush seat fabrics which look quite premium and seriously helps lift the interiors. Plastic quality is a bit patchy though – the door pads and bins don’t feel so good to touch. But the upper bit of the dashboard is nicely textured.
The Brezza wins points for the equipment on offer. The car has six variants though it’s only the top-end ZDi+ that gets all the goodies including the SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment unit. The system supports Apple CarPlay and Mirror Link, while Android compatibility Maruti tells us is on its way. The top-spec also gets keyless entry, push-button start, cruise control, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, power folding mirrors, reverse camera, and dual airbags and ABS. A driver-side airbag is standard fit on the base LDi and VDi models, but buyers have the option to purchase a safety package that offers passenger-side airbag and anti-lock brakes. Other equipment is also offered at various trim levels like dual gloveboxes with the upper one cooled, electrically adjustable ORVMs, tilt steering and a height-adjustable driver’s seat.

The seats of the Brezza are well-shaped but a touch too soft in the lower back area, which could get uncomfortable on really long drives. The driving position is good despite the steering adjusting only for rake and not reach but rearward visibility is quite compromised because of the thick C-pillar. Hence, the rear-view camera (only on the ZDi+) and parking sensors (on the VDi upwards), do come in handy.

The space inside though, is surprisingly good for a compact SUV and Maruti engineers must be applauded for arriving at a finely judged balance between luggage and passenger space. It’s the latter that has been give priority and this can be seen in back seat space which is sufficient for three. There’s adequate legroom and plenty of headroom for most average-sized adults and the generous width makes sitting three abreast fairly comfortable – you don’t have to overlap shoulders. There is also a flip-down armrest with integrated cupholders and a neat little hook in the back of the driver’s seat for a small shopping or handbag. The door pockets are quite generous and can all hold 1-litre bottles. Other storage areas include a front centre sliding armrest with a storage area, a co-driver side under seat tray, and an overhead sunglasses holder. The boot is well-shaped and reasonably large but at 328 litres, loading very large, oversized suitcases will be a challenge. If more carrying space is what you need, the boot can also
be extended into a very handy full flat floor by lifting the rear seat base and folding down the 60:40 split seat backs.