Maruti Vitara Brezza review, test drive

Maruti's long-awaited compact SUV is here. Here's a first impression of the new Vitara Brezza.

Published on Mar 10, 2016 09:54:00 AM

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What’s it like on the inside?

The Brezza isn’t a very tall SUV, but the cabin is set at a comfortable height so getting in and out is easy. The seats are well shaped but the cushioning is a touch too soft and this can be uncomfortable over long distances. Up front, you get a excellent view out thanks to the low-set dashboard that is smart in its own right. The centre portion (that hosts the infotainment system) is nicely framed with a piano black plastic surround, which is a neat styling element. The silver highlights and glossy black plastics on the dash do add some colour, and what’s more, the instrument cluster also gets selectable colours for the backlighting. The dashboard is practical too and comes with twin gloveboxes (the upper one being cooled), and there's a generous storage area in the console between the seats. Unlike the Baleno, the USB port is quite accessible (though still not lit) for iPhone users to connect to CarPlay.

There are, however, lots of bits shared with other Marutis, like the steering and power window switches from the first-generation Swift (our perennial beef with Maruti). The air con buttons are all new, but aren’t uniformly sized and curiously, the largest button here is that of the Auto AC mode.

The overall cabin quality is good, but not great. Some of the plastics are nicely textured, but in the lower areas, the finish could have been better. What lifts the cabin to a good extent is the woven roof lining and plush seat fabrics that deliver an ambience that is more premium than other compact SUVs.

Maruti designers we spoke to revealed balancing adequate boot space and a roomy cabin was a challenge. What’s nice is that space in the back is sufficient enough to seat three, and offers adequate knee room and plenty of headroom. The cabin width too is surprisingly good. Rear seat comfort is good and the inclusion of a fold-out centre armrest also helps here. And there’s a coat hook too.

The Brezza is available in six variants with top-end ZDi+ cars offered with Maruti’s SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment unit. The system supports Apple CarPlay, while Android compatibility is being worked on. Top-spec cars also get push button start, reverse camera, cruise control, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, power folding mirrors 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 brings with it passenger-side airbag and anti-lock brakes. Commendably, the Brezza is already certified for offset and side impact norms that come into effect in India in 2017. However, the build quality feels a bit light. We would have preferred a bit more heft in the way the doors open and shut.