First Drive: Maruti Suzuki Brezza Facelift Brings Turbo Power to Drive

Maruti Suzuki, India’s biggest car maker, has not only dropped “Vitara” from its name plate but after almost a decade, and now in its second generation, the new Brezza has not only retained those same safe and stable qualities but added some excitement to the trusted SUV.

The automaker has been consistently selling over 12,000-13,000 units of the Brezza every month. However, with the evolving taste of the compact SUV customers in India, Maruti has introduced the 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol 3-cylinder engine to the new Brezza along with some cosmetic updates and a few new features to make it a well-rounded product. We took it for a test drive in Mumbai city for a spin to check it out.

The Exterior

Though at first sight, it looks a boxy shape, its grille trim has been revised slightly, and the front bumper looks cleaner and it has got a triangular housing for the fog lamps. There are almost no changes to the sides or rear, save for a bit more garnish on the side cladding, a new four-spoke dual-tone design for the 16-inch alloy wheels and some vertical slats in the base of the rear bumper, unique to the turbo model. In terms of build quality, the Brezza feels solid for the price. The doors, bonnet, and boot lid have good heft. Panel gaps are consistent across, although finishing in some areas could have been better.

The new SUV has got the same 328 litres boot space, and it does not provide a spare tyre like before but offers a puncture repair kit and tyre inflator. This is because the CNG models have moved to an underfloor tank design to free up more luggage space.

Once you step inside, you are surprised with one of the best interior spaces the new Brezza has got, seating five adults comfortably and design wise it can easily accommodate even big sized adults. The seats on this top ZXi+ variant are trimmed in a new bronze-and-black leatherette upholstery, which looks rich.

The 10.1-inch infotainment screen on the top-spec ZXi+ trim comes with an integrated Amazon Alexa voice assistant and Suzuki Navigation. It helps you control various functions, including the climate control, and a new air purifier with a PM 2.5 filter. Ambient lighting has been carried over from the outgoing model but now features 64 colour options. In terms of quality, the screen offers crisp resolution and feels smooth and responsive.

The SUV has front parking sensors, enabling a few more advanced driver assists, such as blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, though it has not got the full ADAS system that you get in the Victoris, or which rivals offer. However, the Brezza has got a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash-test rating, to provide safety for the driver and the occupants.

The Drive Experience

We drove the new addition to the range called the 1.0-litre ‘Boosterjet’ direct-injection turbo-petrol engine, which lets the Brezza join every other compact SUV in the segment in offering a turbo option. This locally assembled engine churns out power output of 110 hp and 170 Nm of torque and it is mated to an all-new 6-speed manual transmission.

Driving around in heavy traffic in Mumbai, the striking feature is its refinement, and smooth driving experience with no lag at all and the engine has been tuned for good drivability which helps tremendously in crowded city driving. The Brezza turbo also feels comfortable cruising at 55 km/h in fifth gear which is why one does not have to change gears frequently. Also, the clutch is light to use and feels smooth and predictable. Although nothing can replace the convenience of an automatic gearbox, especially in heavy city bumper to bumper traffic, Maruti should consider offering the 6-speed AT with the Brezza turbo.

The Brezza turbo boasts an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 20.47 km/l on the LXi and VXi trims, and slightly lower 19.96 km/l on the higher ZXi and ZXi+ variants.

Should I Buy One?

With a competitive price of Rs 7.4 lakh to Rs 13.55 lakh, the new Brezza’s positioning in the crowded segment in India has not only improved to a great deal, its updates make a compelling choice given its standing as a reliable, and efficient car for a daily commute.