This model is very precious for Maruti. And that became clear while trying to procure the car for this drive.The GV’s first Indian innings w...
This model is very precious for Maruti. And that became clear while trying to procure the car for this drive.The GV’s first Indian innings wasn’t smooth.The last-gen was portly, impractical and overpriced; the only good bit was the bloodthirsty V6.Things have changed now.The new car is more chic and sober. Gone is the flab. It has crisp, bold lines; it’s a bit boxy now - in a good way - and looks purposeful.The
oblong headlights, prominent creases and flared arches add to that pit-bull stance and the only downside is the height, or absence of it.You expect an SUV to be a taller.This one’s strange. Park
it next to a Qualis and you see it shrink. As you hop in, you realise that space inside isn’t bad. Its predecessor had a seven-seat layout; this does away with the
useless last row. So you have only five seats, but lots of room for luggage.The manual version has an exotic, mesh-type fabric, so you don’t miss leather. Black is the theme inside, from fabric to switches to dial cluster to dash plastics.
Under the hood the Vitara employs a more sedate 2.0-litre unit. Power is down to just 120bhp with torque around 170Nm - that’s a lot less than the earlier one, but it somehow doesn't feel too bad. It pulls happily every time you stretch your right foot.There are two variants - a five-speed manual and a four-speed auto; the latter costs around a lakh more. Stick to the manual if you want to have any fun. There are two modes for the all-wheeldrive option - high- and low-ratio - but you’ll need to be seriously manic to try it out to the full.That said if you do have such tendencies, please go ahead, because it works.That's one good thing about this car: everything works. Not always to the best possible levels but it works. And that’s a start.
While initial response is no issue, the throttle does need prodding to keep the engine on the boil. Peak torque is at around 3,500rpm, which is painful. Anything less and it bogs down. All-wheeldrive and an engine that wants to be revved don’t do wonders for economy, and our worst figure was a measly 4.5kpl. But we were being naughty, blasting down empty highways at 160kph. Overall efficiency is saner although not brilliant at 8kpl.
Steering is well weighted, if not very direct.The chassis feels taut and there’s lots of grip, so you can actually enjoy the car. The ride is firm and body-roll levels amazingly low.The suspension set-up, though traditional in design, soaks up every road pockmark. Sadly, it’s noisy, which coupled with the vocal engine, is annoying.
Maruti’s done to the Grand Vitara what every maker is doing to its SUVs - making them more car-like. It’s more modern, more practical and easier to live with. It even undercuts rivals such as the CR-V, Endeavour and Tuscon by a few lakh. It makes sense for your pocket, even if it won’t transform your image.
