6 Things You Need To know About the Maruti S Cross

Check out the following expert review video by CarDekho Team.

Update: 05 August, 2015, Maruti has launched its first crossover, S Cross in the Indian auto market today at a price tag of Rs 8.34 lac, ex-showroom, New Delhi. Check more on the S Cross launch.

Following the footsteps laid by SX4, Suzuki is all set to bring in an international product to match the needs of an Indian consumer. The Suzuki S Cross is being brought to India after having received immense success globally. One might say that Suzuki S Cross shares slight similarities with the discontinued SX4, this is because the new crossover is based on the discontinued SX-4 platform and was also available in many international markets, as the “SX4 S Cross”. SX4 did not find the expected success in the Indian market and that is the reason behind Maruti shedding the term from S Cross' name. As the S Cross is based on the SX4, which was always revered for its impressive ground clearance, the new car shows a lot of promise as a crossover vehicle.

1. The Grunt

From the pictures of the Maruti S Cross, we can see that the car will feature a very desirable 1.6-litre diesel engine. This particular motor will be sourced from Fiat and will be a part of Fiat’s multijet diesel engine family. The same engine powers the S Cross in European markets. The car will put out 118bhp @ 3750rpm and 320Nm of torque @ 1750rpm. The impressive power-plant has been incorporated in the S Cross so that it may hold its own against the highly successful compact SUVs that are already available in the Indian market.

2.The Variants

The car will get one more engine option. The 1.3-litre 90bhp diesel, which power other models of Suzuki like- the Ciaz and Ertiga, will also find its installation in the new S Cross. This step has been taken to move more inventory, as these power-plants have been popular with other Suzuki models. These perks do come at a cost, though, the crossover now weighs about 200kgs more than the Ciaz because it still utilizes an older and heavier platform. The 1.6-liter diesel variant, in particular, weighs at 1305 kgs. This increase in kerb weight will affect the power-to-weight ratio and eventually the performance of the car.

3. The Configuration

There have been rumors that Suzuki was developing an AWD system for India that may rival that of Renault’s. The car has been available in the international market with an AWD option, so there are high chances that the same variant may make its way here. India is one of the most vital markets for Suzuki and so the car might be fine-tuned as well, to match the standards set by its competition. The introduction of the AWD variant during the launch is not certain, but the company will only introduce more variants once the product has settled in.

4. Bells and Whistles

Like the gadgets of Ciaz, Maruti is making sure that S-Cross gets more than it.The insides are bestowed with features like touchscreen multimedia and navigation system, rear parking camera, automatic climate control, leather seats, engine start/stop button and cruise control.

5. The Parameters

S Cross features a usual gearbox, available with 5-speed and 6-speed, this means that even with the incorporation of the AWD system, the car will not be able to tackle all terrains. Moreover, unlike its competitor Duster, S-Cross has a lower ground clearance that in turn will restrict it from doing mildly difficult terrain, but it will perform good on poor Indian roads. The car will be a soft-roader, which one might want to refrain from using for extreme off-roading.

6. The Cost

In terms of its competition, Suzuki S Cross might be costlier than the Ecosport but the price is expected to be less than Duster and Terrano, so as to offer a fair deal. Due to the popularity of Duster, Renault has acknowledged in the past that the car has been overpriced. Keeping the competition in consideration, Maruti will exercise competitive pricing before it builds an appeal and gains popularity amongst the customers. Maruti has also scheduled a Diwali launch for a new premium hatchback and its components might be shared with the S Cross. A step that every manufacturer follow, certainly to keep the costs evened.