Maruti S-Cross Petrol Launch Tomorrow

It will now get an automatic transmission option for the first time in India

• Official pre-launch bookings for petrol S-Cross are open for Rs 11,000 (both online and offline).

• The BS6 S-Cross will get a 1.5-litre petrol engine (105PS/138Nm) with mild-hybrid tech.

• It will be available with choice of a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.

• No feature addition except for Maruti’s latest 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

• Maruti is expected to price it from Rs 8.50 lakh to Rs 12.1 lakh (ex-showroom).

After its showcase at Auto Expo 2020, the Maruti S-Cross petrol will finally be launched tomorrow. Official pre-launch bookings are already underway at NEXA dealerships and online for a token deposit of Rs 11,000. It will continue to be available in four variants: Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha; and five shades: blue, brown, grey, white, and silver.

Pictured: Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza's 1.5-litre petrol engine

The major change in the BS6 S-Cross is its engine. While it was offered with the 1.3-litre diesel motor (90PS/200Nm) mated to a 5-speed manual in the BS4 avatar, the BS6 S-Cross gets the facelifted Vitara Brezza’s 1.5-litre petrol engine (105PS/138Nm). As a result, the power output has gone up by 15PS while torque has dropped by 62Nm. The S-Cross will be offered with both 5-speed manual as well as a 4-speed automatic gearbox options.

Pictured: BS4 Maruti S-Cross' cabin

Since this is not a facelift but just an engine upgrade, it won’t be getting any cosmetic tweaks or additional features except for the addition of Maruti’s latest 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The unit will continue to offer Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity like before, as well as Maruti S-Connect for vehicle telematics. Features such as cruise control, auto AC, LED projector headlamps, and rain-sensing wipers will continue to be on offer. Standard safety features will include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors.

As it will now get a BS6 petrol engine instead of a diesel, we expect it to be cheaper than the BS4 version, at least with the manual shifter. We expect it to be priced between Rs 8.5 lakh and Rs 12.1 lakh (ex-showroom). For a detailed look at the variant-wise expected prices, head here.

The S-Cross petrol will continue to go up against the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Mahindra Scorpio, Renault Duster, and Nissan Kicks. It will also face competition from the VW Taigun and Skoda VISION IN once they are launched in early 2021.