New Maruti Grand Vitara SUV Completes 1 Year, Here’s A Quick Recap

The SUV is now pricier by up to Rs 34,000 and has already been a part of three recalls over the last one year

Back in September 2022, the ‘Grand Vitara’ nameplate was resurrected for the Maruti’s second attempt at the compact SUV segment. The Maruti Grand Vitara replaced the aging S-Cross crossover as a stronger rival to the Hyundai Creta, and now sits above the Maruti Fronx in the carmaker’s Nexa lineup. With the SUV having completed a year since launch, let’s see how things stand now:

An Increase In Prices

All prices ex-showroom Delhi

Compared to the Grand Vitara’s launch price, the SUV’s starting price has gone up by Rs 25,000. Its lower-spec mild-hybrid variants have become pricier by Rs 20,000, whereas the strong-hybrid variants now cost Rs 34,000 more. 

Introduction Of CNG And Black Edition

Its CNG variants (which were launched in early 2023), make it the first model in its segment to get the alternative fuel option. It was introduced in the mid-spec Delta and Zeta trims of the SUV.

The CNG variants command a premium of up to a lakh compared to their regular petrol counterparts.

Maruti had also briefly offered a Black Edition of the SUV, which was also showcased at the Auto Expo 2023. It introduced a fresh black shade for the Grand Vitara, while giving a matte silver finish for the chrome elements and a black treatment to the roof rails and alloy wheels. The SUV’s Black Edition was available in the higher-spec Zeta, Zeta+, Alpha and Alpha+ variants.

Small Safety Feature Update

In July 2023, the carmaker added a minor safety feature to the SUV by introducing an ‘acoustic vehicle alerting system’ or AVAS for its strong-hybrid variants. It basically alerts people around the Grand Vitara Hybrid when it operates silently in the EV mode.

No other changes have been made to the SUV’s equipment list. It still packs a 9-inch touchscreen system, wireless phone charging, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a heads-up display. Its safety net consists of up to six airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts, electronic stability programme (ESP), and a 360-degree camera.

Also Read: Maruti Grand Vitara AWD 3000km Review

Recalled Thrice Already

The Maruti Grand Vitara had an unfortunate run of recalls between late 2022 and early 2023. In the first recall, it was part of the total 9,125 units of Maruti cars that were called back due to a possible problem in one of the child parts of shoulder height adjuster assembly of front row seat belts.

The second and third rounds took place in early 2023. For the former, the SUV was again a part of more than 17,000 models which were recalled due to a suspected issue in their airbag controller. Its third recall pertained to a possible defect in rear seatbelt mounting brackets, affecting more than 11,000 units. All three recalls extended to its Toyota counterpart, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, as well.

Sales Performance So Far

Maruti’s newest compact SUV grabbed enough attention even before its launch as the carmaker revealed that it had received more than 57,000 pre-orders. Following its price announcement, it was noted that the SUV’s strong-hybrid variants accounted for a quarter of the total bookings. The SUV’s last 6-month sales figures hover around 9,000 units, with total sales nearing 1 lakh. It accounts for over 20 percent of the market share in its segment, tailing the Hyundai Creta. Maruti even commenced its exports in early 2023 and will ship the SUV to 60 countries.

Could Get A Crash-test Rating Soon

Shortly after the introduction of the Bharat NCAP (new car assessment programme), Maruti Suzuki had welcomed the government’s initiative and had stated that it will send at least three cars for the tests in the first lot itself. We believe the Grand Vitara could be a part of the trio and hence may soon have a crash-test rating of its own to establish itself as one of the strongest compact SUVs.

Read More on : Maruti Grand Vitara on road price