Maruti Grand Vitara AWD 1100Km Long Term Update

I get a new Long term car for 5 months, but there is a twist in the tale.  

Just a month ago, I was driving the Maruti Brezza as my daily. So when I got the offer to take the Grand Vitara as my next long-termer, I was excited. Not only will it be a direct upgrade from the Brezza, it will also give me a chance to live with a strong hybrid, something which I have been longing to do. However, the Grand Vitara we got was the AWD. That means, no hybrid, no automatic and the same 1.5-litre engine as the Brezza. So, while the cabin experience was certainly going to be better, I was looking forward to seeing if the drive experience would also feel like an upgrade.

Is this a Maruti?

The Grand Vitara blows the notions of a typical Maruti out of the water. Let's start with the looks. The paint quality, LED lighting details and the design feels classy. Especially in this grey color, the Grand Vitara looks like a polished SUV, and not an in-your-face wannabe. It feels good to be seen driving around in it. 

It feels premium on the inside too. The cabin is well-built, feature loaded and wide. All of these elements help you feel like you are in a large and pricey SUV, which, honestly, this is. But, because this Grand Vitara is an AWD and not a top-of-the-line hybrid, it does not come with all the bells and whistles like the wireless charger, heads-up display, digital instrument cluster and ventilated seats. I care about none of them except for the ventilated seats, which I miss quite a lot. 

It’s spacious as well. Family and friends can easily relax in the back seat, stretch out and even catch a nap with its comfortable ride quality. But yes, cooling the cabin is an issue, especially on hot days with the see-through sunroof curtain allowing both heat and sunlight into the cabin. And this can especially be felt in the rear seats. The fan speed is usually close to full for short city drives and this gets loud. 

Drives like a Maruti?

No. I always remember Marutis as being fun to drive. The quick revving engines, peppy acceleration and all this while being lite on the pocket. The GV is none of that. It uses the same 1.5-litre petrol engine as the Brezza. While the power delivery is smooth and driving in the city is par for the course, it doesn't feel effortless. Overtakes and quick acceleration require you to use most of the accelerator travel and that is something you won’t have to worry about in any of the Grand Vitara’s competitors. Yes, this is an AWD and will certainly perform better in low traction situations, but in Pune they are few and far.

Then comes the efficiency part. Despite being a manual, we are only managing to get between 10-11kmpl on the display. And this is with regular city driving and not our usual heavy right foot. With a clutch that feels a bit heavy, performance which takes its own time and AWD that barely gets used, the Grand Vitara leaves you wanting more in the drive department. 

My first impressions leave me impressed with the cabin, but wanting more from the drive. Soon, I am planning to put the AWD to use and stretch its legs on the highway. Maybe that is where the Grand Vitara All Grip will shine and give me a reason to go out more often. If you haven’t, do check out the complete coverage of my previous long-termer, the Brezza, as well.