Maruti Suzuki Vitara (Creta rival) compact SUV launch timeframe revealed

Maruti Suzuki will launch a brand new SUV in India, which will sit above the Vitara Brezza. The new compact SUV is the Vitara, which is currently sold in many international markets. It will be launched in India by the end of next year, according to NDTVAuto. In India, this SUV (with a length of 4.175 meters) will challenge the Renault Duster and the Hyundai Creta. Maruti is expected to show the Vitara at the Auto Expo of 2018.

The Vitara that is sold in the UK is available with 1.4 liter BoosterJet turbocharged petrol and 1.6 liter Fiat Multijet turbocharged diesel engines. Both the engines are expected to be offered in the Indian market. The 1.4 liter petrol produces 140 PS and 230 Nm. This engine will make the Vitara more powerful than other compact SUVs available in the Indian market.

The diesel engine, which was first seen in the S-Cross 1.6, produces 120 Bhp-320 Nm. Again, this makes it the engine with the highest torque in its segment. Both engines get 6 speed manual gearboxes. Both front wheel drive and all wheel drive options are available on the international variants. But, we’re not sure if Maruti will bring the all wheel drive version to the Indian market as costs will go up significantly.

Both the petrol and diesel variants of this SUV also get 6 speed torque converter automatic gearboxes. Since the Creta offers such an option, it would be wise on Maruti’s part to bring both the petrol-automatic and diesel-automatic variants to the Indian market. Prices of the Vitara are expected to be similar to those of the Hyundai Creta. We expect it to start from the Rs. 9 lakh mark, making it more expensive than the S-Cross, which is presently the costliest vehicle that Maruti sells in India. By the end of next year, Maruti will have a new flagship car.