Maruti Suzuki's Hyundai Creta rivaling SUV: Reviewed on video

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd plans to bring the Vitara SUV to India to take on vehicles, such as the Hyundai Creta. The Maruti Vitara is expected to be launched next year and will come with both petrol and diesel engines. The upcoming Maruti Suzuki SUV is available abroad. Here is a detailed review from the Philippines.

The Hyundai Creta rival was launched in the Philippines last year. Currently, Suzuki produces the Vitara in Hungary, Europe, from where it is exported to markets like the Philippines. The latest generation of the Vitara SUV looks modern and youthful. The test car that is seen in the video gets a two-tone Bright Red 5 metallic colour that makes the SUV look pretty bold. The Vitara, as per the reviewer, isn’t bold and flashy but is ‘well-groomed’.

Highlights of the front-end include LED headlamps, LED DRLs, a massive air intake and a bold front grille. Highlights of the side profile include stylish diamond-cut alloy wheels, indicators on ORVMs and bold creases. Even the rear-end looks handsome, which is largely due to the stylish wrap-around tail lamps and a neatly sculpted bumper. However, the reviewer points out the ‘hole’ in the rear bumper, which should have ideally carried a rear fog lamp or at least a reflector.

As shown in the video, the boot, at 375 litres, is pretty spacious. However, it’s 25 litres lesser than what the Hyundai Creta offers. The boot offers a 12-volt electric socket, which should come in handy while carrying a portable refrigerator. The luggage space can be boosted by folding the rear seats. In the words of the reviewer, the interior plastics ‘are not very nice’. However, the highlight of the interior is the long list of features it comes with.

Features of the top-end GLX trim include cruise control, pedal shifters, a touchscreen infotainment system, reverse camera, panoramic sunroof, ABS and airbags. The long list of features should help the Vitara fend off the heat from the feature-laden Hyundai Creta. Sadly, however, there are no rear aircon vents. There’s not even a centre armrest for the rear passenger. The reviewer is quick to add that the aircon is strong enough to cool the cabin very quickly, which means the lack of rear aircon vents doesn’t create much of a problem.

Powering the Philippines-spec Vitara SUV is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated petrol engine that outputs 115 bhp of maximum power and 155 Nm of peak torque. The motor comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The reviewer managed to extract a maximum mileage of 16 kmpl. The engine is peppy and it’s only above 100 kmph that the NVH levels get a bit high. The India-spec Vitara will also offer a diesel engine, which is most likely to be the upcoming 1.5-litre turbo motor that Suzuki has been busy preparing.

The Vitara has a ground clearance of 185 mm. The reviewer does mention that there’s some body-roll at high speeds. The Vitara offers disc brakes at the front and rear and there’s enough stopping force to help this SUV shed speeds rather quickly. The reviewer concludes the video by saying that the Vitara isn’t really posh but is high on functionality. Moreover, it’s pretty capable, offers a lot of features and is attractively priced. So, are you waiting for the launch of this Hyundai Creta rival in India?

Courtesy – AutoDeal.com.ph on Youtube