New Delhi: Maruti might be best known for its small cars but the Brezza has shown that it can do SUVs very well too. The Brezza immediately went to the top of the charts with its design and frugal diesel engine. A change to a petrol engine did not change anything and it still continued to do strong sales. However, with new competition plus the fact that the Brezza was getting old, a new one was being planned for a long time and now it is here. Unlike the last gen, there is no Vitara in the name and it is just Brezza.


Despite no major change in the dimensions, the new Brezza looks different with a more 'SUV' like look when compared to rivals. It also looks bigger with its square shaped body and tall stance. The new dual-LED projector headlamps with DRLs along with the new grille makes the Brezza look more modern now. There is a new look bumper design plus as you will notice, much thicker cladding everywhere. We like the new 16-inch dual-tone alloys too. Compared to the previous Brezza the new one has slim LED tail-lamps and a new tailgate. There is now just 'Brezza' written at the back.




Inside, it's an even better story with a much better looking cabin thanks to a better quality and heavier doors. The dual-tone black/brown upholstery is so much better than the old dull all black look. Then the switches to the overall finish including the steering wheel are all new and much more premium. Good.




In terms of features, the new Brezza has now gone from the bottom of the class to a class topper. The new 9inch touchscreen is easy to use and the icons/basic display is decent but the talking point is how good the 360 degree camera helps you navigate through tight spots. The quality is seriously good and better than the one on the Baleno plus it is one of the few to have such a useful feature. Another cool trick is the heads up display and again it is a safety feature where you do not have to look below at the dials. The HUD can also be changed to suit your height and you can change the info on offer too.




There is also connected car tech, a nice sounding Arkamys audio system, wireless charging and yes, finally, a sunroof. The new Brezza is the first Maruti to get one and that is a huge new feature addition which we love in India. It does not stop there as there are auto headlamps, USB fast charging ports with A and C type, 6 airbags, ESC, cooled glovebox, ambient lighting and more.




The rear seats also reveal a clear strong point of being the best in class in terms of legroom and comfort. It feels the widest at the rear and can somewhat fit three passengers and also the most spacious. The armrest is placed a bit lower though. Boot space has not changed.


The Brezza comes with a single engine option of a 1.5l K-series Dual Jet petrol engine with 103 bhp and 137Nm. Standard is a 5-speed manual as always but you're here to know the new 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Gone is the old 4-speed automatic and this new one is a far more modern gearbox. As a result, the new Brezza 1.5l with this automatic is smoother and easier to drive now. In the city, there is very good low speed refinement plus the excellent ground clearance and suspension makes things very easy. The steering is improved but is light as always while at start/stop traffic the new automatic is as smooth as they get.





The mild hybrid system brings idle start/stop and other features but importantly the low speed drive is nice and the mileage figure is better than other SUVs. You will easily get 13kmpl in the city and that figure improves on the highway.


Speaking of which, on the highway, the new Brezza is now a much better drive and feels more responsive with the automatic. That said, there is the turbo-petrol punch which is missing and when driven hard the engine does get loud, however when driven sedately at cruising you like the comfort plus the relaxed driving experience. It is good that paddle shifters are now there if you want that extra bit of performance urgently. The high speed dynamics and in particular, the steering has improved now.




Which brings to the question of price and here things get trickier because Maruti is asking Rs 1.5 lakh extra over the manual for this automatic. The torque converter 6-speed with paddle shifters adds to the price but that is a massive price difference for sure. The top-end Brezza automatic is now Rs 14 lakh ex-showroom and that makes it the most expensive in its class. While the new Brezza looks bigger than rivals and has some segment first features, we expected a lower price here for sure.




Overall, the new Brezza is a huge improvement and in many ways looks like a bigger SUV than what it actually is and the new interior is the biggest highlight too. It is also more efficient than rivals along with being more spacious. Hence, while expensive, the new Brezza just about justifies the price due to its size, interior features and the efficiency (of the automatic version).


What we like- new styling, features, space, efficiency


What we do not- Too expensive


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