SUVs are what the Indian car buyer wants and the share of SUVs when compared to other segments has exploded over the years. That also means that SUVs have evolved to meet the current needs of today's buyers. For our SUV of the year award winner, we looked at a wide spectrum of factors that go beyond the usual brief and also look at what each contender brings as a complete package.





Amongst the contenders which were launched this year, the Grand Vitara from Maruti Suzuki clinched the award for bringing something new to SUVs and being a swiss army knife with its wide array of talents. Chief of which is its full hybrid powertrain which brings in more efficiency and also is more environmentally friendly.


With the Grand Vitara hybrid, you can now drive it in electric mode while also switching between hybrid modes with smooth throttle input. As a result, the fuel economy of 27.97 kmpl is unheard of in this class while it also offers lower emissions. The system includes a 1.5l petrol engine along with an electric motor with an eCVT gearbox. Real-world efficiency numbers also nearly match the official estimate and that paves the way for a more environmentally friendly SUV too.

Alongside the hybrid version, the Grand Vitara also offers all-wheel drive being the first Maruti Suzuki to do so and also the first compact SUV in its class to have. This is a system that adds more grip and increases the capability of the SUV. This all-wheel-drive system is available on the mild-hybrid version of the Grand Vitara which comes with a manual gearbox.





With its hybrid technology and AWD, the Grand Vitara made SUVs more versatile while also being practical. Further points which impressed our judges were the plain ride quality and the feature-packed cabin thanks to equipment like a full panoramic sunroof, a heads-up display, and cooled seats amongst other features.

While the all-wheel drive functions unlock the off-road capability of the Grand Vitara, the hybrid powertrain is what makes it stand out for its startling fuel efficiency and the driving experience that it brings. The SUV has evolved and the Grand Vitara is Maruti's most accomplished product yet.



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