While Maruti Suzuki Brezza has since long established itself as the best-selling sub-4-meter compact SUV in the country, domestic and foreign rivals now seem to be catching up with the car. Launched in 2015, Brezza is due for a mid-life revamp. A source in the industry recent claimed that the company will add two new features to the facelifted version of the Brezza – sunroof and side-airbags.
The side-airbags might come in the form of two additional airbags for driver and front co-passenger on the roof or two more airbags for rear passengers. It is not yet clear whether the new Brezza will come with four or six airbags. The sunroof, on the other hand, is likely to be electrically operated as is the case with major rivals such as Ford EcoSport and Mahindra XUV300.
So, what else would be new in this facelifted Maruti Brezza? Well, creature comforts are one thing. Coming to mechanicals, a major change will be in the engine and gearbox departments. In wake of new government regulations, Maruti has decided to stop producing diesel cars and consequently the 1.3-liter Fiat Multijet diesel engine will be dumped in the next-generation Brezza. It will be replaced by a 1.5 liter-4 cylinder K-Series naturally aspirated petrol engine. As enthusiasts would already know, this engine is already in use in cars like Maruti Ciaz and Ertiga. The 1.5-liter petrol motor generates 104 Bhp power and 138 Nm torque and also gets a mild hybrid powertrain. It is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox while a 4-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. A similar line-up is expected in the new facelifted Brezza.
Coming to pricing, Maruti Suzuki is expected to price it very competitively with the petrol-powered model, making it significantly cheaper compared to Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms compliant diesel engines. The new Brezza petrol mild hybrid – the first such car in its class – will be significantly cheaper than the outgoing diesel engine model. This cost saving has allowed Maruti to adopt a feature-rich approach in the new facelifted version, offering additional airbags and electric sunroof. At present, Brezza is selling more than 12,000 units every month. However, it has suffered a major blow with the launch of new Hyundai Venue and slightly improved performance of existing rivals and the company is banking on the facelift edition to regain lost market space.