• Published On: 17 May 2018
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Maruti’s blockbuster compact SUV, the Vitara Brezza now comes with an automatic transmission. So, how good is this version?

Maruti has launched a variant of the Vitara Brezza with an automated manual transmission or AMT gearbox. But, unlike the Nexon, which is available in both petrol and diesel guises with an AMT, the Vitara Brezza is offered with the sole diesel engine in the line-up.

The car also comes with a new Autumn Orange colour. The refreshed car also features gloss black finish to the alloy wheels. The rest remains unchanged, including the 90hp and 200Nm, 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine under the hood. Cruise control on the top-spec variant is missing though. The rest of the cabin is the same as the ZDI+ versions – you get the SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and navigation. The front seats are comfy and well-cushioned, and the rear seat back rest is slightly upright. Overall, it’s a roomy cabin and there’s a sizeable boot for luggage.

Get in, slot the gear lever in ‘D’ and the linear creep function of the five-speed AMT lets you smoothly set off. Upshifts are timely, as long as you’re light on the accelerator, but then leaps ahead. The engine works well in its mid-range and when you’re driving in the city there’s no clunky sound when changing gears, like in the Dzire AMT. You can also switch to the manual mode if you want to have more control. But, there’s a fair amount of delay in manual mode, you’re much better off sticking to automatic. It struggles a bit on hills, it moves back a few inches before going forward. Even downhill, the creep function responds slowly, so keep your foot on the brake.

Comfort and ride quality are still the same. At slow speeds, since the suspension is firm, bumps register into the cabin at low speeds. At high speeds, it is impressive to drive, and you feel confident behind the wheel. There’s just the right amount of light in the cabin and all-round visibility is good as well.

While the AMT unit is not perfect but for city commuters that like the Vitara Brezza’s other qualities, the Rs 50,000 premium for the AMT makes sense. The Vitara Brezza AMT range starts at Rs 8.54 lakh for the VDI trim and tops off at Rs 10.49 lakh for the ZDI+ trim.