The launch of the Maruti S cross, the company's Renault Duster-fighting crossover, isn't too far away, and now the company has revealed the technical details for the India-spec car. While its appearance and dimensions are as we’d expected, the big surprise came in the form of the engine range.
The S-cross, as predicted, will be powered by Suzuki’s 1.6-litre diesel engine, which produces 118bhp and a solid 32.6kgm of torque, and this motor will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Additionally, it will get the Ciaz and Ertiga’s 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine with 89bhp and 20.39kgm, and this will be mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. There will be no petrol engine or automatic gearbox at the time of launch, and somewhat disappointingly, Maruti hasn’t included Suzuki’s superb AllGrip AWD system in the launch line-up either. The two engines have been badged DDiS 320 and DDiS 200, for the 1.6 and 1.3 respectively, which corresponds to their torque output in Newton Metres. The ground clearance, at 180mm, isn’t exactly up there with the competition, but the interiors promise to be spacious and practical. The 353-litre boot too isn’t as big as some of the competition, but a split-folding rear seat means it can be expanded to 375 litres and then further to 810 litres.
Speaking of new naming schemes, the variants won’t be called LDi, VDi or ZDi as with other Marutis. The S-cross will be offered in five trim levels called Sigma, Sigma (O), Delta, Zeta and Alpha, and while the DDiS 200 will be available in all of those trims, the DDiS 320 will only come in the top three. It will be rather well equipped too, with top-spec cars getting goodies like keyless go, a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration, satellite navigation, auto headlamps, auto wipers, cruise control and leather upholstery. All but the base Sigma variant will get ABS and two airbags, but even that one will get a single airbag.
The Maruti S-cross will be launching next month, quite close to its rival from Hyundai, the Creta. They both will have to take on the establishment in the form of the Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano – their most direct rivals – and going by the S-cross’s spec sheet, apart from the absence of AWD, an auto gearbox and a petrol variant – it does seem to have the goods.