Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to launch an all-new midsize SUV on September 3. This new SUV will likely be called the Maruti Escudo upon launch and will be retailed through the Arena channel to rival SUVs like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. It will be positioned below the Grand Vitara that retails through the Nexa channel, much like Maruti positions the Ertiga and XL6 MPVs.
- Maruti’s new midsize SUV to be sold via Arena outlets
- Will come with petrol and petrol-hybrid powertrain options
- Expected to get a Toyota derivative in the future
Maruti Arena midsize SUV positioning
Slots in between the Brezza and Grand Vitara
This new Maruti SUV is internally codenamed Y17 and will be positioned above the Brezza but below the Grand Vitara in Maruti’s SUV line-up. This will be the flagship offering for Maruti Arena dealers who haven’t received a new high-end product since the launch of the Ertiga and Brezza. Being an Arena offering, sources tell us that this SUV will have more value-for-money quotient than its rivals.
Maruti Arena midsize SUV powertrain options
Petrol, CNG, and hybrid powertrains expected
While there is no clarity on the powertrain front, we expect the new Maruti midsize SUV to use the same 1.5-litre engines – a 103hp naturally aspirated petrol, an 88hp CNG, and a 116hp hybrid. Manual and automatic gearbox options are also likely to be carried over from the Grand Vitara.
Escudo derivative from Toyota is likely
This new SUV will be sold in India and exported to overseas markets. What’s more, there are talks of a Toyota derivative as well, which will go on sale a little later and will be positioned above the Toyota Taisor in India.
Escudo nameplate not new for Suzuki
Suzuki Vitara is called Escudo in Japan
Notably, Maruti trademarked the Escudo name in India last year. Suzuki uses the Escudo nameplate for the Vitara SUV in Japan. If retained for the Indian market, the Escudo will be one of Maruti’s two SUVs scheduled for launch in 2025, the other being the all-electric e Vitara.
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