Maruti recently toughened the looks of its premium crossover, the S-cross. With this facelift, there’s only one engine and four variants to choose from.

Sadly, the explosive 1.6-litre Fiat-sourced engine has been discontinued on account of low volumes. So the S-cross facelift is powered by the familiar 1.3-litre diesel engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. What’s new is the inclusion of the integrated starter generator for better efficiency.

The variants on offer are Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha. Out of these, Zeta is the one to go for. It costs Rs 1.49 lakh more than the bare-bones (base) Sigma variant and Rs 59,000 more than the Delta variant, but you get a lot in terms of features for your money. It’s not the top variant, but you still get all the premium kit like alloy wheels, electric folding mirrors, cruise control, touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, steering-mounted controls, keyless entry, start/stop button, climate control and a reversing camera.

The range-topping Alpha variant is Rs 1.31 lakh costlier than the Zeta with the additional key features being automatic LED headlamps with daytime running lights, LED tail-lamps, rain-sensing wipers, artificial leather upholstery and an auto-dimming mirror.

Despite the facelift, the S-cross won’t appeal to those looking for an SUV. Also, Maruti missed the opportunity to introduce a petrol engine or an automatic transmission option. Still, the S-cross is a solid car that’s loaded with features, has really sorted driving dynamics and is very comfortable too. And if you’re looking for a spacious family car that’s both practical and fun to drive, backed by the peace of mind associated with the Maruti brand, the S-cross is the answer.