Maruti Suzuki S-cross petrol India launch in March 2020

The expansive Maruti Suzuki stall at Auto Expo 2020 also featured the BS6-compliant Maruti Suzuki S-cross. Scheduled to arrive in Maruti’s Nexa showrooms by March 2020, the S-cross also gets the now-familiar K15B petrol engine.

Like the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza petrol (which will be revealed in full later today), the S-cross gets the 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine in the same 105hp/138Nm state of tune. The S-cross, Brezza, Ciaz, Ertiga and XL6, all also share the same 5-speed manual and 4-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox options. However, unlike the Ciaz, Ertiga and XL6, the S-cross will only get Suzuki’s SHVS mild-hybrid system in petrol-automatic form; the petrol-manual S-cross will not get the tech. The Maruti crossover previously came with a 90hp, 1.3-litre mild-hybrid diesel engine, which was only paired with a 5-speed manual. This motor has now been phased out of Maruti’s entire range of cars.

Unlike the Vitara Brezza compact SUV, the S-cross doesn’t come with a cosmetic update. The crossover had been updated just three years ago with more equipment and a fresh design, which made it look slightly more muscular.

By the time the Maruti Suzuki S-cross reaches the end of its product cycle sometime next year, a replacement will be ready in the form of the production-spec Futuro-e. With its sharp, yet more tradition SUV design and coupe-like styling, the Maruti Futuro-e is expected to be a better contender in the midsize SUV segment than the S-cross currently is. The crossover-like styling of the S-cross hasn’t quite had the same impact in a segment where buyers like their SUVs to look a bit typical.

You can expect a slight drop in the current model’s prices (Rs 8.81-11.44 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi).