Maruti Suzuki S-Cross review, test drive

The ride quality is also pretty good. Though the set-up is noticeably firm, it manages to smoothen out most of what our roads can throw at it, and only gets better as you go faster. Sharp bumps will register a solid thud in the cabin, for sure, but smaller irregularities get ironed out pretty easily. The upshot of the slightly firm set-up is that the S-Cross is very stable out on the highway, and really quite good at going round corners with minimal roll. This is where you’ll be happy for its classification as a crossover rather than an SUV; it really feels like a large hatchback in the handling department. The steering is not perfect – there’s a vagueness at the centre that makes itself felt at highway speeds, and you might find yourself making corrections to keep it in line. That said, it’s nowhere near as bad as the Ciaz, whose steering feels a lot looser and also doesn’t return freely to centre. As with the cabin quality, it’s in the handling too that you feel a sort of European maturity that’s missing from many of Maruti’s other cars.

Should I buy one?

The S-Cross doesn’t make the strongest first impression with its styling, but then Maruti is clear that this is meant to be a crossover and not an all-out SUV, so perhaps it’s best not to look at it that way. Seen purely as a premium car, it ticks most of the right boxes – it’s well equipped, has a strong engine, a high quality cabin, loads of space and pretty good comfort as well. Maruti, as always, is sure to price it aggressively too, which should give it a big advantage. So while it may not wow customers with its road presence or styling, like most cars from Maruti, it’s the sensible things that should draw buyers to the S-Cross – space, practicality, value and, of course, a hassle-free ownership experience.

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