7 key facts about the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross

1. S-Cross Across the border

The S-Cross in many international markets goes by the name of the SX4 S-Cross. A glance at the car will give you an idea why. It is based on the SX4 sold in these markets but in the crossover avatar, hence the Cross tag. In India, Maruti will want to stay clear of the SX4 name, a car that didn’t sell well for the carmaker and that’s the reason why the SX4 name was rumoured to be dropped a long time ago. It was only to be called the S-Cross when fresh whispers in the circle gave the S-Cross a new name, ‘Across’. 

Pic: Gaadiwaadi.com

2. Big oil burner

A recent spy picture of the S-Cross/Across hints at a larger 1.6-litre diesel engine option for the Crossover. The 1.6 is again Fiat sourced and part of the Multijet diesel engine family that powers the S-Cross in Europe. It develops 120PS of max power at 3750 rpm and 320Nm of max torque from 1750rpm. The S-Cross is gunning for the Duster and the only way to beat the torquey 110PS Duster at its game is to give the S-Cross the heart for it.

3. Engines

Besides the 1.6, the S-Cross will get the usual Maruti Suzuki set of engines that power the Ciaz at the moment - the 1.4-litre 93PS petrol motor and the 1.3-litre 90PS diesel mill. These are the number churners for the carmaker and work well with the Ciaz. The S-Cross however is an older and heavier platform than the Ciaz, the 1.6 diesel for instance weighs 1305kg, almost 200kg more than the diesel Ciaz. And that is surely going to dampen performance.   

4. AWD

Internal sources tell us that the moment the AWD Duster was launched, Maruti Suzuki’s R&D department was one of Renault’s first customers. The S-Cross has an AWD variant in international markets so it is easy to have one here, but India being the most important market for Suzuki, fine tuning the product for India according to the competition it faces is a given. The AWD S-Cross is considered for India most definitely but its introduction at the launch is not certain. Maruti will want the product to settle in first before more variants are added.

5. Not an off-roader

Even if the S-Cross/Across gets AWD, it will not be a hardcore off-roader with a low ratio transfer case. Like the Duster, the S-Cross will be a soft-roader with good ground clearance and sturdy suspension to tackle bad roads. But it will still be confined to roads, paved or otherwise and not the grisly stuff you take the Mahindras into.  

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6. Equipment

If the Ciaz is anything to go by, Maruti Suzuki will match and even better its rivals on the equipment front with its new launches. Expect a touchscreen multimedia and navigation system, rear parking camera, leather seats, automatic climate control and push-button start stop to be among the popular features on the S-Cross. 

7. Pricing

The S-Cross/Across will not be a sub 4-metre crossover like the EcoSport and so it will be costlier than Ford’s pseudo SUV. Maruti should however be able to undercut the Duster and Terrano comfortably. Renault has in the past mentioned that the Duster is a tad bit overpriced and we understand that due to its popularity. Maruti has to build that appeal and pricing it competitively will be the first step. The S-Cross will share parts with its stable mates, possibly with the premium hatchback that Maruti is planning for a Diwali launch. This will help bring production costs down.