Q.Maruti Suzuki's Biggest Flops

​[USER="11"]kaiserketkar[/USER] and [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] here's another picture of the facelifted S-Cross. This picture was taken outside Suzuki's plant in Hungary. What do you think of it now [USER="11"]kaiserketkar[/USER]? I think it looks plain ugly. Suzuki does this all the time. The first version of any car is always the best. Then they go and spoil it with countless number of facelifts, much like Toyota. [IMG]http://indianautosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Maruti-Suzuki-S-Cross-facelift-photographed-up-close-1024x785.jpg[/IMG] The interior too will get a minor facelift. Here's how it will look like. [IMG]http://indianautosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2016-Suzuki-SX4-S-Cross-Maruti-S-Cross-facelift-interior-leaked.jpg[/IMG]

[USER="11"]kaiserketkar[/USER] you lke the new design? What are you saying? That face looks ugly. It looks more like a Mahindra than a Suzuki don't you think?

[QUOTE=NikilSJ;n13451][URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/18"]MotuSid[/URL] exactly my thoughts too. The S-Cross is surely going to be a collector's car soon enough. I know how much you love the S-Cross and I'm sure you'll get one someday. Now Suzuki has gone ahead and given it a facelift and from the spy shots, I fon't like the way it looks, especially the face. [IMG]https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/filedata/fetch?filedataid=6121&type=medium[/IMG] [/QUOTE] Wow! Yes, it does look a lot better this way! I wonder why Suzuki preferred the original design to such a design at the time of launch!

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/18"]MotuSid[/URL] exactly my thoughts too. The S-Cross is surely going to be a collector's car soon enough. I know how much you love the S-Cross and I'm sure you'll get one someday. Now Suzuki has gone ahead and given it a facelift and from the spy shots, I don't like the way it looks, especially the face. [IMG]https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/filedata/fetch?filedataid=6121&type=medium[/IMG]

You now what [USER="20"]NikilSJ[/USER], I am quite happy that the S-Cross is a sales flop. It will become a future classic, just like the Baleno sedan and the Zen - people will crave for it when it is gone, while thousands of Cretas lie rotting in the junkyards (or wherever their owners abandon them after they see the chrome fade). What I am promising myself is that I'm going to own one - someday.

[QUOTE=baskaran_sathish_kumar;n12727]To my eyes, the S-Cross would be a hit if it was launched in the premium hatchback segment.. with its low stance design we can't accept it as a strong rival for a manly SUV like the Hyundai Creta. Sadly and undoubtedly it is a flop for Maruti.[/QUOTE] Yes, that's the biggest problem with the S-Cross. People are not yet willing to splurge on a large hatchback or an estate car which the S-Cross is. From day one, it didn't stand a chance against the Hyundai Creta. I think it would have been a different story if Maruti introduced the all-wheel drive version of the S-Cross rather than the 2WD. IT would have been slightly more expensive for sure but then it would have appealed to the rising number of adrenaline and adventure junkies in the country I think. As [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] mentioned elsewhere on the forum, Maruti Suzuki will soon stop the base and middle variant of the brilliant 1.6-litre version. The top-end variant will soon be sold only through a 'made-to-order' model. So I guess that means that's the end of the huge discounts Maruti were giving out a couple of months to clear dealer stock :( Still, if someone needs a rugged-looking car with only five seats, I'd recommend the S-Cross over the Hyundai Creta.

The biggest letdown for the Maruti fan was the Zen Estillo, after the successful run of the original Zen, people had really high hopes when dealerships began informing prospective customers that Maruti are relaunching the Zen in an updated avataar. What came was a H.U.G.E. disappointment for everyone. The other big odd one was the A-star. I still wonder why they launched it, when they had such capable offerings in that segment that had already made a name for themselves. There was nothing extra that the A-star brought to the table. The only thing was the autobox, but more than doing good, it did bad for MS- because it kept customers for automatic variants from MS showrooms.

To my eyes, the S-Cross would be a hit if it was launched in the premium hatchback segment.. with its low stance design we can't accept it as a strong rival for a manly SUV like the Hyundai Creta. Sadly and undoubtedly it is a flop for Maruti.

[USER="42"]CorsaVeloce[/USER] I loved the Baleno Altura when it came out. My parents were considering getting one when I was back in school and I couldn't stop dreaming of going on long road trips in it. What my parents off buying one was the price. There were better cars around then like the Opel Astra and Opel Corsa. But thank god we didn't buy them then as it would have been a pain to maintain them. Finally, my parents decided on the Ford Ikon. Yes, it was pretty expensive to maintain, but what a fun car it was to drive. The steering was so direct and you could feel the road under you. The rear seats were the most comfortable I had placed my bum on. The only other car that had a better back seat then was the Hindustan Ambassador :p

[QUOTE=JijoMalayil;n12444][URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/20"]NikilSJ[/URL] Totally agree with you on Zen Estillo being the worst Maruti design. The Zen Classic will be a close second though. I really hope the S-Cross sales picks up, what a wonderful car it is! Maybe you can remove the S-Cross from the list then :p [/QUOTE] Hahaha. I'm not removing the S-Cross from the list. I like the S-Cross a lot and would recommend it to anyone looking for an SUV/Corssover in the Rs 10-15 lakh price bracket. I personally feel the S-Cross is way better than the Hyundai Creta and Honda BR-V in terms of dynamics and engine performance too. The interiors are a bit of a letdown though, but I wouldn't car much about it since it is a hoot to drive. As for the Zen Estilo and the Classic, I have no clue what Maruti designers were thinking when they introduced both in the market. The Zen Classic looks like an ugly duckling while the Estillo looks like a pink egg!

[URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/20"]NikilSJ[/URL], Hey! the Baleno Altura was a nice looking car. I really liked the way the rear looked, much better than it's sedan sibling. The Estilo was ugly, yes. The Zen Classic was also not that bad, it was very different from its competition at that time, and if I can say so, it created a niche market for itself. I know someone who has one till date and takes immense pride in keeping it well.

[URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/20"]NikilSJ[/URL] Totally agree with you on Zen Estillo being the worst Maruti design. The Zen Classic will be a close second though. I really hope the S-Cross sales picks up, what a wonderful car it is! Maybe you can remove the S-Cross from the list then :p

[SIZE=14px]Maruti Suzuki is undoubtedly the largest carmaker in the country and getting there was no easy task. Maruti has always been ahead of the curve when compared to other carmakers present in the country and have always felt the pulse of the nation. They have always had a knack for giving customers what they want. If you think Maruti Suzuki never made a bad move or didn’t take any risks in getting to where they are currently, you’d be wrong. While Maruti Suzuki doesn’t seem to be afraid of wading into uncharted territory, these 8 cars from the past and present have shown that Maruti Suzuki hasn’t always got it right. Read on:[/SIZE] [U][B][SIZE=14px]Maruti Zen Classic[/SIZE][/B][/U] [U][B][SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12431[/ATTACH][/SIZE][/B][/U] [SIZE=14px]When the original Zen was launched in 1993, lakhs of people across the country took a liking to the little hatchback thanks to its jellybean shape and diminutive size. The Zen’s design was a departure from the boring, boxy looks of the Maruti 800. It had more flash and flamboyance when compared to the Maruti 800. Little wonder it sold well across the country. But then came the ugly duckling - the Zen Classic. The Classic was the result of the Manesar-based manufacturer deciding to go retro with the legend. The Zen Classic had horrible looking circular headlamps with a chrome garnish and a tacky chrome grille. At the rear too, the cute jellybean-shaped taillights were replaced with twin circular pods. The bumpers were adorned with chrome too making the whole car look like a bling-mobile. Back in the day, nobody dared to buy one and soon faded out. Thank god for that![/SIZE] [U][B][SIZE=14px]Maruti Suzuki Versa[/SIZE][/B][/U] [U][B][SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12432[/ATTACH][/SIZE][/B][/U] [SIZE=14px]The Versa was a very um..’Versa’-tile MPV launched back in 2001. A clone of the Suzuki Carry sold globally, the Versa’s price tag meant that the MPV was DOA (dead-on-arrival)right from the day of launch. Even an advertisement campaign featuring actor Amitabh Bachchan couldn’t help bring the Versa back from the brink of extinction. The only saving grace for the Versa was the space it offered, people saw it as an upgrade to the Maruti Omni. The Versa was equipped with the very peppy 1.3-litre petrol engine from the Esteem and Gypsy. However, due to lack of interest from customers, the Versa was discontinued in 2009. Later, Maruti salvaged the platform by offering a 1.2-litre petrol engine, dropping the price and stripping down some equipment and rebranding it as the Eeco.[/SIZE] [U][B][SIZE=14px]Maruti Suzuki Baleno Altura[/SIZE][/B][/U] [U][B][SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12433[/ATTACH][/SIZE][/B][/U] [SIZE=14px]No manufacturer has ever managed to sell a station wagon in the country successfully. Fiat tried it’s hand with the Fiat Sienna Weekend and Tata with the Indigo Marina, but both failed miserably in the country. The Baleno Altura, the estate version of Baleno sedan, too met with the same fate when it was launched back in 1996. The Altura had a lot more space than the sedan and used the same powerful 1.6-litre petrol engine. I can’t imagine what the Indian automotive scene would have looked like if the Altura had succeeded in the market. We would have seen a lot more station wagon/estate cars roaming our streets instead of hopped up hatchbacks that call themselves crossovers![/SIZE] [U][B][SIZE=14px]Maruti Zen Estilo[/SIZE][/B][/U] [U][B][SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12434[/ATTACH][/SIZE][/B][/U] [SIZE=14px]The odd-ball Zen Estilo took away all that was good with the Zen nameplate and was probably the ugliest car to ever been launched by Maruti Suzuki. The Estilo looked like a poor copy of the Tata Nano. The tall boy hatchback failed as it was more expensive than the better looking and more practical WagonR. That horrid shade of Pink that the Estillo was launched with didn’t help its case either. I’ve got nothing more to say about this abomination of a hatchback.[/SIZE] [U][B][SIZE=14px]Maruti Suzuki A-Star[/SIZE][/B][/U] [U][B][SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12436[/ATTACH][/SIZE][/B][/U] [U][B][SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12435[/ATTACH][/SIZE][/B][/U] [SIZE=14px]Way back in 2008, when Maruti Suzuki unveiled the A-Star Concept, [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] and I had joined college. I remember him getting all animated while talking about the concept and that was how we became the good friends that we are today. I realised that we shared the same passion and taste in cars. We couldn’t stop discussing the Concept’s futuristic looks in class and I still clearly remember how disappointed both of us were when the final production version came out. It looked nowhere as cool as the concept. The A-Star was sold as the Alto in international markets and raked in a lot of money for Suzuki. Unfortunately, the company wasn’t able to replicate its success in our country. A high price tag and small cabin meant it didn’t find any takers except for my mom. It was still one of the better built hatchbacks from Maruti Suzuki. R.I.P.[/SIZE] [U][B][SIZE=14px]Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara[/SIZE][/B][/U] [U][B][SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12437[/ATTACH][/SIZE][/B][/U] [SIZE=14px]The Grand Vitara XL-7 was Maruti Suzuki’s first premium offering in the country. Even though it was a very capable SUV off the road, it tanked because of the exorbitant price and the lack of a diesel engine.[/SIZE] [SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12439[/ATTACH][/SIZE] [SIZE=14px]Later, Maruti launched the next-generation Grand Vitara in India with a 2.2-litre petrol in 4x2 guise and a 2.4-litre petrol engine with 4WD. Both models flopped big time and proved to be Maruti’s most expensive flop in the country. The Grand Vitara was a very reliable and rugged vehicle and a good example can now be had for Rs 5-6 lakh.[/SIZE] [U][B][SIZE=14px]Maruti Suzuki Kizashi[/SIZE][/B][/U] [U][B][SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12440[/ATTACH][/SIZE][/B][/U] [SIZE=14px]The Kizashi, when it was launched, was Maruti Suzuki’s best CBU offering in the country. A direct rival to the Skoda’s Laura, Volkswagen’s Jetta and Toyota’s best-selling Corolla, the Kizashi’s major downside was that it was offered only with a petrol motor. Poor mileage and it's expensive price tag didn’t help its cause either. The Kizashi, however, was a good driver’s car and can now be had for Rs 6-10 lakh! [/SIZE] [U][B][SIZE=14px]Maruti Suzuki S-Cross[/SIZE][/B][/U] [U][B][SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12441[/ATTACH][/SIZE][/B][/U] [SIZE=14px]The first model to be launched under the ‘Nexa' sub-brand, the S-Cross is a very capable machine with one of the best suspension and chassis setup you could find under Rs 15 lakh. Maruti Suzuki did the mistake of pricing the S-Cross, especially the very potent 1.6-litre version, exorbitantly. Globally, the S-Cross is available with an incredible all-wheel drive system. However, Maruti Suzuki omitted the all-wheel drive system for the Indian version to keep costs in check. The all-wheel drive version would have been a cracker of a machine in our conditions and could have been a worthy competitor to the softly-sprung Hyundai Creta.[/SIZE] [SIZE=14px][ATTACH=CONFIG]n12442[/ATTACH][/SIZE] [SIZE=14px] [/SIZE] [SIZE=14px]Maruti Suzuki rectified some of the S-Cross’ faults by offering existing customers a huge cashback and doled out huge discounts to prospective customers too. The S-Cross is available with two engine options - a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel and a 1.6-litre DDiS diesel engine, both of which are sourced from Fiat. [USER="18"]MotuSid[/USER] and I took the 1.6-litre version to Kasol and further to Malana and what a joy it was to drive! Read our experience with the S-Cross 1.6 [URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/4866-in-search-of-nirvana-with-the-maruti-suzuki-s-cross"]here[/URL].[/SIZE]