Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Rivals: Specifications Compared

Maruti Suzuki has launched the Grand Vitara SUV with a base price of Rs 10.45 lakh (ex-showroom). It’s the latest SUV in the hotly contested compact SUV segment comprising the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta and many others. 

In this report, we’re pitching the Grand Vitara against its well-established rivals including the Korean duo, VW-Skoda twins, MG Astor, as well as its platform-sharing sibling, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. 

Dimensions

• The Toyota Hyryder is the longest SUV here, while the MG is the widest and tallest in this test. 

• Despite the Grand Vitara and Hyryder having the same underpinnings, the Maruti is shorter than the Toyota. 

• Despite being the smallest here, the Skoda and Volkswagen twins have the longest wheelbase. 

• The MG Astor has the shortest distance between the wheels. 

• The Creta and Seltos play middle ground in overall dimensions. 

Features On board 

In terms of features, all SUVs will satisfy you in their top-spec trom as they have their bases all covered. So, let’s twist it and see what you don’t get with these models: 

• Niceties like ventilated front seats, a head-up display, and wireless phone charger are limited to the strong-hybrid variants of the Hyryder and Grand Vitara. 

• The Astor doesn’t get wireless phone charging and ventilated front seats – two useful features. 

• The Hyryder and the European twins miss out on powered front seats, which would be useful to find the perfect driving position. 

• Skoda, VW, and MG also don’t get reclining rear seat backrest and all three miss out on rear sunblinds as well. 

Safety Features 

• All models here feature up to six airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, ABS with EBD, hill-hold control, and a tyre pressure monitor. 

• The Astor is the only model to feature a full ADAS suite in its top variant. 

• All models feature rear parking sensors and a camera, but only the Grand Vitara, Hyryder, Seltos, and Astor get a 360-degree camera. 

• The Seltos is the only one to offer front parking sensors for easier parking convenience. 

Base Petrol Engine 

• Despite featuring a 1.5-litre petrol engine, the Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder put out the least amount of power on paper when compared to rivals with similar displacement. That said, brownie points for both as they feature mild-hybrid tech and an all-wheel drive variant. 

• A 1-litre turbo-petrol engine means the VW Group products might be having the smallest unit here. But with turbocharging, they are the torquiest. 

• The base engines can be had with manual and automatic transmissions in all cars. But, the Maruti, Toyota and MG get a five-speed manual instead of a six-speed unit found in their rivals. 

Top Petrol Engine

• Maruti Suzuki’s Grand Vitara and Toyota’s Hyryder feature a strong-hybrid option, the only ones here. The power unit will deliver much higher fuel efficiency and you can expect an average in the range of 26-28kmpl! 

• But if you want power, the Kushaq and Taigun’s 1.5-litre TSI engines boast segment-leading numbers. 

• The MG Astor’s higher-end engine might be the smallest, but it still matches up to the Hyundai’s and Kia’s second-best engine output. 

• If you prefer shifting manually, the Seltos, Kushaq, and Taigun offer you the choice of a manual transmission for that extra bit of fun. 

Price And Verdict

*Mild-hybrid variant prices to be announced 

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara does come across as a sensible car if you want an SUV with a feature-rich cabin and fuel-efficient petrol engine options. We’ll soon be comparing all the models in the real world, so stay tuned for a detailed and comprehensive comparison test.