The Toyota HyRyder made its global debut last week. While all the details about the Creta rival are out, not much is known about its Maruti Suzuki counterpart. In fact, the name of the model has not even been confirmed. However, new details suggest that Maruti may baptize the model as Vitara.
What has been confirmed is the official launch date. Speaking to Times of India, Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that they will unveil their new SUV on July 20. This is the version of their Creta rival SUV, which is based on the Toyota Highrider. It will share parts, engine specs as well as interiors with the HyRyder. Production will start in August. Maruti Vitara SUV is the name of Suzuki’s Indian operations and even its global teams don’t shy away from reviving the old nicknames.
We have seen this happen with Baleno and XL7. Maruti may call its upcoming Creta-Seltos rival the all-new Vitara. The proposal makes sense as the recently launched sub 4m Brezza no longer uses the Vitara tag and is simply referred to as the Brezza. With the Vitara Tag out of service, this opens up an opportunity for Maruti to use the name for its new model.
Also, we must remember that Maruti used to sell the Grand Vitara in the country for a short period of time though the SUV never saw significant sales numbers. Hence, it is easy to conclude that the ‘Vitara’ brand has a strong connection with the SUV audience, something that the OEM will also look forward to.
2022 Maruti Vitara Hybrid SUV Specs Both the Toyota HyRyder and the Maruti Vitara will have similar engine options. These are a mild hybrid 1.5L petrol and a strong hybrid 1.5L petrol option. The former is already available for sale in cars like Brezza, Ertiga, etc., while the latter is a new engine option for India. It produces 103 PS and 135 Nm.
This engine option will get FWD as well as AWD option. Manual and automatic transmission will be on offer. This is a 1.5 liter petrol engine from Toyota, which is mated to a hybrid motor. It makes 114 PS of power and 141 Nm of torque. Since it is a self-charging hybrid system, the mileage will be best in class. Expect the new Maruti Vitara to offer a fuel efficiency ARAI rating of around 25 kmpl. This engine option will only be offered with FWD and automatic gearbox.
Both HyRyder and Vitara will not only demand the service from Indian customers but will also be used for exports. The Maruti Vitara could potentially replace the Vitara that is sold in the European markets as it has started showing signs of ageing. Toyota may also plan to export its HyRyder and launch it in new markets. We have already seen many Suzuki products like Baleno, XL6, Ciaz and Vitara Brezza being used by Toyota in the international markets.
Competition will be fierce for both the Toyota HyRyder and Suzuki counterparts. Some of the prominent names include Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun and MG Astor. The lower-end trims of models like XUV700, Tata Harrier and Jeep Compass will also pose a challenge to the Japanese duo. Pricing for the models should start from around Rs 10 lakh and can go up to Rs 18 lakh or so. The launch is expected in August 2022. Booking will officially start from 20th July 2022.
