MC EXCLUSIVE Escudo will be first Maruti car ever to be launched in India with Level-2 ADAS

The new Escudo will be sold from Maruti's Arena dealerships.

The Maruti Suzuki Escudo mid-size SUV, to be introduced on September 3, will be the first model ever by the country's largest carmaker to be launched in India with Level-2 ADAS, sources told Moneycontrol.

While the new model is being internally referred to as "Escudo" by Maruti at present, sources said that the name might be changed as we move closer to the launch date.

The Escudo will be the second mid-size SUV in Maruti's current product line-up after the Grand Vitara. However, the new model will be sold from the carmaker's Arena dealerships. The Grand Vitara is retailed from the Nexa dealerships.

Rival models in the mid-size SUV segment, such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Curvv, Honda Elevate and MG Astor, already offer Level-2 ADAS.

The integration of Level-2 ADAS in the Escudo is part of Maruti's larger effort to enhance the safety quotient of its cars. The company is already offering safety features like six airbags and electronic stability control right from the entry-level variant in most of its cars.

Apart from Level-2 ADAS, the Escudo will also witness the integration of Dolby Atmos technology, another first for any Maruti car in India, according to the sources. The SUV will get a powered tailgate as well.

The Escudo will share powertrains with the Grand Vitara, one of the sources said, adding that it will also come with a four-wheel-drive (4WD) option.

Maruti spokespersons did not immediately respond to an email seeking details about the features and technical specifications of the Escudo.

With the SUV segment expanding rapidly, the carmakers are introducing more SUV models across price points and sub-segments.

In FY25, the SUV segment clocked volumes of 23,66,274 units, accounting for 54.34% of the overall cars sold in the domestic market, according to industry data. Within the SUV segment, the mid-size space, where the Escudo will enter, witnessed sales of 6,09,516 units with 25.76% share.

The mid-size SUV segment is dominated by the Creta, which garnered sales of 1,94,871 units in FY25. It was followed by the Grand Vitara at 1,23,946 units and the Seltos at 72,618 units.

Other than the Grand Vitara, Maruti's SUV portfolio currently includes the Brezza, Fronx and Jimny, with all three being sub-4 metre compact models. While Arena dealerships sell the Brezza, the Fronx, and the Jimny are Nexa models.

The Escudo will be the most technologically advanced vehicle to be sold from the Arena dealerships, which also offer the Dzire sub-4 metre compact sedan and hatchbacks like the Swift and WagonR.

The market entry of the Escudo has coincided with a delay in the introduction of the e Vitara, Maruti's maiden battery electric vehicle (BEV), due to the rare earth magnet shortage.

The e Vitara's production plans, particularly in the first half of this fiscal, were hampered by the short supply of rare earth magnets, owing to export curbs imposed by China in April.

A global model, the e Vitara will be manufactured at Maruti's Gujarat plant and exported to over 100 countries, including Japan and European nations.