Maruti Suzuki India will launch a new mid-size SUV on September 3. While several media reports have claimed that it will be named the Maruti Suzuki Escudo, now it is being said that it will be called the Maruti Suzuki Victoris.
While Moneycontrol could not independently verify the veracity of these reports about the name of this mid-size, we exclusively reported several aspects of the new model.
Maruti already sells a mid-size SUV, the Grand Vitara, through its Nexa dealerships. The new Escudo/Victoris will be retailed from the Arena dealerships.
The new Escudo/Victoris will be the first Maruti car to get Level-2 ADAS. It we look at the mid-size SUV segment in India, models like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Curvv, Honda Elevate and MG Astor are already offering Level-2 ADAS.
Since Maruti has enhanced its focus on the safety aspect of its cars, the new mid-size SUV will get features like six airbags and electronic stability control (ESC) as standard.
Apart from Level-2 ADAS, the new Escudo/Victoris will get Dolby Atmos technology, another first for any Maruti car in India. It will also come with a powered tailgate.
On the outside, the new model will get features like LED headlights, LED taillights and alloy wheels, which is usually available in many cars these days. Inside the cabin, we are expecting the new Escudo/Victoris to have features like a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, front ventilated seats and a wireless charger. We are also expecting a panoramic sunroof.
If we talk about powertrains in the new Escudo/Victoris, they will be similar to what we have already seen in the Grand Vitara -- 1.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol (103PS and 139Nm), 1.5-litre CNG (88PS and 121Nm) and 1.5-litre strong hybrid (116PS and 141Nm). There will also be an AWD option. Among the transmission options will be 5-speed MT, 6-speed AT, and e-CVT.
The new Escudo/Victoris will be the first car from Maruti to get an underbody CNG tank.
With the launch, the new Escudo/Victoris will become the flagship Arena model. There has been a lot of debate around whether the new model will be pricier than the Grand Vitara or not. We believe it can possibly be priced higher than the Grand Vitara, which comes in the price bracket of Rs 11.42 lakh to Rs 20.68 lakh (ex-showroom).
At the lower end, the new Escudo/Victoris might be more affordable than the Grand Vitara. However, with all the fresh features, including Level-2 ADAS, it is very much possible that the top-spec variant of the new Escudo/Victoris is priced higher than that of the Grand Vitara.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
