Is The Maruti Suzuki eVitara Delta Base Variant Worth Considering? Rs 10.99 Lakh Price Tag Explained

Maruti Suzuki eVitara Delta Variant Battery, Range And Features

After much anticipation, the variants and price list for Maruti Suzuki’s first-ever battery electric vehicle (BEV), eVitara, have now been confirmed. The car maker has launched the electric SUV in three trim levels, Delta, Zeta and Alpha, with the main differentiator being battery capacity of 49 kWh in lower trims and 61 kWh in the higher trims.

While you may have heard about the eVitara’s low starting price of Rs 10.99 lakh ex-showroom, it is important to note that this entry point can be availed only if you go in for the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) subscription model, in which you rent the battery and pay only for the car up front. For complete ownership of the car and battery, the price of the base Delta variant jumps to Rs 15.99 lakh ex-showroom. Here’s a quick look at the eVitara Delta base variant’s features and which ownership models will suit you best.

Maruti Suzuki eVitara Delta Variant Features –

The good thing about the eVitara lineup is that apart from the smaller battery pack, the Delta variant loses out on very little when compared to features and covers all the basics well. Which means we should begin by looking at what it does not get, as opposed to what it does when compared to the higher variants.

Compared to Alpha trim, the eVitara Delta trim does not get the Level 2 ADAS suite of safety functions, dual-tone exterior colour scheme, LED fog lamps, rear parking camera, electrically adjustable driver seat, ventilated front seats, wireless smartphone charger and the fixed glass sunroof. It also loses out on the Infinite by Harman premium sound system.

eVitara Delta Variant Gets 7 Airbags

While those are considerable cost-cuts, none of them are essential functions that would make the Delta variant a deal breaker. In fact, it continues to get essentials such as all LED lighting, 18-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels, smart front grille with adaptive shutters, acoustic windshield, rear wiper and washer and more. The cabin is also well-appointed with a soft-touch dual-tone interior, a 10.1-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch driver information display. It also gets 4 speakers, automatic climate control, air-purifier, steering-mounted controls and other feel-good features.

Maruti Suzuki eVitara Delta Variant Specifications –

Looking at the technical specifications, the eVitara Delta gets the 49 kWh battery [pack that gives it a claimed range of 440 km on a full charge. It has a charging time of 6.5 hours on 7.4 kW AC charging and can do a 10 percent to 80 percent charge in 45 minutes, with DC fast charging. The eVitara Delta’s electric motor can produce 141 hp and 193 Nm of torque and powers the front two wheels. The eVitara gets disc brakes on all four wheels as standard and an electronic parking brake as well.

1 Year Free Charging Under BaaS Subscription Scheme

Rs 10.99 Lakh Or Rs 15.99 Lakh? eVitara Delta Pricing Explained –

In terms of ownership, Maruti Suzuki is offering both retail and subscription models on all eVitara variants. The Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) enables buyers to drive home the eVitara Delta for a highly affordable price of Rs 10.99 lakh ex-showroom and the subscription model also opens up several benefits, such as 60 percent assured buy-back value after 3 years and one year of free charging at Maruti Suzuki dealer locations.

In terms of running costs, the eVitara’s monthly EMI for the battery would include a per-kilometre rental cost of Rs 3.99/km, bringing a monthly rental cost of approximately Rs 4,000 for someone who will drive the EV for 1,000 km every month. However, it is important to note that the battery rental EMI is over and above what the user will be paying for charging the vehicle, either at home or public chargers.

On the other hand, an outright purchase of the eVitara Delta at Rs 15.99 lakh ex-showroom will give the user complete title at an up-front cost that significantly undercuts popular rivals such as the Creta Electric. Sticking to home charging methods, a user would have a higher chance of recouping their investment earlier in the eVitara Delta.