Maruti Suzuki Brezza SUV Turns 10 Years Old – A Look At Its Evolution!

Maruti Suzuki Brezza Evolution Story!

While 2012 is considered to be the year of emergence for mid-sized SUVs in India, it was the 2015-16 era that saw purpose-built models from several manufacturers enter the segment, which is credited to have redefined family cars. Among the most notable newcomers was Maruti Suzuki’s all-new Brezza, which was launched in March 2016. Since then, the Brezza has maintained its position in the top 10 bestselling passenger cars in the market and here’s a quick look at its evolution through the years.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza Gen 1 (2016 to 2020)

The first-generation Brezza was launched as Maruti Suzuki’s first sub-4-metre SUV, fully developed in India with over 98 percent localisation. Considering diesel’s popularity in that era, the automaker had launched the Brezza exclusively with a 1.3-Litre DDiS 200 turb-diesel engine that produced 89 hp and 200 Nm of torque and came paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox only. At the time, the Brezza offered LED DRLs, halogen projector headlamps, dual-tone colour options, an infotainment touchscreen, a reverse parking camera start-stop button and cruise control. A single driver-side airbag was also standard across all variants.

Although considered late to the party, the Brezza quickly caught up with segment rivals and managed to secure over 70,000 bookings in a few months. The carmaker even added an AMT automatic gearbox in 2018 but the SUV remained largely unchanged. Up until stricter emission regulations kicked in under Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) norms on April 1, 2020. That is when Maruti Suzuki decided to discontinue all diesel models and variants in its lineup and move to petrol- and CNG-powered alternatives.

For the Brezza, this led to an engine swap where the 1.3-Litre diesel made way for the new 1.5-litre K15B mild-hybrid petrol engine. Power got a bump to 101 hp and Maruti Suzuki also added a 4-speed torque converter automatic into the mix. However, it was not until 2022 that we got to see a major upgrade in the Brezza.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza Gen 2 (2022 To Present)

In June 2022, Maruti Suzuki introduced a new-generation Brezza, which was more premium, better equipped and offered several drivetrain options to suit different car buyers. The design had become sharper and the features list included highlights such as an electric sunroof, six airbags, hill start-stop and a lot more.

With constant improvements, the current Brezza offers a new 1.5-litre K15C petrol engine, which also comes in smart hybrid and S-CNG versions for increased efficiency. At 10 years old, we now expect to see a mid-life facelift of the Brezza in the coming months.

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While the SUV is showing no signs of slowing down, perhaps the real victory for the carmaker lies in the fact that their first indigenous SUV was able to beat first-comers such as the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster and has continued to give a strong fight against others such as the Hyundai Creta. If it weren’t for accessible and family-friendly options like the Brezza, the mid-sized SUV segment would not have increased to its current 31 percent market share, changing what it means to be a family car in India.

Amber Banerjee is a seasoned automotive journalist with over a decade of experience covering the Indian mobility landscape. Skilled in writing, video …

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