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Expected Changes in The New Upcoming Maruti Suzuki S-Cross for India
The first-generation Maruti Suzuki S-Cross sold in India is now too long in the tooth and seems like a dated proposition in front of its up-to-date rivals in the compact SUV space. Maruti Suzuki might change the equation in 2022, as the all-new second-generation Suzuki S-Cross has been unveiled for the European markets. In all likelihood, the new second-gen model will replace the model currently on sale.
Here are some of the expected details which will be there in the new S-Cross, if it arrives in India:
Expected Exterior Changes
The new second-generation model of the Suzuki S-Cross gets a completely revamped exterior design. While it continues to have a low slung stance of a traditional crossover, which is essentially a large hatchback raised on stilts, the overall design now looks much more aggressive and SUV-ish than the current model. The new model has a length of 4,300mm, a width of 1,785mm and a wheelbase of 2,600mm, which are identical to those of the current-gen model. However, with a height of 1,585mm, the new S-Cross is 10mm shorter than the model it will replace in India.
At the front, the new Suzuki S-Cross gets a bigger and more aggressive-looking front grille, which has a sleek double-slat chrome strip on its upper portion and has a unique mesh design. The grille is flanked by large tri-beam LED headlamps. This entire nose of the new S-Cross looks very much inspired by the currently available XL6. The front bumper is all-new as well, with the fog lamp housings getting turn indicators integrated into them just above the fog lamps. As before, the new S-Cross has got silver skid plates and heavy-looking body cladding at the bottom.
The side profile of the new Suzuki S-Cross has smoother looking curves over the wheel arches, with the rear quarter glass getting a rounded design. To give it a visual appeal of an SUV, Suzuki has given sleek roof rails and body cladding over wheel arches. It also has door-mounted rearview mirrors, bigger 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and a sleek chrome finish for the shoulder line.
The rear profile of the new S-Cross has been heavily revised too, with the crossover now getting a more rounded design here with broad inverted L-shaped clear lens LED tail lamps joined by a thick black strip. The S-Cross also gets an integrated roof-mounted spoiler at the top and heavy cladding with a silver skid plate at the bottom on the rear bumper.
All these changes are expected to be retained in the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross, once it comes to India. However, like before, the India-spec version might have a different design for the alloy wheels.
Expected Interior Changes
The new second-generation Suzuki S-Cross has a heavily revised interior cabin. While some of the bits like the three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel, climate control panel and power window switches have been retained from the current model, the rest of the cabin layout is completely new.
The new S-Cross misses out on a large TFT panel for the instrument console and instead gets a small rectangular TFT unit for the MID screen between analogue dials for the speedometer and tachometer. The centre console has been restyled altogether to accommodate the larger free-standing 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sleeker AC vents positioned below it. The lower centre console continues to have a waterfall-like cascading design.
The European-spec S-Cross gets features like a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, 360-degree parking camera, push start-stop button and a range of autonomous driving assistance systems like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning.
The India-spec Maruti Suzuki S-Cross will come with the same cabin layout and most of the features mentioned above.
Expected Engine and Transmission Options
Like the previous model, the new Suzuki S-Cross continues to be underpinned with the Global C platform, and not the highly versatile Heartect platform which forms the base for a wide range of Maruti Suzuki models from Celerio to Vitara Brezza.
For the European markets, the new S-Cross has been made available only with a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. Christened as the Boosterjet engine, this mill churns out a maximum power output of 127 bhp and a maximum torque output of 235 Nm. The engine is paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system and is available with two transmission options of 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic. Also on offer is Suzuki’s AllGrip all-wheel-drive system with four different drive modes.
However, for the Indian market, the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross will follow a rather conventional path and come with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, which powers the current-gen model. Expected to retain both the transmission options of 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic, the engine will continue to make 103 bhp of power and 138 Nm of torque. The India-spec model will also miss out on AllGrip all-wheel drive and will stick to the front-wheel drive configuration.
Expected Availability
The S-Cross was the first-ever product to come out of Maruti Suzuki’s NEXA outlets of premium urban offerings. The S-Cross has never been as popular and highly-selling as other compact SUVs like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Renault Duster, due to its lowered stance which makes it look more like a hatchback than a heightened SUV. While the new model retains the same stance, the design is much more appealing and youthful than before, which should certainly attract more buyers this time.
Maruti Suzuki has not revealed any timeline for the launch of this second generation model in India. It might also replace the current-gen model with an entirely different compact SUV, and not this new generation S-Cross. However, it is believed that Maruti Suzuki will bring this new model as a lower-priced alternative to the speculated compact SUV, which is rumoured to be jointly developed with Toyota for the Indian market.
If the new Maruti Suzuki S-Cross gets launched in India, it will take on a wide range of competitors like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Renault Duster and Nissan Kicks.
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