In a remarkable achievement, Maruti Suzuki’s Grand Vitara has crossed the 1 lakh sales milestone within a year of its launch, propelling the automaker to the forefront of the competitive SUV market in India. This milestone solidifies the Grand Vitara’s position as the first mid-size SUV to reach such impressive sales figures. With a total of 1.2 lakh units sold, Maruti Suzuki now commands a commanding 24 percent market share in the Indian SUV segment, particularly in the Rs 10-20 lakh price range.
The Grand Vitara made its debut in September of the previous year, marking Maruti Suzuki’s entry into the mid-size SUV segment, which had long been dominated by competitors like the Hyundai Creta. Manufactured at Toyota’s Bidadi plant, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara boasts a starting price of Rs 10.7 lakh, ex-showroom.
Under the hood, buyers can choose between two potent powertrains: a naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter engine generating 103bhp and a 1.5-liter strong hybrid engine with 91bhp. It’s worth noting that Maruti Suzuki shares this hybrid technology with Toyota, offering models such as the Grand Vitara Hybrid and the Maruti Suzuki Invicto hybrid. While the automaker has not ruled out expanding the application of hybrid technology to more affordable segments, it currently seeks to gauge consumer demand and response to this eco-friendly innovation.
The Grand Vitara also introduces another industry first in its segment, offering an all-wheel-drive option with the Grand Vitara AllGrip variant. This variant is equipped with the naturally aspirated mild hybrid engine, paired with a manual gearbox. It’s important to mention that Maruti Suzuki has extended this powertrain to Toyota as part of the Suzuki-Toyota partnership, which has spawned successful models like the Toyota Glanza, Urban Cruiser, and Rumion for Toyota, as well as the Invictus for Maruti Suzuki.
Maruti Suzuki’s Grand Vitara has not only set new sales records but also opened doors to advanced hybrid technology and all-wheel-drive options in its segment, underscoring the automaker’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the Indian SUV market.
