Maruti Brezza to get petrol variant soon

Maruti currently has two models in its lineup that are sold exclusively with a diesel engine, the S-Cross compact SUV and Vitara Brezza sub-4m SUV. Since the car maker announced that it will stop selling diesel models by April 2020, the introduction of a petrol engine in them was inevitable. First will be the petrol-powered Brezza which is expected to be launched in the second half of August 2019.

• Maruti Brezza has been a diesel-only model since its launch in 2016.
• Maruti to ditch current crop of 1.3-litre diesel engines by April 2020.
• Brezza to get a petrol powertrain for the first time.
• Petrol-powered Brezza expected to launch by end of August.
• Currently priced between Rs 7.68 lakh and Rs 10.64 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Maruti has not yet confirmed which exact petrol engine will be joining the Brezza’s 1.3-litre diesel engine. It could be one of three potential candidates: the 1.2-litre Dual Jet engine that was introduced on the 2019 Baleno, the 1.0-litre turbocharged unit from the Baleno RS and the 1.5-litre petrol engine that is offered in the Ciaz and Ertiga.

The 1.2-litre Dual Jet petrol unit is the only one here that is already BS6 compliant, and has an output of 90PS and 113Nm. It is also mated to Maruti’s mild-hybrid system in the Baleno for improved fuel efficiency and is currently offered only with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Meanwhile, the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine from the Baleno RS makes 102PS of power and 150Nm of torque. It is also mated to a 5-speed manual, but is yet to be updated to meet BS6 emission norms.

Then there is the 1.5-litre petrol engine which is tuned to make 105PS of power and 138Nm of torque and is offered with both a 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic in the Ciaz and Ertiga. However, this engine option is less likely as it will attract higher taxation, which would make the Brezza more expensive.

Maruti is most likely to introduce the 1.2-litre BS6 Dual Jet petrol engine in the Brezza for multiple reasons. It would be frugal enough to attract buyers seeking higher fuel efficiency from their sub-4m SUV. In terms of engine size, it would be in keeping with the competition such as the Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300 and Hyundai Venue, which also offer 1.2-litre petrol engine variants. However, the Nexon and XUV300 use turbocharged engines to make up for the power and torque deficit that can be easily covered with a diesel engine.

The 1.2-litre petrol would also allow the Brezza to hold its reasonably priced position in the segment and is expected to be more affordable than the current diesel variant lineup. It is less likely for the petrol Brezza to be powered by the 1.0-litre turbocharged engine as it commands a price premium. While it would be a rival to more powerful variants of the Hyundai Venue and Ford EcoSport, a sporty Brezza at a higher price is unlikely to grace the Indian market.

Here’s how the Brezza compares to its rivals in terms of prices at the moment:

(Source: www.cardekho.com)