Cars
Maruti Suzuki

Maruti Suzuki Brezza 2022 First Drive review

Topped up and how

from ₹ 7,99,000

(ex-showroom)

Sambit Satpathy 8 Jul 2022 10:49 AM

The compact SUV segment is more crowded than a Mumbai local train station during peak office hours. These days, there’s a car suited for just about every buyer, and adding to that list is another new SUV. Well technically, not a brand-new SUV, but an upgraded version of an existing one. 
The 2022 Maruti Suzuki Brezza may have dropped ‘Vitarra’ from its nomenclature, but what it has gained is a more mature design, and a long list of tech features. We spent a day driving the SUV along the coastal roads of Chennai, and here’s our not-so-quick thoughts...

Design

The outgoing Brezza sported a rather sober design, which wouldn’t have elicited many opinions in a discussion. But the new Brezza design compels you to take notice. While the dimensions remain the same, the design makes the SUV look wider, especially when viewed from the front and back.

Up front, Maruti has gone for a flatter and more upright nose, and a grille with much more detailing. In our opinion, the car looks better when seen from the rear, sporting sharp lines and slender tail lamps on either side of the ‘Brezza’ in-your-face lettering.

From the side, it looks similar to the outgoing model, except for the all-new 16in diamond-cut alloy wheels. The wheel arches though are a bit too spacious for our liking, and look like a tunnel cut into a mountain. In fact, the sheer size of the arches make the wheels look small.

Step inside, and you will be greeted by a new dashboard layout with a 9in infotainment system taking centre stage – more on that later. One feature that is bound to catch everyone’s attention is the sunroof – a first for Maruti. While the jury is still out on the practicality of a sunroof in a country like India, Maruti has clearly bowed down to the strong consumer demand.
Overall quality of the plastics still leave a lot to be desired, especially compared to the likes of the Kia Sonet or the updated Hyundai Venue. Cabin space was a strong suit for the outgoing Brezza, and it continues to be for the new one as well. It feels like a segment above when compared to the competition.

Tech Bits

Now this is where the Brezza gets quite the noteworthy upgrade, no doubt inspired by the Koreans’ philosophy. The 9in SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment screen is bigger than before, easily visible even under harsh sunlight, and offers a decent touch response. It also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support in wired form. The UI may lack a bit of refinement, but it does get the job done.

Another highlight feature is the HUD carried over from the new Baleno, which continues to look like something out of a Star Trek spaceship. It pops in and out with ease, shows the relevant info you need when driving, and lets you adjust the viewing angle and brightness.

Another interesting tech feature is the 360-degree camera that makes parking a breeze. The camera resolution is good, and your surroundings look sharp on the screen.

Maruti hasn’t revealed the brand of the audio speakers onboard, and instead says that the system is tuned by Arkamys. It sounds fine by default, and the majority won’t find much fault with it. Those who have a keener pair of ears, will end up playing around with the equaliser to tweak the audio to their liking.

Other features include wireless charger, colour MID sitting between the analogue dials, cruise control, push-button start, and blue ambient lighting. There’s also support for connected car tech and voice assistant, so you can say ‘Hi Suzuki’ to control a few features using your voice. 
Despite the long list, there are a couple of noticeable omissions, chief among which is ventilated seats. We can’t stress enough how important this feature is, especially when driving out on a hot day. There are also no electrically adjustable front seats, built-in air purifier or auto-dimming rear view mirror.

Driving

The Brezza only comes in petrol variants with a mild hybrid system in both the automatic and manual variants. Under the hood is the same 1.5L engine with similar figures – 103hp and 137Nm torque. But in its new K15C series avatar, the engine is tuned towards maximising efficiency. 
As you’d expect from a Maruti, the Brezza is quite easy to drive, be it in the crowded lanes or the coastal highways. The engine and gearbox are at their most comfortable when you’re not in a hurry. But when you put your foot down, they show as much enthusiasm as a couch potato being asked to hop on a treadmill. Overtaking on highways will take a bit of planning, and on occasions, a bit of downshifting as well. It’s clearly not a car for enthusiasts, who will be better served opting for the Turbo-powered Venue or the Sonet.

When it comes to ride comfort and handling, Maruti has hit upon the right balance. There’s an emphasis on offering a softer ride, which translates to a cushioned feeling on bad road conditions. It also feels pliant on highways, even while cruising over 100 kph so stability isn’t compromised at the newly prescribed highway speeds across the country.

Verdict

The 2022 Maruti Suzuki Brezza is quite the step up from the outgoing model. Be it the design or the feature list, it all feels up to date with the current trends. The engine performance won’t give you a funny feeling in your pants, but those looking to buy the Brezza, may not necessarily be looking for that feeling. 
Having said that, the Brezza does come across as a bit overpriced. Hard to believe we are talking about a Maruti here. The lower trims (starting at ₹7.99L) are priced on par with the competition, but miss out on a lot of creature comforts. The higher trims (going up to ₹13.96L) have a feature list to boast of, but are a tad more expensive, when compared to the top trims of the Sonet (₹13.19L), Venue (₹12.57L) or the Nexon (₹12.39L).

Stuff Says

The massy SUV gets a big design upgrade along with a generous topping of tech features
Good stuff
Bad stuff

  1. Practical

  1. Easy to drive

  1. Long tech list

  1. Some features missing (no ventilated seats)

  1. Engine isn’t peppy

  1. Top variants feel a tad expensive

Specifications
Engine: 1.5L 4-cyl petrol with mild-hybrid
Power: 103hp / 137Nm
Transmission: 5-speed manual / 6-speed AT
Boot Space: 328 L
Dimensions (LHW): 3995 x 1790 x 1685 mm