Maruti Suzuki recently launched the updated Brezza in the country, which is one of the best-selling SUVs in the country. Before this update, SUV buyers used to choose the Brezza as a safe option without any frills and the Brezza facelift aims to completely change the image as a fun option with the introduction of the 1.0L BoosterJet engine seen in the Franxx.
Pricing has been revised and the new 1.0L BoosterJet engine brings GST tax benefits to the Brezza, which did not enjoy the B segment tax slab earlier. At the time of launch, Maruti had revealed a base price of Rs 7.4 lakh (ex-sh) and the full price was revealed yesterday. We have compiled our thoughts after briefly running the national media campaign in the hustle and bustle of Mumbai city.
brezza boosterjet review
As part of the media drive, we exclusively drove the new Brezza BoosterJet with the new 1.0L turbo petrol engine and 6MT gearbox. We sampled the bluish black colorway with distinctive red highlights. These red highlights look like a sporty version of the Brezza, similar to what some rival brands offer. We never thought that visual zing would be added to the Brezza, but now it comes with a youthful vibe.
Talking about design, there are some changes in the front with the new bumper. This new bumper incorporates all the changes. A new grille, revised bull-bar like element in the bumper with silver finish, redesigned triangular fog light housing and larger faux skid plates. On the sides, we can see a new four-spoke design for the alloy wheels and then more silver elements in the side body cladding.
At the rear, the bumper has been redesigned with a smaller silver signature for a sportier appeal. Apart from these, Brezza remains the same in terms of design and beauty. There is a black rectangular element in the front bumper, which could indicate the presence of ADAS like the Victoris. However, this is not the case. Maruti has added blindspot alert to the ORVMs, which we really appreciated in the hustle and bustle of BKC, Mumbai.
List of advanced features
On the inside, Maruti Suzuki has retained the overall layout of the Brezza as before. Look closely and you’ll see that the infotainment screen has been upgraded from 9-inch to 10.1-inch, lifted straight from the Victoris. The screen supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and interestingly, the new Brezza supports the pinch-to-zoom function in Google Maps via Android Auto, which the Victoris does not.
The new Brezza also has an advanced music system, but it was nothing to write home about, especially considering how far rival brands have progressed in this regard. We think the most important feature added to the Brezza is the ventilated seats. We wholeheartedly welcome this facility. The upholstery is still based on the black and brown theme, but has been slightly changed with the new Brezza.
In the center console, we can see that the automatic climate control panel has been modified and the unit is now shared with the Victoris. The auto dimming IRVMs continue and the same instrument cluster with analog dials and MID also continues. We like analog dials, but we wished the MID cluster showed maps instead of turn-by-turn navigation. The HUD is also present and even though it is a basic HUD, we appreciate the fact that the Brezza is the only sub 4 meter SUV to offer a HUD.
Overall interior space and comfort is more or less similar to its predecessor, which is no bad thing. The Brezza has commendable knee, head and shoulder room. Under-thigh support for front and rear occupants is not good enough to write home about. The boot space is the same with the petrol variant, but is now better with the CNG variant as the new Brezza now gets an under-body CNG tank.
new boosterjet engine
Since the Brezza has dropped the Vitara prefix, Maruti’s popular B segment SUV has no turbo engine under the bonnet. Even when there was a Vitara suffix, the Brezza did not have a 6-speed MT gearbox. Maruti has not only given the Brezza a turbo engine but now a 6MT gearbox is offered as standard. So, the 1.5L NA and 1.5 NA CNG now get a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, replacing the old 5-speed unit.
This new BoosterJet 1.0L 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine is nothing new. It was introduced with the Baleno RS and then the Forex became the recipient of this engine in recent times. Now, the same engine from Brezza breathes new life into this SUV. Compared to the K15C 1.5L NA petrol engine, the Boosterjet feels significantly more energetic and adds some much-needed excitement to the Brezza. Despite being a 3-cylinder unit, we found it to be quite refined and smooth.
The new 6-speed manual gearbox with this engine is not a short throw unit and it wasn’t quite as enjoyable to make up for the overall excitement that this new engine brings. On the unit we sampled, the transitions felt more rubbery than we expected. In our race, it took over 10 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h. Faster and cleaner shifts could potentially improve that time, as the gearbox in our test vehicle felt rubbery and not particularly smooth. For thrill seekers, a 6-speed torque converter automatic with this engine could have been a better proposition.
The Brezza appeals more to everyday users and for them, the new Brezza with this 1.0L engine and this 6-speed manual gearbox is a much better option than the 1.5 NA petrol. The Brezza BoosterJet also doesn’t demand any major fuel-efficiency compromises on paper. Its claimed figure of up to 20.47 km/l is slightly lower than the claimed 21.09 km/l for the 1.5L NA petrol.
Drive and Dynamics
Maruti Suzuki has not made any changes in the overall drive and dynamics with the new Brezza. There will be a slight difference in weight between the 1.0L Turbo and 1.5L NA equipped variants and one has to drive both back to back to understand the slight difference in suspension and ride. We could not do any highway test or high speed test as the drive schedule was in BKC Mumbai and we had very little time for it.
The new Brezza handles the rough and tumble roads of Mumbai just like it used to, without any changes. Overall, the Brezza BoosterJet continues to offer that familiar ‘lightweight’ experience, now backed by faster performance. Braking is one area where we feel the Brezza could perform better. If the Baleno RS features a rear disc brake in the same engine, why not the Brezza? Considering the Brezza is heavy, a rear disc brake would have been welcome.
Should you buy one?
There are many reasons why the new Maruti Brezza facelift left us wanting more. For starters, Maruti offers blindspot alert, but rain-sensing wipers and ADAS are still missing. The interior materials don’t feel as rich as they do in almost every other rival. The 360-degree camera view is only animated and you can’t control the 3D view as you wish. The Brezza still doesn’t have the same sense of desirability as some of its rivals, especially when it comes to exterior design and interior quality.
The features list is not extensive and it lacks many of the tools offered by rivals. Hence, the new Brezza is still not for buyers looking for a premium and feature-rich experience. That said, despite the lack of premiumness, excitement and desirability and its association with a higher GST slab due to its 1.5L engine, the Brezza has always been one of the best-selling cars in its segment. The Brezza has traditionally appealed to buyers looking for a no-frills, no-nonsense, reliable and dependable SUV with strong ownership and resale value.
With the smaller turbo engine, ventilated seats, additional safety equipment and revised styling, Maruti has broadened the appeal of the Brezza without making any of the fundamental changes that made it popular. It’s still not the most premium, feature-loaded or desirable SUV in its segment. But the booster jet engine finally adds some excitement to a traditionally very sensible package. With the revised pricing making the Brezza more competitive, it can now attract buyers beyond its traditional no-nonsense customer base. With the revised prices, Brezza is now more attractive to buyers and is also expected to generate higher sales. Even with this 1.0L BoosterJet engine, the price of the smaller Fronx starts at Rs 8.92 lakh (ex-sh), which makes the Brezza more attractive.
