When launched in 2016, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza wasn’t India’s first compact SUV. The
EcoSport had been around, but the Brezza did what the Ford couldn’t. It looked and felt like
an SUV, and not a hatchback on stilts. And powered by Maruti Suzuki’s tried and tested 1.3-
litre diesel engine, the Brezza was a runaway success. 2020 had Maruti Suzuki swap the oil
burner for a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, and in 2022, the car maker launched
the second-generation Brezza. 2023 saw Maruti launch its CNG version, making the Brezza
the first compact SUV with a factory-fitted CNG kit.
Long story short, its powertrains have always helped the Brezza do well, despite the number
of rivals going up. But while the Brezza has always appealed as a compact SUV for a long list
of reasons, it hasn’t exactly been considered fun to drive despite its excellent dynamics. But
Maruti is keen on changing that, and has launched the updated Brezza, now also on offer
with its 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, dubbed the BoosterJet, besides
the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine.
The BoosterJet is mated to an all-new, 6-speed manual gearbox, the first to be developed by
Maruti Suzuki right here in India. Another big update is the switch to underbody CNG tanks
that ensure boot space is not compromised anymore. The Brezza also gets more features
now, besides a few design tweaks. The grille and bumper have been redesigned, and you
also get new fog lamps. Details have been sharpened to help the Brezza look bolder and
younger and you also get new, 16-inch wheels, though overall changes are mild. It still has
the familiar Brezza silhouette and upright SUV stance, but with more attitude.
The cabin looks and feels more premium, and the ZXi+ variant also gets a classier, dual-tone,
black and bronze theme. New features include 64-colour ambient lighting and the 10.1-inch
touchscreen from the Victoris. The instrument cluster is still analogue though, and it looks
refreshingly good! Front seats are now ventilated, besides which you get front parking
sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and TPMS. And then there’s the 5-star
Bharat NCAP safety rating, adding to credentials big time.
The headline update is the BoosterJet engine that offers 110PS and 170Nm now, a
significant increment of 10PS and 23Nm over the Fronx. The three-cylinder thrum can be
felt at idle but this is a very refined engine, and it also sounds sporty when revved. The 6-
speed gearbox feels like a typical Maruti transmission given its light clutch action, how easily
the gears slot in and impresses overall. Step on the gas and the Brezza is also quick to
accelerate – the mild hybrid system does its job at low revs, and once the turbocharger
wakes up past 2,000rpm you’re enjoying a surge that continues well into the midrange. I
also like how cleanly the engine builds revs, and the overall characteristics ensure you’re
smiling behind the wheel.
There’s also something wonderfully mechanical about the way the 6-speed gearbox slots
from one gear to another, making you want to use the gearbox without feeling like a chore
– that’s an achievement in Mumbai traffic! I also took the Brezza to the Coastal Road which
offers the feel of an open road, and the Brezza delighted me with the ease with which it lets
you sustain speeds. The sixth gear makes a noticeable difference too, as the engine feels
relaxed at speeds.
Then there’s the dynamics. Maruti hasn’t altered the ride and handling, and I’m glad,
because we’ve always liked the Brezza’s confident and sporty feel, and the way it soaks up
ruts and potholes. I’ve always liked the Brezza’s well-weighted and direct steering too, and
this hasn’t changed either. The Brezza thus feels as playful as ever, especially thanks to its
compact dimensions and the confident feel from behind the wheel. Maruti has effectively
taken what was a sensible, easy-going compact SUV and given it a bit of spice, and I like it. I
suspect young buyers will opt for the BoosterJet, despite the lack of an automatic gearbox.
Prices begin from ₹7.40 lakh ex-showroom, which is aggressive for a turbocharged petrol.
The compact SUV segment has become increasingly competitive with newer rivals offering
more power, more features and increasingly sophisticated technology. The Brezza always
had the fundamentals right; it just needed more excitement, which it now delivers.
