The Vitara Brezza is already setting the sales charts on fire and is leading the compact SUV segment in India. However, Maruti Suzuki is seeing more potential in the product. This is why the country’s largest carmaker is trying everything it can to further boost sales of the Vitara Brezza in India. The biggest limitation in the vehicle’s equation is the limited number of powertrain options on offer. In fact, the Vitara Brezza specification sheet includes just 1 powertrain – a diesel manual. However, we will soon get a Maruti Vitara Brezza Automatic variant as well. And it gets even better – the automatic gearbox will be added to the existing diesel engine, not the petrol model that is expected to be launched later this year.
The Vitara Brezza automatic will make the compact SUV an ideal option for city buyers. The major reason behind the popularity of the compact SUVs is the fact that they are…err..compact. Everyone love tall, high-riding SUVs, but driving such vehicles in crowded cities is a headache. On the other hand, compact SUVs provided the best combination of a taller driving position, bundled inside smaller dimensions.
Must Read: Maruti Vitara Brezza petrol Launch Date
However, the Vitara Brezza currently misses on a very major parameter for being an ideal city car – an automatic gearbox. This is especially strange since Maruti already has the AMT gearbox (Automated Manual Transmission) that can be mated to a diesel engine. In fact, the same 1.3-litre diesel unit that powers the Vitara Brezza, has been mated to this 5-speed AMT automatic gearbox on the Dzire as well as the Ignis.
Realising this loophole, Maruti Suzuki has now decided to introduce a diesel automatic variant in the Vitara Brezza line-up. We have received this exclusive piece of information from a Maruti Suzuki employee that is working in the company’s R&D facility in Rohtak, Haryana.
Maruti Vitara Brezza Automatic launch date in India
Maruti Suzuki is aiming to launch the diesel automatic variant of the Vitara Brezza in India around the festive season of this year. This is about the same time when the Vitara Brezza petrol will also be launched in the country. As a result, there is a high possibility of the two introductions to coincide with each other. In other words, it is likely that Maruti Suzuki will introduce the Vitara Brezza Petrol and the Vitara Brezza Diesel Automatic on the same date around Diwali 2017.
Maruti Vitara Brezza automatic expected price
| VDI | Rs. 8.60 lakhs |
| ZDI | Rs. 9.70 lakhs |
Maruti Vitara Brezza Diesel Automatic AMT variants
As per our deep company sources, the AMT automatic gearbox will be available only in the VDI and ZDI variants of the Vitara Brezza. The base variants haven’t been given the automatic option as it is purchased by people who are extremely tight on budget. Meanwhile, adding the AMT option on the top-end ZDI+ variant would have taken the highest variant’s price over Rs. 13 lakh (on-road) in certain cities. This is why the Automatic gearbox has been limited to the mid-two variants of the Vitara Brezza.
Must Read: Maruti Vitara Brezza vs 2017 Dzire
Maruti Vitara Brezza Automatic Specifications
|
Engine |
1.3-litre, four-cylinder DDiS Diesel |
|
Power |
90 bhp at 4,000 rpm |
|
Torque |
200 Nm at 2,000 rpm |
|
Gearbox |
5-speed AMT |
Maruti Vitara Brezza AMT diesel mileage
| Maruti Vitara Brezza AMT | Mileage |
| City | 16 km/l |
| Highway | 22 km/l |