Maruti Suzuki is working on a new premium three-row SUV (codenamed Y17) for the Indian market. The carmaker’s new Kharkhoda manufacturing facility in Haryana will serve as production hub for this upcoming model. The new Maruti 7-seater SUV will essentially be the three-row version of the Grand Vitara, which will be positioned against the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari and the upcoming Kia Soentro, Hyundai iN1i and Renault Boreal SUVs.

The new 7-seater Maruti SUV will be based on Suzuki’s global C platform, which also underpins the 5-seater sibling. However, it might sit on a slightly longer wheelbase to accommodate the third row of seats. Maruti Suzuki is also expected to make several design changes to differentiate the 7-seater model from its 5-seater sibling.

Mild Hybrid Petrol & Strong Hybrid Options

While official details of the new SUV are yet to be revealed, it’s likely to share several features, components and powertrain options with the Maruti Grand Vitara. The SUV could be offered with the 103bhp, 1.5L K15C petrol mild hybrid and 115bhp, 1.5L three-cylinder Atkinson cycle strong hybrid powertrain options.

The mild hybrid engine is likely to get both manual and torque convertor automatic gearbox options. An AWD system could be reserved for the higher trims. In the Grand Vitara, this powertrain offers a claimed fuel efficiency of 21.11kmpl for the manual variants, 20.58kmpl for the automatic trims and 19.38kmpl for the manual AWD variant.

The strong hybrid powertrain comes paired with an eCVT transmission and delivers a combined power output of 115bhp. It offers a claimed fuel efficiency of 27.97kmpl. However, the mileage figures of the new Maruti 7-seater SUV might vary from its 5-seater sibling due to its larger size and increased weight.

Expected Prices

The 7-seater Maruti Grand Vitara will command a premium over its 5-seater counterpart, which is currently available within the price range of Rs 10.77 lakh – Rs 19.72 lakh. The entry-level variant of this new SUV is expected to be priced around Rs 14 lakh – Rs 15 lakh, while the top-end trim is estimated to cost around Rs 24 lakh – Rs 27 lakh (ex-showroom).

Rendering Source – SRK Designs