When Maruti Suzuki decided to go premium with the Nexa experience, the first car to come out for the Indian automotive enthusiast was the S-Cross. The car, just by sheer looks, was not enthusiastic at all about its existence.
I personally wondered why, in the futuristic 21st century, where fluidic designs were experimented with, Maruti came out with something like an S-Cross.
It was supposed to be a compact SUV, but ended-up looking nimble and like a car that had lost its identity.
Key Specifications: Maruti Suzuki S-Cross
Version: 1.3-litre DDiS200
- Engine Capacity: 1248cc, 4 cylinder, Diesel
- Power: 88bhp@4000 rpm
- Torque: 200Nm@1750 rpm
- Transmission: 5-speed Manual
Version: 1.6-litre DDiS320
- Engine Capacity: 1598cc, 4 cylinder
- Power: 118bhp@4000 rpm
- Torque: 320Nm@1750 rpm
- Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
The car that was sent was Granite Grey. The colour wasn’t helping its cause. The sheer design reminded me of the year 2005. The Maruti SX4-like headlamps were given some more character with LEDs.
The S-Cross was a tall car that didn’t look tall enough. Instead it looked like a young, 22-year-old in chord-dry trousers.
With a ground clearance of 180 mm the S-Cross is not a compact SUV but, a hatchback on steroids.
By sheer looks, it’s a studious boy with side partitioned hair. Nope. It’s not a Hyundai Creta or a Nissan Terrano which look more like the above average student with the out-of-the-bed hairstyle and a passion for sports.
So without much enthusiasm to begin with, I sat inside the cabin, and my world turned upside down. Having grown up with Marutis like many Indian men, I had never expected this type of cabin quality from a Maruti.
There is an all-black upholstery, just like I was used to in my Maruti Swift, back in 2007, and loads of soft-touch plastics. The texture on the dash was unlike a Maruti, it was more German.
The steering wheel was nicely leather-wrapped and so were the seats. There was ample room inside the car and it didn’t feel claustrophobic at all.
The inside of the S-Cross felt welcoming something that you can even call home.
The touch-responsive entertainment system sits right in the middle. It was surprising how fast it paired up with my phone.
In fact, you’ll be surprised at the kind of information it can give you. And if you crank up the volume, whether your choice in music is classic or progressive rock, the six speaker system does not let you down.
The automatic climate control is also easy to operate and blends in nicely with the dashboard design.
The S-Cross can easily fit-in five people and the 353 litre boot space is more than what you will require.
When inside, it made me so comfortable that I had forgotten what it looked like. I was really excited about the ride. We had the 1248cc, 4-cylinder, diesel engine version of the S-Cross that had a maximum power output of 88bhp@4000 rpm and pulling power of 200Nm@1750 rpm.
All this was mated to a 5-speed manual transmission that was smooth.
The ride quality of the S-Cross was also unlike a Maruti car. It handled the corners and bumps with ease, despite its not-so-high ground clearance. At high speeds, the cabin noise was minimal and it also kept all the Delhi honking out.
The engine is quite refined and is made for city traffic. It’s fuel efficiency was fantastic with 19.8 km/l in city traffic and 22 km/l on the highways. The power distribution is also well managed by engineers at Maruti on the S-Cross. Whether it is overtaking at high speeds or peppiness in city traffic, the S-Cross delivers.
For safety, the company has loaded the S-Cross with Airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-Force Distribution System (EBD).
Sales figures of the S-Cross are not something that Maruti can boast about. Partly because we Indians are spoiled by the Koreans and the Germans for looks.
The S-Cross is a misunderstood car.
Sure, it does not have the looks or a powerful road presence, but how many of you actually look at yourself while driving? What you see is comfort, interiors and ease of driving. That’s what the S-Cross delivers and it’s even better than the Cretas and the TUVs of the world.
It is a little expensive though, considering the price range of Rs 8.34 lakhs to Rs 13.74 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi). But you get the benefit of hassle-free ownership and reliability.
The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross is not the woman you want to have an affair with, she’s the one you can love and take home to your mother.
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