Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 2018 in India Review – A closer look

Imagine being put in the position of a manufacturer of any kind of product, what would you do to increase the sales of your goods after a while of flowing on the market, remaining the same version? Well! Countless are the answers to such a question. However, no matter how much peddling around you are doing, you need tangible proofs to show the folks that you are not a fraud and what you are selling them is real, legit, and worthy of their money. Yes! We are talking about upgrading the product here. Everything needs to change, mate! It’s adapting. You wanna stay in the game, you wanna be relevant? You need to change. And that’s what you see in the current S-cross. No more talk! Let’s take a closer look at the new car to see what it has to offer. 

The look is inspired by that of the European outgoing SX4 hatchback that never roamed Indian roads

1. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 2018 in India Review - On The Outside

Updates making up the complete S-cross’s facelift start with the bold-looking 10-slat grille with chrome treatment and Suzuki’s S emblem at the centre, accompanied on both sides by a new pair of headlights which are integrated with daytime running lights. The redesigned black bumper with the tweaked bonnet also contributes to the new tough-guy look.

The profiles generally did not receive that much of change. The only noticeable detail that creates the difference from the outgoing version is the alloy wheelset which is fitted with the 215/60 R16 rubber tyres. The back end only saw an addition of new LED taillights, not something to write home about.

2. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 2018 in India Review - The Game Changing Factor Hidden Under The Bonnet

The robust but retiring 1.6-litre DDiS 320 engine was binned and replaced by the more refined DDiS 200 Smart Hybrid Diesel Engine of 1.3-litre volume.

The matchmaking was a success. The S-cross can now run happily with the DDiS 200 Smart Hybrid happily ever after

This motor actually made the first appearance on the Ciaz several years ago or so and has been waiting since then to trickle its way down to the 2018 Maruti S-cross. So it is actually no news. What counts as a big deal is an experiment of matching up a different engine with a car to see if it works. And the result is fantastic, everyone can go home with a smile on their faces. To go into details, the Smart Hybrid Diesel engine produces a maximum torque of 200Nm at 1750rpm and top power of 66kW at 4000rpm; coming in pair with a 5 Speed Manual gearbox. Being assisted by the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG), The current engine operates more smoothly and with less fuel being wasted, saving you some quid along the way. A marked improvement in acceleration and performance can be felt easily as well.

3. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 2018 in India Review - On The Inside

 Luxurious feeling and generous seating space are the two things that will greet you when you get inside the cabin

Luxurious feeling and generous seating space are the two things that will greet you when you get inside the cabin. But first, let’s go through the new features. This time the S-cross gets cruise control with the control button placed on the right side of the steering wheel. The system takes over the car’s throttle, making sure the vehicle run on a maintained speed set beforehand (in the case of the S-cross, any speed over 40km/h), guaranteeing comfort on any trip no matter how long it lasts. The steering column gets incorporated with tilt and telescopic column, allowing more flexible physical interactions with the steering wheel, which means the driver can tilt, pull back and extend the steering wheel to their comfort. 

The driver’s window alone is upgraded to the anti-pinch window which will automatically roll down when it senses something in the way, increasing safety for the occupants. One more addition which works on the basis of automatism is the new pair of windscreen wipers, which is activated when rain is detected. The system regulates the frequency of wiping based on how heavy the rain is along with the rain sensitivity being adjusted – the driver will not have to go through all the trouble of turning on and off the wipers from now on.

Cabin space overall can accommodate 5 people at best comfortably without no one having to squeeze. The multi-info display gets the Hi-Def TFT screen, in charge of informing the driver information of the car like gear shift indicator, driving range, fuel consumed, trip meter, etc. But the interior feature that draws the most of eyeballs must be the SmartPlay Infotainment System which offers navigating function and an inexhaustible source of entertainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Meanwhile, the boot space doesn’t have much to boast about. Standing at 353 litres of volume, the vehicle sure is surpassed by many of its rivals of the same segment. But to the manufacturer’s credit in an effort to make up for this shortcoming, the back seat is foldable and together with the boot can create an 810-litre volume of storing area.

Standing at 353 litres of volume, the vehicle sure is surpassed by many of its rivals

Maruti calls it Nexa Safety Shield, the safety package is another collective detail that received a lot of hard work to make a complete transformation. To go into details, the front seat comes with dual airbags and the rear row with ISOFIX child seat anchorage; belt force limiter mitigates the force of the seat belt above a certain threshold; the entire car is designed based on Suzuki_TECT body which helps it absorb and disperse crash energy. And last but not the least, the two of ABS and EBD also make it this time in the list to protect the passengers in a thorough way. 

4. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 2018 in India Review - Color Options

Maruti Suzuki S-cross 2018 is available with 4 color options including:

• Pearl Arctic White

• Caffeine Brown

• Granite Grey

• Nexa Blue

• Premium Silver 

All colour options of Maruti Suzuki S-cross 2018 in India

5. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 2018 in India Review - Prices and Variants

6. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 2018 in India Review - Detail Specs

7. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 2018 in India Review - Parting Words

The pricing is expected to be similar to that of the old version, which ranges from Rs 8.2 and Rs 11 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). And though being a reliable and fun car to drive, the all-new S-cross can’t help but lose some ground out of not being available with a combo of petrol engine and automatic transmission. In fact, even being boosted with the whole facelifted appearance the car still stands little chance against other components such as the Tata Nexon, Ford Ecosport, Honda WR-V and Renault Duster, and especially the sporty Hyundai Creta. Having that being said, it still does appeal to the group of customers who are seeking for a dependable family car of competitive price.

Seeing is believing. The best way to make sure that you are getting yourself a good bargain is to book a test drive to appreciate the car, judge it on your own. 

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8. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross 2018 in India Review - Other images

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