Launched on September 26, 2022, the Maruti Grand Vitara, which was the fastest in the midsize SUV segment to the 100,000 and 200,000 milestones, wins over buyers with its fuel-efficient hybrid system, clever packaging and interior quality. This model, which is the second best-selling Nexa SUV model after the Fronx in the current fiscal, accounts for 17% of Maruti Suzuki’s UV sales in April-November 2024.
10 Dec 2024 | 5887 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
The Maruti Grand Vitara, launched on September 26, 2022, has achieved cumulative wholesales of 250,000 units in November 2024, when it sold 10,148 units. The premium midsize SUV, which had raced past the 200,000-unit sales milestone in early July 2024, took a little over four months to clock the ...
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The Maruti Grand Vitara, launched on September 26, 2022, has achieved cumulative wholesales of 250,000 units in November 2024, when it sold 10,148 units. The premium midsize SUV, which had raced past the 200,000-unit sales milestone in early July 2024, took a little over four months to clock the additional 50,000 units.
In the process, the Grand Vitara, which is retailed from Maruti Suzuki’s premium Nexa sales channel, is the best-selling Nexa SUV in cumulative sales, 12,589 units ahead of the Fronx compact SUV (239,877 units) launched in April 2023.
In the first eight months of FY2025, the Grand Vitara with 79,982 units has contributed 17% to Maruti Suzuki's total utility vehicle sales of 473,312 units.
As per the latest industry data, the Grand Vitara has clocked total sales of 252,466 units including 79,982 units in the April-November 2024 period (see wholesales data table above).
In the first eight months of the current fiscal year, the Grand Vitara’s best month was the festival-laden October when Maruti Suzuki dispatched 14,083 units to its dealers across the country, making it also the best-ever month for the model’s wholesales since its market entry.
The Grand Vitara becomes the fastest midsize SUV to achieve the 250,000 milestone, in line with its 200,000 sales which it achieved in 22 months, bettering the Hyundai Creta which took 25 months to achieve the same milestone. The popular Maruti SUV was also the fastest in the midsize SUV segment to the 100,000-units mark, taking just 12 months from market entry.
A BIG DRAW ON MULTIPLE FRONTS
A premium product, outside and in, the Grand Vitara entered the midsize SUV market at an opportune time, just when the segment was beginning to boom, and has surfed the wave of demand coming its way. The 12-variant-strong model’s on-road pricing (Mumbai) starts at Rs 12.99 lakh for the base Sigma variant and goes upwards to Rs 23.68 lakh for the top-end Alpha+ variant.
The highlight of the Grand Vitara is the two engine options it shares with the Toyota Hyryder. The proven 103hp, 1.5-litre K15C petrol mild-hybrid engine, which also powers many Maruti Suzuki models (Brezza, Ertiga, XL6), comes mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
There’s also the Toyota-sourced 92hp, 1.5-litre, three-cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine paired to an electric motor that develops 79hp and 141Nm of torque. Combined, the hybrid powertrain produces 116hp and is paired to an e-CVT gearbox. Maruti claims an efficiency of 27.97kpl for this powertrain.
CNG VARIANT ADDS HEFT
In January 2023, four months after launch, in a move designed to expand its addressable target market, Maruti Suzuki, which is also India’s CNG market leader, introduced a CNG variant to the Grand Vitara and expanded its overall CNG model range to 14 models.
Priced at Rs 15.22 lakh, on-road Mumbai (Delta CNG) and Rs 17.28 lakh (Zeta CNG), the CNG variant is powered by the proven K-series 1.5-litre, petrol engine which develops peak power of 88hp at 5500rpm and max torque of 121.5 Nm at 4200rpm in CNG mode. Offered with a five-speed manual gearbox, the Grand Vitara S-CNG delivers a claimed fuel efficiency of 26.6 km/kg. To put things into perspective, the Baleno CNG delivers 30.61km/kg. The only other competition the Grand Vitara CNG has is its cousin, the Toyota Hyryder CNG, both of which are built at TKM’s Bidadi plant.
Looks-wise, other than the front, the side body panels, tailgate and even the rear bumper with integrated tail-lamps are identical to the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. A chrome applique on the C-pillar, different alloy wheels and full-width LED light bar on the tailgate, though are unique to the Maruti SUV.
The interiors of the GV and the Hyryder are also similar, the sole difference being the colour schemes. Both get the same steering wheel design that’s also seen on other newer Maruti Suzuki models. The touchscreen infotainment, instrument cluster and all the switchgear are identical on both SUVs as well.
In terms of features, top-spec variants of the Grand Vitara get a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, wireless charger, ambient lighting, connected car tech, ESP, hill-hold assist, tyre pressure monitoring system, and six airbags.
GRAND VITARA: KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO NEXA SUV SALES
The Grand Vitara continues to be a key contributor to the carmaker’s Nexa brand’s sales. If one compares its contribution to all Nexa models since its entry in FY2023, then only the Baleno hatchback (516,632 units from FY2023 to November 2024) is ahead of the Grand Vitara (252,466 units from FY2023 to November 2024), which is followed by the Fronx (239,877 units) which was launched seven months after the GV in April 2023.
Although the Fronx is ahead of the GV both in FY2024 and April-November 2024, the midsize SUV goes ahead of its compact SUV sibling in terms of cumulative sales to date. In the current’s fiscal first eight months, the Grand Vitara accounts for 17% of Maruti Suzuki’s total utility vehicle wholesales of 473,312 units (up 14% YoY: April-November 2024: 414,631 units).
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