The Maruti Vitara Brezza, the game-changing SUV which was launched at the Auto Expo in March 2016, has zipped past the landmark 600,000-unit sales mark. The sales journey to this has taken five years.
The Brezza had surpassed the half-a-million or 500,000 sales milestone in January 2020, which means the next 100,000 sales have come in about 12 months. While the first 100,000 unit sales for the Vitara Brezza came up in 12 months, the 150,000-unit sales mark came up in a scant 17 months, the 200,000 mark in 20 months, the 300,000 milestone was crossed in 28 months, the 400,000 landmark in 35 months, the 450,000 milestone in 41 months, and half-a-million units in 46 months.
The 600,000-unit milestone would have been achieved much sooner if it weren’t for a slowing down of sales following Maruti Suzuki India announcing its plan to drop out of diesel cars from April 2020. Add to that been the overall market slowdown and the arrival of newer rivals like the Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV300, both also available with petrol engines. But Maruti Suzuki fought back with the launch of the petrol-engined Vitara Brezza, which it launched on February 6, 2020
The carmaker used Suzuki’s K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine instead of the original Vitara Brezza’s 1.3-litre diesel. The Vitara Brezza shares its 105hp and 138Nm, 1.5-litre K15B BS VI-compliant petrol engine with other Marutis like the Ciaz, Ertiga and XL6. A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard, while a 4-speed torque converter-equipped auto is available as an option. Interestingly, Suzuki’s SHVS Smart Hybrid tech is reserved for automatic versions of the compact SUV only.
.The 1.5-litre K-series petrol engine delivers fuel efficiency of 18.76 kilometres per litre for automatic and 17.03kpl for the manual variant.
Commenting on the SUV’s latest achievement, Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Launched in 2016, Vitara Brezza has consistently received appreciation from its customers and critics owing to its all-in-one package of power, refinement, convenience, comfort and premium-ness. Vitara Brezza is valued for its strong SUV stance and sporty character which gives the urban SUV a butch and bold look, making it extremely popular amongst the SUV customers. This is a testimony of our customers’ elevated support and love for the brand, especially in a segment which is traditionally diesel driven.”