Recently Maruti launched the new face lifted version of its Brezza.  Ever since it was originally introduced in 2016 as the Vitara Brezza, its been one of India’s most popular and topmost selling compact SUVs.  In 2022, Maruti introduced the second generation of the Brezza and also dropped Vitara from its name as it was to be given to another SUV (Grand Vitara), which was also launched in 2022.

Now the face lifted version has arrived, and honestly I have always had a soft spot for the Brezza  because it was the first vehicle ever to be completely conceived, designed, and developed and produced, by Maruti Suzuki’s in house Indian engineering R&D team. Of course it also marked Maruti’s entry into the sub-4-meter compact SUV segment, which India’s leading car manufacturer has dominated since.

So what is new in the “New Brezza”? Obviously it wears some new clothes and ornaments, but the biggest changes are that it now comes with a 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine producing 110 horses and 170 Nm of torque, a much needed new 6-speed manual gearbox, ventilated front seats, and of course the all-important Bharat NCAP 5-star  safety rating. It also has things like a larger 10.1 inch touchscreen, revised bumper and grille, wireless phone charger, and so on. There is also a CNG version with an underbody CNG tank.

There are two petrol power plants, the above mentioned new 1.0 litre turbo and the familiar 1.5 litre naturally aspirated one that delivers 102 bhp and 139 Nm of torque. When this same engine is fueled by CNG, it makes 87 bhp and 121.5 Nm of torque. Interestingly, though the smaller 3 cylinder 1.0 turbo delivers more power and pep than the 1.5 litre, its ARAI rated fuel efficiency is 20.41 kmpl, compared with the naturally aspirated one’s 21.09 kmpl.

So while there is a substantial difference in engine capacity (997 cc & 1462 cc) and power (110 bhp/170 Nm and 102 bhp/139 Nm) , the difference in fuel efficiency is marginal ( 20.41 kmpl & 21.09 kmpl). However the way in which both engines behave and respond, differs completely.

The new 1.0 litre turbo, is energetic and enthusiastic and quick to rev. The 1.5 non aspirated one relies on its extra cylinder and cubic capacity to build and deliver power in a more relaxed or refined manner. What is even more interesting are their 0 to 100 acceleration times. The 1.0 litre take about 12 seconds to get to 100 and the 1.5 litre does it in approximately 12.6 seconds. So though their way of building speed and revs is different, they both get to the 100 mark, with a marginal (half second or so) difference in time.

But I must say that with all its exuberant energy, the 1.0 litre turbo does add some youthfulness to the Brezza, which is further amplified by all the prominent Turbo Booster Jet badging and decals. The engine also gets vocal above 5000 rpm and it’s almost like its screaming for attention and wanting to tell the occupants “Look here fellas, see how hard I am working to deliver you your performance”.

The thing I like most about the new face lifted Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the new 6-speed manual gearbox. Its light and precise and finding the right slot is almost intuitive for any skilled driver, and even those with lesser skills, will not struggle. The clutch also has adequate pressure and the right feel to make getaways from traffic lights smooth and jerk free. The Brezza also comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission with steering-mounted paddle shifters, but frankly on my drive on the Coastal Road and around South Mumbai, I drove the manual version and will try out the auto properly on another occasion.

The ride and handling remain largely the same though I felt that the suspension setup was a bit softer. But maybe this was due to mainly driving on the smooth Coastal Road. So again, a longer drive will enable me to comment on this with more authority.

On the outside, the new Brezza has lots of red accents to make it look sporty, prominent side cladding’s, and as mentioned earlier, a somewhat smarter grille and bumper with redesigned ornamental skid pads. I also like the round fog lamps that are mounted slightly higher than the earlier rectangular ones.

On the inside the big changes are the ventilated front seats and the larger display screen. And as mentioned the new Brezza comes with Bharat NCAP 5-star  safety rating and a host of other safety features like 6 airbags, blind spot warning with lane change alert, rear cross traffic alert, a 360-degree camera, and so on. It also has features like built-in Alexa voice assistant, alongside wireless android auto and Apple CarPlay, built-in internet connectivity, OTA updates, 64-colour ambient lighting, Autopurify & AQI display, etc. It also comes with a single-pane sunroof, which some may find odd given how people are now used to panoramic ones.

As is to be expected, Maruti has priced the new Brezza attractively with introductory prices starting Rs 7.39 lakhs onwards. Given this, and the new additions to the Brezza, in my view it will surely continue to be a bestseller and a dominating force in the compact SUV segment. What is good though, is that it now comes with a 1.0 litre turbo engine that has added some youthfulness and brought the fun factor to the Brezza. And I must say it was enjoyable driving it on an official media drive in my home city Mumbai.  So yes, – Brezza by the Sea – clearly works for me. And I think it should also work for most of you.