The Maruti S-Presso has been launched in India for a
starting price of INR 3.69 lakh*. The new model competes with the Renault Kwid,
which will be launched in a facelifted and the
Datsun redi-GO.
Designing a pseudo-SUV in limited dimensions is not
an easy task, and only Renault has done it with perfection so far. Maruti
Suzuki clearly hasn’t managed to excel in the looks department in the case of
the S-Presso. Some might even see it as a jacked-up Alto from the sides. The
new car measures 3,665 mm in length, 1,520 mm in width and 1,549 mm (with
13-inch wheels)/1,564 mm (with 14-inch wheels) in height. It has a 2,380 mm
wheelbase.
Forgetting the frumpy nose and the odd proportions
of the exterior and stepping inside, the Maruti S-Presso starts getting a bit
interesting. The passenger-side dashboard has a rugged design that perfectly
goes with the SUV-inspired character, while the orange highlights and the
7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto give
some youthfulness to the cabin. The steering wheel has been lifted from the
Maruti Ignis.
The instrument cluster is a monochrome digital unit,
which is okay at this price point, but its placement in the centre makes the
driver-side dashboard look bland. Also, this positioning isn’t as convenient
for the driver while driving. The circular shape of the upper half of the
centre console along with the orange highlights is MINI-inspired. On the safety
front, the car is equipped with features like dual-front airbags, ABS with EBD,
rear parking sensors, front SBRs, high-speed warning system and more. Many of
these are standard.
The Maruti S-Presso is built on Suzuki's Heartect
platform. Powering the new car is the BS-VI K10B 1.0-litre naturally aspirated
three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 50 kW (67.98 PS) at 5,500 rpm and 90
Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm. 5-speed manual and 5-speed automated manual are the
transmission choices. The fuel economy rating, irrespective of the transmission
selected, is 21.7 km/l (VXI/VXI+) 21.4 km/l (STD/LXI).
Maruti S-Presso - Prices*
- S-Presso STD - INR 3,69,000
- S-Presso LXI - INR 4,05,000
- S-Presso VXI - INR 4,24,500
- S-Presso VXI AMT - INR 4,67,500
- S-Presso VXI+ - INR 4,48,000
- S-Presso VXI+ AMT - 4,91,000
*Ex-showroom
