Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

The Grand Vitara is Maruti Suzuki's mid-size SUV, built jointly with Toyota and sharing its core with the Urban Cruiser Hyderza. It stands out for offering a Toyota-derived strong-hybrid option alongside a regular mild-hybrid petrol and a factory CNG choice. Aimed squarely at the Creta and Seltos, it leans on fuel efficiency, a comfortable cabin and Maruti's vast service reach rather than outright power or rugged off-road ability.

On the road, the Grand Vitara feels tuned for everyday calm rather than excitement. The 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol is adequate around town but runs out of breath on quick highway overtakes, and the four-speed torque-converter automatic paired with it feels dated against rivals' smoother gearboxes. The strong-hybrid is the more interesting buy: it glides off the line on electric power, stays silent in traffic, and returns genuinely high real-world economy, though its e-CVT can drone under hard acceleration.

The cabin is the car's strong suit. Front seats are supportive, the dashboard layout is clean, and the panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, head-up display and 360-degree camera on top variants feel a class above Maruti's usual fare. Rear-seat space is good for two adults, and ride quality stays composed over broken roads. Boot space is reasonable on petrol versions but shrinks noticeably in the strong-hybrid because of the battery pack under the floor.

Where it lags is engagement and equipment depth. There's no diesel and no powerful turbo-petrol, so enthusiasts will find it flat. The infotainment, while feature-rich, can lag, and some plastics feel ordinary for the price. Safety has improved with six airbags, ESP and a decent Global NCAP showing, but it isn't class-leading on driver-assistance tech.

Value depends on the variant. The mild-hybrid undercuts rivals nicely, while the strong-hybrid commands a premium that only makes sense if you drive enough kilometres to recover it through fuel savings.