Maruti Grand Vitara 7-Seater to compete with Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, etc.
Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to expand its SUV portfolio in India with the launch of the 7-seater Grand Vitara (codenamed Y17) in 2025. Internally referred to as the Y17, this three-row variant is expected to come equipped with both mild hybrid and strong hybrid engines, catering to the growing demand for eco-friendly mobility solutions.
A rendered image provides a glimpse of the anticipated design enhancements for the Maruti Suzuki Y17. The front fascia boasts a thick chrome bar with the Suzuki badge at the centre, a black-finished hexagonal grille section, sharper triple-beam LED headlamps and vertical LED fog lamps with large housings.
The side profile showcases larger wheels with a new design, aggressive wheel arches, tall pillars, longer rear doors and a redesigned rear profile to accommodate the third-row seating arrangement. The rendered image also suggests updates to the LED tail lamps, tailgate and rear bumper.
The launch details remain somewhat uncertain, with speculation about the availability of both 6- and 7-seater configurations. However, the expectation is that at least the 7-seater variant will be introduced first. The Y17 is anticipated to continue with the familiar 1.5-litre 4-cylinder K15C mild hybrid petrol engine and the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder strong hybrid petrol engine. The K15C Dual Jet Dual VVT smart hybrid petrol engine could be featured in the lower- and mid-spec variants, while the top-end trims may sport the more fuel-efficient strong hybrid mill sourced from Toyota.
The 7-seater Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is likely to spawn a Toyota sibling, based on the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Positioned as the flagship IC-engined SUV in Maruti Suzuki’s lineup, the Y17 is expected to be priced from Rs. 15 lakhs (ex-showroom). Its competitors in the market will include the Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, Citroen C3 Aircross, Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Alcazar, etc.
While the existing Grand Vitara has a wheelbase length of 2600 mm, it’s expected that the Y17 will maintain the same length. However, the interior theme is likely to be refreshed, with the addition of new features and technologies to differentiate it from its 5-seater sibling.
