LIkely to be called the Maruti Engage, this new MPV will be built by Toyota and will be based on the Innova Hycross .
Maruti Suzuki’s next launch for India, the Innova Hycross based MPV seems to be ready as seen in these spy shots captured outside the Toyota factory in Bidadi, Karnataka. The company had earlier hinted that it could be called the “Engage” upon launch; from what we know, this will be built by Toyota for Maruti Suzuki India.
- Maruti MPV gets minor styling differences
- Will sit at the top of Maruti’s India line-up
- Expected to get multiple seating layouts
Maruti Suzuki MPV: what’s different?
The Maruti Suzuki MPV is based on the Toyota Innova Hycrosss and as seen in the picture, shares most components with the MPV. The only changes that the Maruti MPV gets are cosmetic ones to differentiate itself from its Toyota cousin. The Maruti gets a much bigger grille replete with a honeycomb mesh design, dual chrome bars and a large Suzuki logo sitting at the centre. The grille merges with the front bumper and the front bumper itself gets a prominent chin with a wide air dam and two separate enclosures for the fog lamps. The horizontally placed daytime running lamps and indicators are similar to the Hycross.
Maruti Suzuki MPV: engine and powertrain
While powertrain details are not known, we expect the new Maruti MPV to share the same powertrain options as the Toyota Innova Hycross. This includes the 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that churns out 173hp when naturally aspirated and 183hp when combined with the mild hybrid tech. These engines are either mated to a CVT or e-CVT gearbox.
Maruti Suzuki MPV: orders and backlog
While the Toyota Innova Hycross is a great product, the volume is the drawback of rebadging this vehicle. As of April 21, 2023, we reported that Toyota had a backlog of over 1,20,000 units, mostly consisting of the Innova Crysta and Hycross. What this means for Maruti Suzuki is that the product will be limited to low volumes initially, until Toyota steps up its production. However, Toyota had reported that they would be starting an additional shift at the Bidadi plant to overcome its massive order backlog.
Maruti Suzuki MPV: price and launch
Maruti Suzuki currently sells two MPVs, the Ertiga and the XL6. While these vehicles sell in good numbers, the Hycross-based MPV will be a premium offering from the company that sells the most amount of vehicles in India. The Innova Hycross is currently priced between Rs 18.55 lakh and goes up to Rs 30.00 lakh. Maruti Suzuki’s most expensive vehicle in their current lineup is the Grand Vitara Hybrid Alpha+ which retails at an ex-showroom amount of Rs 19.79 lakh. The MPV is set to be launched in India on the 5th of July and will be the most expensive product in Maruti’s line-up.
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