Maruti Suzuki S-Cross facelift: Details revealed ahead of launch

The 2017 S-Cross has several new design changes while the cabin has been upgraded for a more premium feel. It will be offered only in the 1.3-litre diesel engine while the SHVS technology has been incorporated.

New Delhi: Ahead of the launch of facelift S-Cross this week, several details have emerged about the latest offering from Maruti Suzuki in India. The car gets new styling elements on the outside while the cabin has been upgraded for a more premium feel.

First launched in 2015, the S-Cross has been one of the rare models from Maruti that was unable to rake up sales numbers. Many believe that its lacklustre looks - especially when compared to the Hyundai Creta which was launched soon after - was one of the primary reasons it failed to elicit much excitement. That may change now with an imposing vertical chrome grille replacing the two-slat grille seen in the outgoing model. Flanking it would be LED DRLs with projector lights on the top variants. The bumper too has been redesigned to give the car a buffed-up appeal from the front. Black plastic cladding and a silver finished faux diffuser complete the changes here.

From the side, the new S-Cross will get wider tyres and new dual-tone alloys. The rear is mostly a carry-forward from the existing model but does get LED tail lights and a new rear bumper.

The changes though continue on the inside with the 2017 S-Cross' cabin getting satin chrome finish and piano black finish on the centre console. The infotainment system remains the same and will have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new car will be powered by the 1.3-litre diesel engine - to be now called DDiS 200. Smart hybrid technology has been incorporated as well.

The car will continue to take on the likes of Creta, Ford EcoSport, Mahindra's TUV300, Honda's BR-V and Nissan's Terrano. The field of play has also expanded in the two years since S-Cross was first launched with more and more compact SUVs, crossover SUVs and premium SUVs under Rs 20-lakh bracket turning up the heat.

Pre-bookings for the new S-Cross, however, have already begun at Nexa dealerships across the country for a token amount of Rs 11,000. This will be the second big launch of Maruti Suzuki in India this year after the country's largest-selling passenger vehicles company brought in the facelist Dzire in May. The compact sedan recently overtook Alto to become the best-selling model in India for the month of August.