Maruti To Bring This SUV From Japan & Trouble Tata Punch? » MotorOctane

The demand for SUVs has been consistently rising in India. The benefits of this demand, however, are not being enjoyed by India’s best-selling auto maker—Maruti. However, Maruti has planned to launch 8 new SUVs by 2030 & we expect it to include the brand’s most affordable SUV! This SUV will take on the likes of the Tata Punch – an SUV that has always troubled Maruti to a great extent!
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Rs 6 Lakh Maruti SUV

Currently, Maruti has SUVs priced slightly higher and nothing in the lower segment. This segment has been dominated by the Tata Punch! To neutralise this dominance, Maruti will likely introduce an all-new SUV – expected to be the XBEE or the Crossbee. Globally, the SUV was first launched in 2017 & received a major facelift at the recent Japan Mobility Show. So, among the 8 new SUVs that the brand has planned to launch in India, the XBEE seems to be a strong contender. In international markets, the XBEE range starts from Rs 12 Lakh! However, as it will be competing with the Punch, Maruti will likely price this aggressively – between Rs 6 Lakh and Rs 10.50 Lakh (on-road, Mumbai).

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Maruti currently has SUVs like the Brezza, Grand Vitara, Fronx, and the newly launched Victoris. Among these, the sales of Brezza are affected by GST 2.0 reforms, while the Grand Vitara is already doing poorly for the brand. On the other hand, the Fronx has been one of the best-sellers, and the Victoris is the latest entrant to rival the Creta. To cater for the category of buyers where the Punch is the only option, the XBEE could be a perfect fit. So, what to expect from Maruti’s Punch rival?

Design & Features

In terms of design, the XBEE appears to be a smaller version of the Maruti Jimny. Some of the design highlights include circular headlamps, slim front grille & chunky front bumpers. There is not much drama on the side profile, which is largely dominated by plastic cladding. The rear profile, however, looks interesting with a tailgate design that has a hint of the Maruti 800! Other elements include oval-shaped LED tail lamps, roof spoiler & chunky bumper. Overall, the SUV boasts a tall boy design language which ensures ample headroom – a winning formula for Maruti.

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On the inside, the XBEE gets a dashboard design that is unique for any Maruti car. The dashboard is dominated by plenty of touch controls & still has decent storage space. It also gets smartly placed cupholders near AC vents, which should keep your drinks cooler on the go. To take on the Tata Punch, the XBEE will likely offer features like – 9.0-inch touchscreen system, head-up display, ARKAMYS sound system, 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats, rear AC vents and more! 

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Rs 6 Lakh Maruti SUV – Specifications 

Globally, the XBEE gets the same 1.2-litre NA petrol engine (81bhp & 112Nm). It is the same engine that made its debut in India with the new Swift. It will get transmission options like a 5-speed AMT and a 5-speed AMT. Just like other Maruti cars, we can expect a CNG powertrain in India to attract more mileage-conscious buyers. Lastly, we can expect Maruti to offer Fronx’s 1.0-litre turbo petrol unit, which will be a first for the segment. It will be interesting to see how it fares against one of the best-selling SUVs in India. 

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