Maruti Suzuki Brezza

After four years of its launch, the second-generation Maruti Brezza has finally received a facelift However, the changes made in this update are kept to a minimum, and you need to look closely to see what has actually been updated.

With minimal changes to the design and features list, the Brezza continues to rival the likes of Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Syros, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger. However, a major change in its powertrain has made it more appealing to buy.

I recently drove the new Brezza to check out its changes and experience the new powertrain, and here is what I think about the Maruti SUV.

Design & Build Quality

With this facelift, the changes done to the design have been kept to a minimum, and while they do not make the Brezza look a lot more modern than it used to be, they still bring out a bit of freshness.

If you want to check out the new Brezza in detail, you can have a look at its image gallery.

Up front, the Brezza gets subtle but noticeable styling revisions. It features a redesigned grille and an updated bumper that gives the SUV a slightly fresher appearance. Higher-specced variants also get a new chrome-finished grille garnish in place of the earlier silver insert, adding a more premium touch.

In profile, the familiar boxy proportions remain unchanged, but the refreshed 16-inch alloy wheels help distinguish the facelift from the outgoing model.

At the rear, the changes are minimal. It retains the wraparound LED tail lamps, roof spoiler, shark-fin antenna, and signature 'BREZZA' lettering on the tailgate. The bumper design has been slightly tweaked, but the overall rear styling has been carried forward. Don't forget to check out our detailed 'Brezza Explained In 20 Real-Life Images' story, where we've broken down every update in an easy-to-understand manner.

Here are all the colour options you get with the Brezza and their variant-wise distribution.

In terms of cabin design, little has changed. The theme and the dashboard layout remain the same; however, you do get gloss black inserts on the dashboard in place of the previous brushed aluminium ones. The climate control panel has also been revised; you now get semi-leatherette seats in the top-spec variants, and the rest of the design remains more or less the same.

You also get ambient lighting on the dashboard and door, which you can change colours. This makes the cabin look a bit more modern and adds to the premium quotient as well.

The quality quotient has risen a little thanks to leatherette materials on the seats; however, the rest of the cabin remains the same in terms of quality. The plastics used are smooth, the buttons feel solid and tactile, and the use of soft touch on the door pads is also a nice addition. While the overall quality is just average considering what others in the segment offer, the textures and smoothness of the plastics used in the Brezza don’t let it feel compromised or on a budget.

Front Seats

Getting in and out of the Brezza does not require much effort. The seat is not too tall that you’d need to climb in, and the boxy proportions mean that you don’t have to duck down a lot either. Even for the elders in the family, ingress and egress will require little effort.

Once inside, you get wide seats with enough space for people of large frames to sit comfortably. The headroom is enough and so are the supports on the sides, which are firmer than before and hold you well. You also get a height-adjustable driver seat and both tilt and telescopic steering adjustment to easily find the ideal driving position.

Rear Seats

At the back, you get good space for two passengers. The headroom is as good as the front; you get enough kneeroom, the legroom is good for the right passenger (the left passenger gets less legroom due to the battery pack placed under the front passenger seat), and the underthigh support feels just enough. You also get a centre armrest for a more comfortable and relaxing seating position, and Maruti has added winged headrests at the back which provide better support.

However, for three passengers, the space is limited. The middle passenger has to sit upright; they won’t get enough shoulder room to sit comfortably, the legroom gets compromised due to the hump in the floor, and there is still no headrest for the middle passenger. Space-wise, the Brezza is a very good four-seater and offers good and comfortable seating for long journeys, but the same can’t be said when five occupants are on board.

Storage & Practicality

To keep your stuff in the car, you get bottle holders in all four doors; the front passengers get two cupholders, a decent-sized glovebox, storage under the front armrest, and a sunglass holder.

Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest, and seat back pockets. The left passenger gets three separate seat back pockets for phone and tablet.

Charging Options

For charging options, the front passengers get a wireless phone charger, a USB Type-A port, and a 12V socket. Rear passengers get one USB Type-A port and one USB Type-C port. 

A USB Type-C port in the front would have been appreciated.

Boot Space

While Maruti has not disclosed an official figure for Brezza’s boot space, it is the same as the outgoing version. The boot is deep, but not wide or long, so fitting large suitcases becomes a hassle. You can utilise this space best by using medium- or small-sized suitcases, as it can keep 3-4 cabin-sized trolleys along with a couple of small office bags. There is also a 60:40 split in the rear seat if you want to carry larger items.

While the boot space is enough for airport runs and small weekend getaways, you’d need more space if you’re going for a week-long trip with your family or friends. With the CNG, the Brezza now gets an underbody tank, which means there is absolutely no compromise in storage space. 

The Maruti Brezza covers all the basics you expect from a modern-day car:

• Keyless entry

• Push-button start/stop

• Auto AC

• Wireless phone charger

• Rear AC vents

• Auto ORVMs

• Auto headlights

The biggest update in the new Brezza’s feature list is the new 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This is the same screen which we saw in the Victoris, and it comes with Maruti’s new user interface. The icons are large enough to be easily readable while driving, the screen’s user interface is easy to navigate, and you get wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which run smoothly.

Another update here is ventilated front seats. They work as intended, cool quickly, but they do create a lot of noise, which is something you’ll have to live with.

Maruti has also added ambient lighting, which gets 64 colour options to choose from. The treatment extends into the door pads and looks fresh at night.

Other features like a heads-up display, cruise control and a single-pane sunroof have been carried over.

Now these features are enough for your daily usage, but there is no wow factor that you get in some of its rivals. Features like a fully digital driver’s display, a panoramic sunroof, and a branded sound system are still missing, which does make it seem underequipped when compared with its rivals. Here you can check out the variant-wise feature distribution in the new Brezza.

In terms of safety, you get six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a tyre pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and a 360-degree camera.

The camera quality of the 360-degree camera is acceptable. You do see things clearly during the day, but low light conditions can make the footage grainy and hard to see. Also, unlike many cars in this segment, the Brezza still does not get an ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) suite. However, it does get sensor-based blind spot alert and rear cross traffic alert.

Lastly, the new Brezza comes with a 5-star crash test rating from Bharat NCAP, making it the 4th car from the brand to get this score.

The biggest change with this facelift has been made in the powertrain department as the Brezza now comes with a turbo-petrol engine as well, and this is the same unit we’ve seen in the Maruti Fronx.

Here are all the powertrain options and their details: 

MT- Manual Transmission, AT- Automatic Transmission (torque converter)

Check out what powertrain each variant of the Maruti Brezza facelift has on offer.

1-litre Turbo-petrol

This is the engine that I drove on the first drive, and the first thing I noticed was how well refined it was considering it is a 3-cylinder unit. The power delivery with this engine is linear; there is a decent amount of low-end torque, and it does feel quick. However, the one thing it lacks is the option of an automatic transmission.

City Performance

While driving in Mumbai traffic, that too in the monsoon, the Brezza with this engine felt eager. Not that it was trying to push itself ahead with force, but I did notice that I didn’t have to play around with the clutch too much in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and that's a good thing.

During my city commute, the power delivery was gradual; it did not feel like I needed more to overtake anyone, and at no point did it feel too punchy. With enough power at hand, you can easily drive it around the city, and enough low-end torque means you don’t have to change gears that often.

The manual also comes with a light clutch, so traffic did not result in any pain in the knee. The gear shifts were smooth; they slot into place neatly, but an automatic would have made city drives more convenient.

As far as fuel efficiency goes, you can expect around 10-12 kmpl in the city if driven in a regular manner.

Highway Performance

This is where this engine lets you have a little fun. The acceleration feels quick, overtakes don’t take much time, and neither does getting to triple-digit speeds. Even when pushed, the engine does not feel stressed, and you will not be left wanting for more.

However, you don’t get pushed back into your seat; there is no drama or a sense of urgency. The power is just enough to have a little fun, but do not expect an exciting or thrilling experience out of the turbocharged Brezza.

While cruising on the highways, you can get a fuel efficiency of around 13-14 kmpl.

1.5-litre Naturally Aspirated Petrol

If you want an automatic Brezza and don’t mind relaxed performance instead of a fun one, then you can consider the bigger petrol engine. This engine has better refinement levels since it is a 4-cylinder unit, and the power delivery here too is linear.

When it comes to drivability, the 1.5-litre engine feels just enough. The power is delivered smoothly, there is enough power to go about your daily commutes, and it does not feel dull.

Even on the highways, performing overtakes will require planning and a downshift. You have to be patient as the engine takes time to build speed, but once you hit triple-digit speeds, it’ll cruise comfortably. The performance is not fun in any way, and all you get is a relaxed driving experience, which is enough for most use cases. 

1.5-litre Naturally Aspirated Petrol + CNG

Lastly, you also get a factory-fitted CNG kit with this engine, which does give you a much lower running cost. But this comes at a compromise. When driving in the city, you do not feel the lack of power, and your commutes remain more or less effortless. Overtakes do require some planning, though.

However, once you get onto the highway, getting to triple-digit speeds takes more time than in petrol mode, and overtakes will also feel slow. As you start to accelerate and get close to 80kmph, the acceleration starts to feel slow and sluggish. Also, the engine tends to become loud under load.

Ride Comfort

This is an area where the Brezza has always been great, and the facelift carries forward its comfortable nature. Over small bumps, potholes, and speed breakers, the Maruti Brezza is stable, doesn’t give you sudden jerks, and keeps movement inside the cabin to a minimum.

Over deeper potholes, you do feel some movement inside, but the impact is cushioned, and the car goes back to its position in a stable manner. However, rear seat passengers do feel more movement, which can cause a little discomfort, but that’s only on very poorly built roads.

Handling

At high speeds, the undulations and cracks on the highways are barely noticeable, and the body roll is well contained. Around a corner, you can drive the Brezza at the speed of 70-80 kmph, and while it does require some steering input, it also remains predictable.

The Brezza makes sure you remain comfortable in almost all conditions, and at the same time it keeps you happy with its handling and stability. It is not a car you’d want to push in a sporty manner, but you can still have some fun with it while keeping all occupants comfortable.

The Maruti Brezza is being offered in four variants: LXi, VXi, ZXi, and ZXi +.

Maruti Brezza LXi

• Gets all engine options: petrol, petrol + CNG, and turbo-petrol, all with manual transmissions.

• Exterior gets halogen projector headlamps, 16-inch steel wheels, shark fin antenna, a rear-mounted spoiler, and LED tail lamps.

• Cabin features a dual-tone theme, fabric seat upholstery, a height-adjustable driver seat (turbo only), and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel.

• In terms of features, you get all power windows, auto up/down driver window, electrically adjustable ORVMs, keyless entry, and rear AC vents.

• Turbo variants additionally get automatic climate control and adjustable rear seat headrests.

• For safety, you get 6 airbags, electronic stability program, rear parking sensors, hill hold assist, day/night IRVM, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. The turbo variant additionally gets a rear defogger.

• Check out the Maruti Brezza base variant in detail.

Maruti Brezza VXi

• Gets all powertrain options, including an automatic with the standard petrol engine.

• Updates on the outside include wheel covers for the petrol variant and painted 16-inch alloy wheels for the turbo variant.

• Cabin gets fabric on the door armrest, seat back pockets, and adjustable rear headrests in all variants.

• Additional features include auto AC in all variants, height-adjustable driver seat in all variants, and electrically folding ORVMs in the turbo variant.

• Infotainment package gets a 7-inch touchscreen, steering-mounted controls, 4 speakers, voice assistant, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

• Safety kit gets additions like a rearview camera (turbo only) and a rear defogger in all variants.

• This is what the mid-spec VXi variant of the Brezza has to offer.

Maruti Brezza ZXi

• Gets the same powertrain options as VXi.

• Exterior gets auto LED headlamps (turbo only), 16-inch painted alloy wheels in all variants, LED DRLs, roof rails, and dual-tone colour options.

• Cabin features ambient lighting, chrome inside door handles, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, rear centre armrest with cupholders, 60:40 split rear seat, and a rear parcel shelf.

• Feature additions include a single-pane sunroof, a wireless phone charger, rear charging ports (turbo only), and push-button start/stop.

• Entertainment package gets two additional tweeters (turbo only) and a coloured MID for the driver.

• Only the turbo variant gets additions to the safety kit in the form of blind spot alerts, rear cross traffic alert, front parking sensors, a rear wiper and washer, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

• Here is what you get in the one-below-top ZXi variant of the new Maruti Brezza.

Maruti Brezza ZXi +

• Only gets turbo-petrol manual and petrol automatic powertrains. No petrol manual and CNG manual on offer.

• Exterior gets auto headlamps, 16-inch machined alloy wheels, and front LED fog lamps.

• Cabin features semi-leatherette seat upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, wing-type rear headrests, and 64-colour ambient lighting.

• Additional features include a heads-up display, front seat ventilation, and auto-folding ORVMs.

• The infotainment package comes with a 10.1-inch touchscreen.

• The safety kit additionally gets a 360-degree camera.

• Here is what you get in the top of the line ZXI Plus variant.

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• Go for the VXi variant if you are low on budget. You’ll get all the features needed for your daily commutes, and you get all powertrain options.

• Pick the one-below-top ZXi variant for a more premium feeling inside and out, and it also comes with some creature comforts and a better safety package as well.

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift builds on a familiar package while addressing areas where it had started to feel dated. The refreshed styling, redesigned cabin, larger infotainment system, ventilated seats, and additional safety features make it a more well-rounded offering. The introduction of a turbo-petrol engine alongside the existing naturally aspirated petrol and CNG options also gives buyers greater flexibility, helping the Brezza remain a strong contender in the competitive subcompact SUV segment.

While the Brezza is not close to offering the premiumness and tech some of its rivals boast, the package you get is enough for your daily commutes, and it also helps the Brezza remain affordable and more accessible.

Other Options To Consider

Tata Nexon

Reasons To Consider

• More features

• CNG with turbo petrol

• More modern styling

• Gets a diesel engine

Reasons To Ignore

• Less rear seat space

• More expensive

• Compromised boot space in CNG 

This is how the new Maruti Brezza fares against the Tata Nexon.

Kia Sonet

Reason To Consider

• More fun to drive 

• Looks aggressive

• Comes with a diesel engine

Reasons To Ignore

• Looks smaller in comparison

• Less rear seat space

• No CNG option

Hyundai Venue

Reasons To Consider

• Much better features

• More premium

• Gets diesel engine option

• Looks more modern

Reasons To Ignore

• More expensive

• No CNG option

Check out how the facelifted Brezza competes with the Hyundai Venue.

Kia Syros

Reasons To Consider

• More space for rear passengers

• More premium cabin

• Better features

• Gets a diesel engine

Reasons To Ignore

• Polarising design splits opinions

• Much more expensive

• No CNG option

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Reasons To Consider

• Gets a diesel engine

• Better features

Reasons To Ignore

• Limited boot space

• No CNG option

Renault Kiger/Nissan Magnite

Reasons To Consider

• Much more affordable

• Good rear seat space

• Automatic option with turbo-petrol

Reasons To Ignore

• Feels less premium

• Less powerful engines

• Less features

Skoda Kylaq

Reasons To Consider

• More fun and engaging to drive

• Better features

Reasons To Ignore

• No diesel engine option

• Limited rear seat space

Maruti Fronx/Toyota Taisor

Reasons To Consider

• Coupe styling sets them apart

• Similar features

• Automatic with the turbo-petrol engine

Reasons To Ignore

• Less headroom in the back

• Less powerful NA petrol engine