Maruti Escudo SUV to Launch Soon : The craze of SUVs is increasing continuously in India and vehicles like Hyundai Creta and Maruti Grand Vitara are being liked the most in this segment. Now in this race, Maruti is going to launch a new and powerful SUV, which can be named Maruti Escudo. This SUV will be sold from Arena dealership keeping in mind the general public, so that its price can be kept lower than Nexa vehicles.

What is Escudo and when can it come?

Maruti has already trademarked the name Escudo in India. In Japan, this name is used for Grand Vitara, but in India it can come with a different identity. The company is going to launch two big SUVs in 2025 – first electric eVitara and second this new petrol-hybrid Escudo SUV.

Earlier there was a plan for a 7-seater, now it will come in a 5-seater avatar

Initially Maruti wanted to make this SUV a 7-seater version of the Grand Vitara, so that it could compete with big SUVs like Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700. But now this SUV will be launched as a 5-seater compact SUV, which will directly compete with the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.

Will be special in design and size

The length of the Grand Vitara is about 4345 mm, Creta’s 4330 mm and Seltos’s 4365 mm. Escudo can be slightly longer than all these, which will give it more boot space and better cabin space. This can make this SUV even better for family trips and long drives.

Engine and variant options

This SUV is likely to get the same engines that are currently available in the Grand Vitara:

  • 1.5-litre petrol engine (103 PS power, 139 Nm torque)
  • Transmission options: 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic
  • CNG variant: With 88 PS power
  • Hybrid version: 1.5-litre engine + electric motor (total power 115 PS)
  • The hybrid model will get e-CVT gearbox
  • Both 2WD and 4WD (AllGrip) options will be available

Price and positioning – Between Brezza and Grand Vitara

Maruti will position the Escudo as an SUV between the Brezza and the Grand Vitara. This means that it will be cheaper than both and more value for money. Being sold through the Arena network, its price can be kept lower than the Nexa vehicles, making it more accessible to customers.

Production and sales plan

Maruti will produce around 2 lakh units of this SUV, a part of which will also go for export. The special thing is that Toyota will also launch its SUV based on this model, which will be built on the Y17 platform.

Result – A new challenging SUV

Maruti’s Escudo SUV is all set to give tough competition to vehicles like Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Affordable price, strong features and options from petrol to hybrid and CNG make it an all-round SUV. If you are looking for a big, comfortable and budget-friendly SUV, then Escudo can prove to be a great option.