The Best Of Both Worlds: Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Ever since the Grand Vitara debuted, it has proven immensely successful for Maruti Suzuki, and for good reason. With its Strong Hybrid technology, the Grand Vitara is not only frugal but also a proven, capable performer that adds a touch of sophistication to your daily drive. Talk about delivering the best of both worlds!

If you are still wondering if this technology is better than other fuel types, the article below will erase all doubts and change your perception towards this eco-friendly and future-ready technology from Maruti Suzuki.

What is Strong Hybrid Technology

Maruti Suzuki's comes with the latest hybrid innovation - Strong Hybrid technology. This technology features two power sources for a vehicle - an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. This system works simultaneously where the power control unit of the vehicle monitors and understands the vehicle's needs and automatically switches between the engine and the motor to give power to the car. This switchover is jerk-free and passengers hardly notice the change, ensuring a smooth drive experience. The vehicle gets optimised power and fuel efficiency by combining the engine's power and the electric motor. 

What about charging the Strong Hybrid battery? 

Maruti Suzuki's Strong Hybrid Technology is also a worry-free approach for customers because the lithium-ion battery is self-charging. It charges itself with the help of regenerative braking and can also be charged by the main engine if needed. This means there is no need for external charging in these vehicles. 

Benefits of Maruti Suzuki's Strong Hybrid Technology

The Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid comes with many benefits for the owner. It improves daily driving in many ways - performance, range and lesser CO2 emissions. Let us understand these in a better way below.

• Over 1200 KM in a full tank

Our avid readers and followers may remember that not too long ago, we drove the Maruti Suzuki's Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid from Delhi to Mumbai in a single tank of fuel and still had fuel left in the tank. 

So, how did the Grand Vitara do that? The answer lies in technology - the Strong Hybrid Technology charges the battery through regenerative braking when the driver brakes or takes off the foot from the accelerator. The second way of charging the battery is via the main engine itself. This technology does not rely on external charging, so owners never need to look for charging outlets. When the system has ample charge, the electric motor takes over, thereby saving fuel and lowering consumption significantly. The Strong Hybrid technology, combined with the efficient 1.5-litre engine, gives the Grand Vitara over 1200 KM of driving range in a full tank. This also reduces visits to fuel stations.

• Performance

Under the hood of this car, Maruti Suzuki has installed a 1.5-litre petrol engine, which produces a combined 85 kW and 141 Nm of torque. As we've said before, the Strong Hybrid Technology is not just about frugality; it also packs ample power. 

With a good spread of torque available across the rev range, the Grand Vitara makes quick work of city runabouts and feels super confident and stable on the highway. Its powertrain offers ample power in the city and allows you to munch miles as effortlessly as possible, thus offering the best of both worlds. 

• EV Mode

The Grand Vitara is Maruti Suzuki's first car with a dedicated EV mode. It allows you to run the vehicle without having to engage the engine. This way, the car runs silently like a conventional electric car would. Under heavier acceleration, the engine automatically kicks in, and it is a relatively seamless affair.

When the battery has enough charge, you can run the car in EV mode, extending its driving range with zero emissions. In EV mode, the Strong Hybrid Grand Vitara can cruise at highway speeds too, giving you the best of both electric silence and high-speed performance. This was experienced by us during our record-making journey from New Delhi to Mumbai in a full tank and enabled the Grand Vitara to cover the 1400 KM drive without a refuel.

When the battery runs out of charge, the system automatically switches back to the internal combustion engine. This switchover is seamless and smooth without the occupants coming to know about it. 

Feature Loaded

All the benefits of the Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid that you have read above are not at the cost of features and modern-day tech. The Strong Hybrid Grand Vitara is one of the most feature-loaded mid-size SUVs. Some of these include the following : 

• Ventilated Seats

Our country has tropical, humid conditions in most areas, which means bad news for those who sweat heavily. That is the last thing anyone wants to experience while driving. 

Fortunately, the Grand Vitara offers relief from that problem with front-row ventilated seats, which are adjustable up to three levels. The seats are well-contoured, and the effective ventilation system, combined with the very capable climate control system, makes long and short drives both calm and cool.

• Panoramic Sunroof

Say you're out on a long drive, munching miles out on the highway. The Grand Vitara is keeping you very happy with its proven performance and efficiency. The Arkamys sound system is also ensuring high-definition sound in the cabin. But what if your loved ones want to look up at the sky?

This is where the Grand Vitara's panoramic sunroof comes in. Not only does it make things more scenic and airy inside the cabin, it also allows for more natural light to seep in during the day.  At night, the panoramic sunroof allows your passenger to look up at the stars in the sky and appreciate the beauty of the universe without ever having to stop the car. 

• Drive Modes

Having drive modes in a car is an absolute necessity today, as they cater to various kinds of driving conditions and habits. The Grand Vitara offers three driving modes that allow you to alter the car's characteristics depending on the conditions around you. 

The 'ECO' mode is for when you're looking to conserve as much fuel as possible, most likely in crowded conditions and bumper-to-bumper traffic. It offers higher levels of fuel efficiency, thus ensuring you don't empty your fuel tank by a considerable margin. 

The 'Normal' mode is for when you want a perfect balance between performance and efficiency, and it is best suited for normal driving conditions. Last but not least, the 'Power' mode is for when you want to have some fun behind the wheel and enjoy the Grand Vitara's abilities to the fullest. 

Other key features include a 22.86cm SmartPlay Pro+ touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 360-view camera, wireless charger, 6 Airbags etc.

Peace of mind

The battery pack of the Strong Hybrid Grand Vitara is covered by an extensive 8-year / 1 60 000km warranty*, thus giving you added peace of mind. Even better, Maruti Suzuki also offers a wide range of extended warranty programmes, which can be accessed by visiting this link. 

*Disclaimer: Maruti Suzuki offers warranty of ninety six (96) months or 1,60,000 kilometers (whichever occurs first) for Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) battery from the date of invoice to the first owner.