Maruti Suzuki to Launch New Escudo SUV Around the 2025 Festival Season

Maruti Suzuki is set to introduce a new SUV named the Escudo into its lineup of cars. The manufacturer is hoping to release this car during India's festive season in 2025. This new SUV will be placed between their existing Brezza and Grand Vitara models. It will compete with the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Honda Elevate.

The Maruti Escudo should begin at around ₹9.7 lakh (excluding road tax and insurance), which is fairly affordable for a mid-size SUV. The most costly ones may cost between ₹15-16 lakh. Maruti is developing this SUV for customers who desire more space, improved features, and decent safety without breaking the bank.

The Escudo will likely have a longer wheelbase than the Grand Vitara. That translates into more room inside the vehicle and a larger boot for luggage. The firm will likely construct it from its Global-C or HEARTECT platform, which contributes to making cars lighter and more efficient. The look of the SUV will likely feature a robust design with LED headlights, stylish alloy wheels, and high ground clearance that is perfect for Indian roads.

The new Maruti Escudo could include features such as a large touchscreen system that is wirelessly compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic air conditioning, a digital driver's display, and a sunroof that opens over the entire cabin in higher variant models. Luxurious features include a camera system that displays all around the vehicle, and advanced safety tech that assists drivers.

The Escudo will likely be powered by Maruti's 1.5-liter petrol motor, which currently powers vehicles such as the Grand Vitara and XL6. This motor will likely come with mild-hybrid technology to conserve fuel. It will be available with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic. Maruti is also likely to offer a CNG variant of the Escudo, but this has not been officially announced. The firm likely won't provide a four-wheel drive or diesel engine, since they're targeting city and family use.

Safety will be highly crucial for the success of Escudo. The SUV is expected to be equipped with six airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, hill hold assist, and rear parking sensors across all variants. Maruti has been striving to enhance safety ratings recently, and the Escudo could target a 5-star rating by Bharat NCAP to attract safety-conscious buyers.

The Escudo is a crucial piece of Maruti's SUV strategy. While the Brezza competes in the sub-SUV segment and the Grand Vitara is aimed at premium customers, the Escudo will capture the customers who wish to own a medium SUV without spending excessively on it. It will be a straight fight for the players in the ₹10-16 lakh segment, such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor, and Honda Elevate.

Individuals can likely book the Escudo in and around August or September 2025, and car deliveries should commence before the Diwali festival. The company will retail it through their Nexa showrooms, which deal with the company's higher-end models. All the details, such as complete specifications, features for individual variants, and the precise launch date, will be communicated close to the launch date.

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With its anticipated mix of features, security, room, and Maruti's wide service network, the Escudo can be a formidable opponent in the crowded mid-size SUV segment. The focus of the company on delivering good value for money with improved security may appeal to several customers in the festive season.