MARUTI ESCUDO SET TO CRASH CRETA’S PARTY THIS FESTIVE SEASON: WHAT TO EXPECT?

Maruti Suzuki is ramping up its SUV lineup by introducing a new Hyundai Creta rival in the upcoming festive season. The new SUV will be a five-seater and will be slotted in between the Brezza and the Grand Vitara. The new vehicle will be called Escudo and is expected to make its debut around Diwali time. The new SUV will be the flagship model for the Maruti Suzuki Arena brand.  

Maruti Suzuki Escudo: What is it?

The Escudo is expected to be based on the Global C Platform, like the Grand Vitara and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. According to reports, the new Maruti SUV could be one of the longest in its segment, offering more cabin space. As it will be under the Arena banner, the Escudo could be aggressively priced and might not get the strong hybrid powertrain option. The tried-and-tested 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine will power the new SUV and is currently available in the Brezza and the Grand Vitara. The engine is available in two transmissions — a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic torque converter.

Like all Maruti Suzuki vehicles, the Escudo will be offered in CNG, but we will have to see if it also comes in an all-wheel-drive version.

Maruti Suzuki Escudo: Features

The Escudo will get a brand new infotainment screen, which will be the largest in the Maruti lineup. Currently, the Grand Vitara is equipped with a 9-inch screen, but the new vehicle is expected to sport an over 10-inch touchscreen. It will come with the usual features like front ventilated seats, an all-digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control, wireless phone charger, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and connected tech. It will be the first vehicle from Maruti Suzuki Arena to offer a panoramic sunroof.

Maruti Suzuki Escudo: Safety

The Escudo is expected to be packed with safety features like six airbags, ABS with EBD, hill hold assist, a 360-degree camera and all disc brakes. The Escudo could be the second Maruti Suzuki vehicle to be equipped with the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems suite after the upcoming e Vitara. With a lot of focus on safety, we won’t be surprised if Maruti is aiming to achieve a 5-star crash test rating from Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP.

Maruti Suzuki Escudo: Expected Launch

Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to launch two SUVs this year, the much-awaited e-Vitara that was showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 and the new Escudo that will rival the Creta, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, etc. The Escudo is expected to make its debut around the festival time.

2025-06-23T09:07:30Z