Maruti Brezza turns 10: A look back at the brand’s first compact SUV – Introduction

March 2026 marks 10 years of sales for the Maruti Brezza, the carmaker’s first entry into the compact SUV segment. For context, this segment was initially pioneered by the Premier Rio and later popularised by the Ford EcoSport, but both models have been discontinued, and over the years, several manufacturers have introduced their own compact SUV offerings. Maruti states that the Brezza has consistently remained among India’s top 10 bestselling cars over the past ten years. 

The compact SUV also won the 2017 Autocar India Car of the Year award and holds the distinction of being the first Maruti model to be designed and developed entirely in India. Here is a look at how the compact SUV has evolved over the years.

First-gen Maruti Vitara Brezza (2016-2022)

Maruti launched the first-gen Brezza on March 8, 2016, priced between Rs 6.99 lakh and Rs 9.68 lakh. The brief was simple: Maruti designers wanted to capture the upright stance and look of a proper SUV within the small footprint and they achieved that. Under the hood, there was just one engine at launch, the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre diesel producing 89bhp and 200Nm; one could choose between a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT. The cabin was spacious for its size and well equipped for the segment at the time, which helped the Brezza quickly find favour with buyers. But the big moment came in 2018, when the Brezza scored an impressive 4 out of 5-star rating in Global NCAP crash tests.

Facelift

The mid-lifecycle update brought a bigger mechanical shift than the exterior suggested. With the transition from BS4 straight to BS6 emission norms, the diesel engine was dropped entirely, and in its place came Maruti’s 1.5-litre K15B naturally aspirated petrol engine. There was another key change: the AMT made way for a more sophisticated 4-speed torque converter automatic unit. Even the steering became lighter and easier to use in city conditions, and ride comfort at low speeds improved. In 2020, Toyota introduced a rebadged version called the Urban Cruiser, but it was discontinued 2 years down the line.

Second-gen Maruti Brezza (2022-present)

With the second generation, Maruti dropped the ‘Vitara’ prefix, renaming the SUV simply as the Brezza. It continues to be based on the same Global C platform as its predecessor, although the company refers to it as the TECT platform for differentiation. The generational update introduced two firsts for the model: a sunroof and a factory-fitted CNG option. Its exterior received sheet metal revisions, while the cabin was updated with features like a larger 9-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera, a branded Arkamys sound system and more. Safety equipment was also expanded, with the inclusion of six airbags and the addition of ESP to manual variants. 

Its automatic transmission choice was upgraded to a 6-speed torque converter unit with paddle shifters. The 1.5-litre petrol engine was revised as well as the earlier single-injector setup was replaced with a dual-injector system. Although it remains an indirect-injection unit, each cylinder now gets two injectors, aiding fuel efficiency. Fuel efficiency figures also improved. The previous model claimed up to 17.03kpl (manual) and 18.06kpl (automatic), whereas the new Brezza is rated at 20.15kpl for the manual and 19.80kpl for the automatic.

Maruti Brezza sales data

Since its launch, the Brezza has remained a strong seller, as reflected in the figures above. Sales more than doubled in its second year, and while 2020 witnessed a slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the abrupt discontinuation of the diesel engine, they rebounded strongly the following year. Between 2021 and 2025, annual sales have averaged over 1,50,000 units, which works out to roughly 12,500 units per month. In fact, just last month, the Brezza ranked as the fifth best-selling model in India.

All prices are ex-showroom.