New Maruti S-Presso : A Fearless Small Vehicle To Redefine The Urban Mobility

Compact cars have it major way around the world, and it’s no exception in India. Maruti Suzuki has yet again proved why it is the market leader in this compact-car segment with the new hatchback S-Presso. This time too, it boasts the same bowing front, high ground clearance, and altogether more urbane dimensions.

Since 2019, the car has been Maruti Suzuki’s best-selling model, and it carved out a niche for itself as the first micro-SUV. Now, with the latest version of S-Presso, Maruti Suzuki is trying to pass on this value to customers while maintaining the S-Presso as a robust contender in the eye-wateringly competitive hatchback segment.

We have covered the new Maruti S-Presso in detail on its design, feature list, performance, safety quotient, and what makes it stand out from the competition.

Design and Styling –

The first look at the new Maruti S-Presso reveals that it continues to sport the upright stance of the vehicle and SUV-inspired design cues, but it has been touched a bit to offer a fresh and aggressive look.

The new S-Presso retains a boxy, high-riding design that continues to attract the ever-growing buyer who wants a compact vehicle with a commanding road presence. Its compact size makes it ideal for urban driving where maneuverability is key, while the elevated stance will ensure better visibility and ground clearance.

1. Exterior Updates –

– The front fascia has been updated by making a bolder grille, more pronounced chrome accents, and giving the car an SUV-like toughness.

– The headlamps had a slight redesign for a sharper and more modern appearance and may come equipped with LED DRLs in the higher variants.

– The side view is not altered much, but new wheel covers and also the optional alloy wheels have made it even sporty.

– The rear-end design had been upgraded to complement it more nicely with the overall outlook, and the placement of a spoiler would give it a more youthful character.
Its other attractions include a new range of lively colors to meet young buyers and its first-time car owners.

2. Compact SUV Appeal –

While it does share hatchback lineage, this little car’s SUV-like characteristics—high ground clearance of 180mm, upright seating position, and robust stance—set it apart from its more traditional WagonR and Celerio cousins. It, thus, makes for a great option for buyers who want SUV feel with lesser bulk and significantly lesser price tag compared to bigger SUVs.

Interior and Features –

Step inside the new Maruti S-Presso, and you walk into an astonishingly roomy cabin for the size. Improvements in the design have been supported on the inside as well with several interior changes. Thus, the new S-Presso manages to look much premium and tech savvy as compared to the previous one.

1. Enhanced Cabin Design :

– The central placement of a digital instrument cluster is striking to look at. Of course, one of the main design takeaways, however, it remains one of the very few designs which sets S-Presso apart from its peer cars in this segment.

– Better quality of plastics, new upholstery materials for seats and refined trims give a touch of sophistication in the interior.

As one may observe, the S-Presso is pretty roomy for its small size, offering a lot of room in terms of headroom and legroom for passengers seated at the front and rear. It indeed makes it one of the more spacious cars in its class.

2. Tech and Connectivity –

One of the main draws is the addition of Maruti’s SmartPlay Studio infotainment system-a 7-inch touchscreen which offers connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto besides Bluetooth, USB, and AUX.

– There is also an added feature of voice command coming together with navigation. These features put the S-Presso in a different level compared to others in the compact car category because often, these car manufacturers never get this feature as standard.

– The steering-mounted controls are available in higher variants of S-Presso, allowing the infotainment system to be controlled by keeping your hands on the steering wheel.
Connected car features allow the tech-savvy user to monitor the health, location, and even set geofence limits using a smartphone application.

3. Comfort and Convenience –

– The range offers manual air conditioning across the range and gets power windows and remote keyless entry on higher variants.

– The car features an adjustable driver’s seat, which provides for an optimal position for a long drive, even by taller people.

– 60:40 split rear seats provide flexibility in the cargo area, making the S-Presso a practical choice for city dwellers who occasionally need to transport larger items.

Performance and Engine Specifications –

Under the bonnet, this new Maruti S-Presso ticks along with the same 1.0-liter K10C DualJet petrol engine. It’s an optimized and fuel-efficient unit that now meets the latest BS6 Phase 2 norms. At the same time, though, it’s quite peppy enough to deliver good performance, where it would have been even better if fuel efficiency could touch 24 kmpl.

1. Engine Performance –

– S-Presso equips its customers with an engine that produces 67 bhp of power and 89 Nm of torque, which is enough for smooth acceleration in tight city jams while the lightness and playfulness of the vehicle are not lost on the road.

– The S-Presso comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox or optional AGS (Auto Gear Shift) transmission, which, by the way, helps in smooth gear shifts and saves time, especially in heavy traffic conditions.

The AGS version has found a huge demand among the buyers who would wish to own a very cheap automatic where practicality meets good fuel consumption.

2. Fuel Efficiency –

The other significant feature of the new S-Presso is impressive fuel efficiency, one of the primary considerations for buyers in small car segments. Maruti Suzuki claims mileage for this vehicle at 25.30 km/l for its manual variant and slightly higher for the AGS variant to rank it among the most fuel-efficient cars in its class.

– This fuel economy along with Maruti’s pan-India service network and low maintenance cost makes S-Presso an economical proposition for ownership.

3. Driving Dynamics –

– The high ground clearance and compact dimensions make the S-Presso a joy to drive on the narrow city roads, and it copes very easily with the rough patches.

The car has improved maneuverability with light steering and a very sharp turning radius. It is easy to go through traffic on the road or park in thin spaces.

Safety Features –

Safety has gradually become a parameter for car buyers. Maruti Suzuki, however, has been sure about new S-Presso being crash-tested with the latest norms that prevail for cars. Now, it offers an advanced level of safety package in the car.

1. Standard Safety Features –

All three variants come with standard dual front airbags.

S-Presso is equipped with ABS with EBD- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, which helps steady the vehicle in case of sudden braking.

The vehicle comes with features like reverse parking sensors, seatbelt reminders, and speed alerts that enhance the safety quotient of the automobile also.

2. Built to be Safe –

– The car is based on the HEARTECT platform, believed to be designed to absorb and distribute impact energy during a collision, thereby improving the safety of passengers.

– Pedestrian Safety Features: The S-Presso has also been equipped with pedestrian safety features so that the car does not flout recent safety norms.

Competition and Price –

The S-Presso finds itself in the entry-level hatchback segment and poses a challenge to Renault Kwid, Hyundai Santro, and Tata Tiago. One certainly hopes that each one has something to offer the customer different and fresh yet not at the cost of compromise over something else.

The SUV-like stance of the S-Presso, superior fuel efficiency, and its competitive pricing make it seem a pretty strong candidate in the segment.

Based on the variant offered, the price of the S-Presso will range between ₹4.5 lakh and ₹6.5 lakh. This, being an attractive proposition for budget-conscious customers who look for a city car that is both feature-rich, stylish, and practical.

Conclusion –

The new Maruti S-Presso makes the good time and milestone achieved by its predecessor even better, enhanced with features, safety, and performance, but retaining quirky design and pocket friendliness. For an urban commuter that requires a compact car yet spacious and serving both in terms of style and substance, S-Presso will continue to be a great choice.

Its hybrid design of SUV-inspired looks, latest technology, and fuel efficiency sets it apart in a very saturated segment. Be it a first car or an additional car for city usage, the new S-Presso definitely needs to be on your list.

As Maruti Suzuki continues with innovation and improvement of the product, the new version of S-Presso is more than enough evidence of the commitment the brand has been carrying towards achieving reliable features and deliverance that is affordable to any Indian car buyer, thus remaining a number one choice.