Maruti Suzuki is working on a strong hybrid version of its popular Brezza SUV, and word is it’ll arrive with the third-generation model sometime in 2029.
The Brezza’s been India’s go-to compact SUV since 2016 – heck, it became the first Indian SUV to hit 5 lakh sales in under five years. That’s no small feat. Now Maruti’s planning to give this people’s favorite a proper hybrid treatment. We’re not talking about the mild-hybrid stuff they’ve been tinkering with, but a full-blown strong hybrid system that could really stir things up in this space.
This isn’t just industry chatter either. The Brezza hybrid fits into Maruti’s bigger electrification game plan, sitting alongside the Fronx hybrid (due 2026), a new-gen Baleno hybrid (also 2026), and the Swift hybrid (2027). Think of it as Maruti’s way of taking on Toyota’s hybrid dominance, but keeping things affordable – which is what they do best.
Powertrain and Technology
Here’s where it gets really interesting. Maruti’s apparently moving away from the current 1.5-litre engine to a smaller, more efficient 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder Z12E petrol unit that’ll work with an electric motor and battery pack. They’re developing what they’re calling a “series hybrid” system – basically a more wallet-friendly alternative to Toyota’s fancy Atkinson cycle hybrid tech.
This is completely different from the mild-hybrid setup that Maruti quietly brought back to the current Brezza earlier this year. That 48V system, which you can get in the ZXi and ZXi+ manual trims, pushes fuel efficiency from a decent 17.38 kmpl to a pretty impressive 19.89 kmpl. Not bad, but the strong hybrid system should be in a league of its own, potentially delivering mileage figures that’ll make your neighborhood uncle who obsesses over fuel costs very, very happy.
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Current Brezza: Setting the Stage
The current second-gen Brezza isn’t just sitting around waiting for its hybrid cousin to show up. Maruti’s been fine-tuning things, bringing back that mild-hybrid tech after briefly dropping it in July 2023. Makes sense when you’ve got the Tata Nexon and Hyundai Venue constantly nipping at your heels.
Right now, if you want the Brezza with mild-hybrid tech, you’re looking at ₹11.05 lakh for the ZXi manual, going all the way up to ₹13.98 lakh for the fully-loaded ZXi+ automatic. The current lineup’s pretty well-equipped too – 360-degree camera, heads-up display, electric sunroof, and that reassuring 4-star Global NCAP safety rating.
Market Context and Competition
The timing for a Brezza hybrid couldn’t be better, really. While the current model already leads its segment in fuel efficiency compared to rivals like the Kia Sonet and Tata Nexon, the hybrid version could set an entirely new standard. We’re potentially looking at mileage figures that could give dedicated hybrid vehicles a run for their money – and in a market where every trip to the petrol pump hurts, that’s huge.
The Brezza’s success story speaks for itself – it consistently ranks among India’s top-selling SUVs with nearly 13,000 units flying off showroom floors every month. That proves there’s serious appetite for practical, efficient compact SUVs. A strong hybrid version could tap into that growing crowd of eco-conscious buyers who want to do their bit for the environment but aren’t quite ready to deal with EV charging hassles.