EASY BREEZY

The updated Vitara Brezza, armed with a BS6 petrol engine, remains as easy to drive as ever.

- Pablo Chaterji

What does it take for a vehicle model to sell 5 lakh units in four years, as the Brezza has done since its launch in 2016? For some, the answer may be ‘It’s a Maruti, yaar of course it’ll sell in the gazillions.’ That may be partially true, no doubt, but the fact is that Maruti Suzuki knows the small vehicle game inside and out, having been in the business of acing it since 1983. Other than a few misses, it has managed to get the packaging just right for its models, and the Brezza was no different. I took its “SUV” categorising with a dose of salt, since what it really is is a large hatchback, but that aside, it ticked so many boxes that success at the box office seemed a given from the moment it was displayed at the Auto Expo four years ago. It looked reasonably handsome, had road presence, was kitted out with a good features list, drove and rode well enough for most and came with a tried and thoroughly tested 1.5-litre diesel engine that was peppy and fuel efficient. I had one a while ago as a (rather) long term test car, and I can vouch for the fact that it didn’t put a foot wrong the whole time. The only things I thought were missing in it were an automatic gearbox, and the option of a petrol engine.