Maruti Jimny vs Maruti Grand Vitara
Very soon and after an extremely long hiatus in the minds of Indian automotive enthusiasts, Maruti Suzuki will have the Grand Vitara and Jimny on sale in India, at the same time. The last time that happened, the Jimny was called the Gypsy and the Grand Vitara was sold as a CBU product, too expensive in the minds of its customer base. . However, Maruti recently launched the all-new made-in-India Grand Vitara which is now also available as a hybrid. On the other hand, Maruti also revealed the much-awaited 5-door Jimny at the recently-concluded 2023 Auto Expo. For those looking to buy an off-road capable, family SUV now have two options to choose from within Maruti-Suzuki’s stable again. In his comparison, we’ll tell you what each has to offer and which one would be the right choice for you.
Jimny Introduction
While we may refer to the Jimny 5-door as being all-new, the truth is that it is basically a lengthened version of the 3-door Jimny and that means Maruti has not messed with a winning formula. Apart from the longer wheelbase,the addition of the rear doors and an updated rear fascia are what help each stand apart. However, in terms of dimension; the new 5-door Jimny measures 3,985mm in length, 1,645mm in width and stands 1,720mm tall. It gets a wheelbase that measures 2,590mm, which is 340mm longer than the 3-door model. A major highlight for the Jimny and a first in India, it features Suzuki’s All-Grip Pro technology, which offers low-ratio gearing and brake-locking mechanical differentials. Overall, the Suzuki Jimny might be the perfect size for those wanting a rugged SUV for urban, mixed and off road conditions. Basically, a country like India.
Grand Vitara Introduction
The Maruti Grand Vitara, on the other hand, is an all-new SUV which has been launched to fulfill the niche of comfortable, mid-size SUVs with all-road capability for tricky road conditions. While we will be comparing only the AWD version of the SUV in this comparison, the Grand Vitara is also available with strong hybrid technology for those who want an SUV focused on fuel-efficiency over adventure. When it comes to dimensions, it measures 4,345mm in length, a width of 1,795mm and a height of 1,720mm.With, a wheelbase of 2,600mm, the Grand Vitara will be larger than the Jimny in all aspects and that definitely translates into a roomier interior as well. Along with that, Maruti also has a 7-seater or three-row version of the Grand Vitara in the works and that will be an even more pragmatic family SUV. On the other hand, the Grand Vitara gets Suzuki’s All-Grip Select AWD system and not the full-blown Pro version. Which means FWD-bias, full-time all-wheel-drive system with four driving modes – Auto, Snow, Lock and Sport.
Jimny Features
The interior of the Jimny 5-door is also kept similar to the 3-door model, which serves the purpose of aesthetics, cost-effectiveness and brand recognition extremely well. If we talk about the basic Zeta variant, you’ll have to sacrifice some high-end features but you will find cost-effective measures in the form of manual AC controls, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Maruti’s Smartplay system with 4 speakers, wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, all-4 power windows, colour MID, 15-inch steel wheels, adjustable ORVMs, rear wiper/washer and tilt-adjustable steering wheel.
Coming to the top-end Alpha version and speaking of additions, the 5-door Jimny gets a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Maruti’s SmartPlay Pro+ software, auto AC, 15-inch alloy wheels, Auto LED headlamps, leather wrapped steering wheel, push start/stop function, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an Arkamys sound-system. While the top-end definitely has a lot of extra additions, Maruti has made the basic Jimny a pretty tempting deal as well.
Grand Vitara Features
While the Jimny gets 4WD as standard, when it comes to the more road-oriented, comfort-biased Grand Vitara – Maruti will only be offering the AWD version of the new SUV in the top-end Alpha version and only with a manual transmission. When it comes to exterior features, it offers a chrome beltline, roof rails, roof spoiler, LED projector headlamps, fog lamps, tail lamps and DRLs, 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, ORVM-mounted turn indicators and rear wiper/washer.
However, the most exciting bit is the amount of features it has to offer inside. You get a dual-tone interior with leather seats, leather steering wheel, 4.2 inch colour MID, panoramic sunroof, steering-mounted controls with cruise control, 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Maruti’s Smartplay Pro+ Software, Arkamy’s surround sound system, auto AC, ventilated driver and co-driver seats, 360-degree camera and connected car features.
Jimny Powertrain
While Maruti has now moved on to the newer K15C version of its 1.5-litre inline-4 cylinder petrol engine, the Jimny 5-door will feature the older K15B engine – that can be either mated to the old 4-speed torque converter automatic or a 5-speed manual gearbox. This engine produces 103hp and 134Nm of peak torque. It also gets Maruti’s mild-hybrid tech and is the only engine/transmission option that will be offered in the Jimny.
As far as off-road gear is concerned, the Jimny 5-door gets Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro 4WD system with a manual transfer case and low range gearbox. With the help of the off-road bias traction control system, the onboard computers automatically brakes wheels that are losing traction, in order to allow torque to be re-distributed to other wheels.
Grand Vitara Powertrain
The Maruti Grand Vitara, on the other hand, comes with the newer K15C, 1.5-litre NA petrol engine which develops 105bhp and 138Nm of peak torque. However, while the Jimny is available with 4wd that can be mated to either a manual or automatic transmission, Maruti will only be offering the AWD version of the Grand Vitara with its 5-speed MT version. When it comes to off road capability, the Grand Vitara can actually be termed as a soft-roader in comparison to the Jimny.
While the Jomny features Suzuki’s All-Grip Pro system, the Grand Vitara gets Suzuki’s All-Grip Select system. The system offers four road/off-road driving modes – Auto, Snow, Lock and Sport. In the default Auto mode, the SUV stays in 2WD to maximise efficiency and automatically switches to AWD when it senses a loss in traction. Sport mode is meant to let the driver have fun on the road by engaging AWD while cornering and accelerating. Snow mode is meant for proper off-road use and automatically engages all four wheels to prevent loss of control on slippery surfaces. It functions by adjusting its electronic interference to each wheel on the go. The Lock mode puts the Grand Vitara into permanent all-wheel drive for maximum traction in rough conditions. It works in tandem with the ESP to automatically use brakes and reduce engine torque, if it senses any of the wheels are slipping and thus redirect that to other corners instead.
Jimny vs Grand Vitara (Price & Verdict)
So, we’ve told you what each vehicle has to offer in terms of features and performance. The Maruti Jimny was built to be a rough and tough off roader, which has been kitted up with modern tech for the urban environment. On the other hand, the Maruti Grand Vitara has been built as an urban-bias SUV which has been fitted with all-wheel drive capability. One will appeal to the hardcore adventure seekers who would want to carry the family or large amount of luggage along wherever they go. On the other hand, the Grand Vitara will appeal to those who want an SUV for every need, with the occasional weekend adventure trip planned in between. Both have different purposes but both offer a good choice for SUV lovers in India. While a definite verdict can only be made once the prices of the Maruti Jimny have been announced, the Grand Vitara narrows down the choice since it is only available in the high end MT version. The MT Alpha trim of the Maruti Grand Vitara has been priced at 16.89 lakh (ex-showroom)
See Full Video Comparison of Jimny vs Grand Vitara
