Mildly Refreshed Maruti SX4 Launched in India


Thread Starter #1
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
7,026
Likes
2,847
Location
Mumbai
Maruti always had a Midas touch in the Indian small car market but their success rate dwindles as we go up the ladder.

The Grand Vitara and Kizashi were two bad memories for the car maker and the SX4 is not far away from being worrisome. The mid-size sedan never really took off and its fortunes were not reversed even after the introduction of the 1.3 MultiJet diesel engine.

The mid-size sedan segment has some potent players like VW Vento, Skoda Rapid and Nissan Sunny, and the SX4 is almost forgotten by car buyers. So, what are Maruti’s plans for the SX4 until the next gen model drives in for the rescue?
Maruti has planned to mildly refresh the SX4 as we enter the new year and it is evident from the spyshots by Rushlane.com’s reader Mr. Yash Patel. A camouflaged test mule of SX4 facelift was spotted testing in Gujarat.
The SX4 facelift gets a new chrome front grill; the honeycomb mesh has been replaced by horizontal slates. There is also a chrome strip on the bonnet just above the grill. The bumper is redesigned and is a bit more muscular now.
The interior and the powertrain options are expected to continue unaltered. The 1.6 litre petrol motor develops 103.3 bhp while the 1.3 litre diesel engine puts out 90 horses.
Will the minor refresh make the SX4 a quintessential Maruti?
[Source: Rushlane.com]


Read more: Spied - Maruti SX4 facelift will be in the town soon
 
Joined
Nov 4, 2011
Messages
437
Likes
18
Location
Trivandrum
Re: Test mule of SX4 facelift spotted

An interior upgrade along with a slight price decrease by around 50-75k can surely bring back the SX4 into the top sellers charts.
Reports regarding facelift is a welcome move !
MSIL please speed up the process !
 
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
2,638
Likes
187
Location
Pune
Re: Test mule of SX4 facelift spotted

Spy pics looks similar to existent model only ? Hope some drastic changes are there.
 
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
137
Likes
8
Location
New Delhi
Re: Test mule of SX4 facelift spotted

Hopeless chaps running MSIL. I wonder why the company even bothers to come up with limited editions and improper facelifts. Look at the Alto xplore, A-star, the numerous limited editions of Wagon R and Estillo, the celebration model of SX4 and now the facelifted model of SX4 which I'm sure would add no excitement to the already dated looks.

SX4 has got a good potential to regain its might and give a good competition to the other manufacturers, they just need to sack whoever is in charge of the face lifted and limited edition models. Hire people who have interest in the automotive field and not just random MBAs from top notch schools who aim for working at reputed companies.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
2,650
Likes
461
Location
Gurgaon
Re: Test mule of SX4 facelift spotted

SX4 is a very good mid size sedan which has space and the best GC accompanied by a decent size boot. But the interiors look like from 90's. And if MSIL is not going to upgrade the interiors then SX4 will surely meet the fate of Vitara and Kizashi. Working only on the exteriors is not good enough. IF they can't come up with something new then in that case at least they can change it or make it something like new Swift.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,670
Likes
137
Location
NCR
Re: Test mule of SX4 facelift spotted

i think a face lift wont make a big difference. The petrol is good but you have the city for that. the diesel is quite under powered and lacks the punch of the vento.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
2,650
Likes
461
Location
Gurgaon
Re: Test mule of SX4 facelift spotted

i think a face lift wont make a big difference. The petrol is good but you have the city for that. the diesel is quite under powered and lacks the punch of the vento.
Well that's true that a mere face lift is definitely not going to make a difference. They have to shuffle the car outside and more on the inside. And an updated SX4 with remapped interiors will definitely make a difference. Since SX4 has a very good GC and if i am not wrong is more spacious as well.
 
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
2,638
Likes
187
Location
Pune
Re: Test mule of SX4 facelift spotted

Hire people who have interest in the automotive field and not just random MBAs from top notch schools who aim for working at reputed companies.
+10000.
Just MBA chaps are no good. There is difference between being an MBA & being Street Smart. The later always wins.[:D]

If Maruti/Suzuki behaves like this, it will be trumped by Hyundai sooner than expected. Doesn't make sense if you play around only with altos & face lifts.

Just remove Dzire & Ertiga, where is Maruti ? Missing. [lol]

BTW, if Honda Amaze if priced right & has good cabin & engine, even Dzire may face some heat. Honda is also coming up with extended Jazz to compete Ertiga & Toyota is planning to bring smaller Innova.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,670
Likes
137
Location
NCR
Re: New Maruti SX4 Test Mule Spotted Testing

Yeah singh, the interiors do need to be changed. I find the Swifts cabin better than the sx4
 
Joined
Nov 20, 2012
Messages
117
Likes
14
Location
Hyderabad
Re: Test mule of SX4 facelift spotted

+10000.
Just MBA chaps are no good. There is difference between being an MBA & being Street Smart. The later always wins.[:D]

If Maruti/Suzuki behaves like this, it will be trumped by Hyundai sooner than expected. Doesn't make sense if you play around only with altos & face lifts.

Just remove Dzire & Ertiga, where is Maruti ? Missing.

BTW, if Honda Amaze if priced right & has good cabin & engine, even Dzire may face some heat. Honda is also coming up with extended Jazz to compete Ertiga & Toyota is planning to bring smaller Innova.
Wow S class.. A lot of hate talk I guess[:)] SX4 was doing well till 2011, its the 2012 where it saw a lot of competition. Don't write it off mate, it still has a lot of life in it, it has basic safety tech, very nice ground clearance, just Some beige here and there, a bit of redesigned a pillar can (again) set the sell chart fire.
on a related note isn't it a bit ironic that SX4 was a softroader/ large hatchback/Small SUV segment car which Maruti converted to Sedan with boot job, cause India loves(loved) Sedan
and Now with India's new found love with compact SUV segment, Maruti is scrambling with XA Alpha concepts. when They actually have one almost ready made..Is a 4X4 version that problematic??[confused]
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,670
Likes
137
Location
NCR
Re: New Maruti SX4 Test Mule Spotted Testing

SX4 was a failure in many countries across the world. I personally like it but that was long back at the time of the launch.The Sx4 was supposed to be a small crossover hence the ground clearance but it never worked out. So they stretched it and called it a sedan. maruti needs to change its strategies for upper class cars.If they dont,then great cars like Kizashi and grand Vitara will continue to have a floppy image.
The dezire would still sell because I dont think Honda has the capacity to produce so many cars.
 
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
Messages
137
Likes
8
Location
New Delhi
Re: Test mule of SX4 facelift spotted

Wow S class.. A lot of hate talk I guess[:)] SX4 was doing well till 2011, its the 2012 where it saw a lot of competition. Don't write it off mate, it still has a lot of life in it, it has basic safety tech, very nice ground clearance, just Some beige here and there, a bit of redesigned a pillar can (again) set the sell chart fire.
on a related note isn't it a bit ironic that SX4 was a softroader/ large hatchback/Small SUV segment car which Maruti converted to Sedan with boot job, cause India loves(loved) Sedan
and Now with India's new found love with compact SUV segment, Maruti is scrambling with XA Alpha concepts. when They actually have one almost ready made..Is a 4X4 version that problematic??[confused]
Sukanta, S-class is not rubbishing the car, its more of a frustrated talk rather than hate talk. And the reasons as cited by yourself are very much true.

SX4 was launched back in 2007, more than half a decade gone past and we have seen only the engine spec change (for good) when they introduced VVT and later the DDIS. Barring these, in all of these 6 years, the car has seen only cosmetic changes (different alloys, decals, door trim and seat fabric and THAT IS IT, you can actually count).

What frustrates is the lackadaisical approach of MSIL towards SX4, 6 years down the line any vehicle requires a major upgrade, this is where Honda and the likes triumph. SX4 was a good competition to the dolphin shape City, and to an extent the Arrow shape city. However, after the launch of Verna and Vento, things have got heated up in this segment and SX4 with all the safety and GC is not able to attract much buyers.

Also Sukanta, Suzuki and Fiat have been selling SX4 in 3 models, a hatchback , a 4x4 hatchback and a sedan type. The sedan type is not JUST specific for the India junta but is available in the USA too.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,670
Likes
137
Location
NCR
Re: New Maruti SX4 Test Mule Spotted Testing

Yeah the sedan and the 4X4 'crossover' is available in the U.S. with a 1.8. But at least here the sx4 sold in the starting, in the states it was a complete flop.
 
Thread Starter #14
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
7,026
Likes
2,847
Location
Mumbai
Re: New Maruti SX4 Test Mule Spotted Testing

Maruti is all set to launch an updated SX4 next year. The update will feature mostly cosmetic upgrades including revised front styling that consists of a new chrome-finish grille, re-profiled bumpers and headlamps while the rear is expected to get minor styling tweaks as well.
The styling updates to the front are similar to the facelifted SX4 that is sold in China. We had bought you spy pics of the same car back in 2010.

The interiors will also be spruced up and our sources tell us that the top-end variants will come with a standard navigation system. No mechanical changes are expected on the facelifted SX4, which is currently available in petrol, diesel and CNG versions.
 

Attachments

Joined
Nov 20, 2012
Messages
117
Likes
14
Location
Hyderabad
Re: New Maruti SX4 Test Mule Spotted Testing

Maruti is all set to launch an updated SX4 next year. The update will feature mostly cosmetic upgrades including revised front styling that consists of a new chrome-finish grille, re-profiled bumpers and headlamps while the rear is expected to get minor styling tweaks as well.
The styling updates to the front are similar to the facelifted SX4 that is sold in China. We had bought you spy pics of the same car back in 2010.

The interiors will also be spruced up and our sources tell us that the top-end variants will come with a standard navigation system. No mechanical changes are expected on the facelifted SX4, which is currently available in petrol, diesel and CNG versions.
Is it the same version that will be launch here?
The front grill look like Indigo, projector is very aftermarketish.. (Though I feel it is only for china, India will get normal headlamp)
A nav unit is Good, but it is not deal maker, A better interior is needed, but again Can it pull back people from verna/vento?
 

Top Bottom