Image: Maruti press kit
A comfortable, feature-loaded, reliable family SUV that wins on practicality and resale, even if enthusiasts will find the powertrain uninspiring.
The 2025 Maruti Brezza remains India's default sub-4m SUV: practical, well-equipped, and backed by Maruti's unmatched service network. The facelift brings a sharper face, a 9-inch touchscreen, six airbags on top trims, head-up display and a smoother 6-speed automatic, but the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol still feels lazy against turbocharged rivals.
The facelift sharpens the Brezza without abandoning its boxy SUV identity. The new front grille uses less chrome, the LED projector headlamps with dual DRL strips look genuinely modern, and the bumper's black-and-silver treatment adds visual heft. From the side, fresh 16-inch precision-cut alloys and a redesigned C-pillar element make the car appear larger than its sub-4-metre footprint, even though length, width and 200mm ground clearance are unchanged. A small but useful upgrade: the roof rails are now functional and rated to carry 30-40 kg, where earlier units were purely cosmetic. At the rear, slimmer LED tail lamps and a shark-fin antenna modernise the look, while the prominent BREZZA lettering is retained. As MotorOctane points out, the Brezza now looks one or two notches more upmarket than before, though it still does not project the youthful aggression of the Nexon or Sonet. Six exterior colours plus dual-tone options are offered, alongside Terra Scape and Metro Scape accessory packs.
Step inside and the cabin is the Brezza's most improved area, though still not its strongest suit. The dashboard gets a layered design with brown inserts that lift ambience, a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering, a 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a colour head-up display, wireless charging, automatic climate control, an electric sunroof and ambient lighting. The instrument cluster pairs analogue dials with a 4.2-inch TFT MID. Front seats are wide, well-cushioned and comfortable for long drives. Rear knee room, headroom and shoulder room are class-competitive, and the addition of rear AC vents plus Type-A and Type-C charging ports is a meaningful upgrade. Boot space stays at 328 litres with a 60:40 split rear seat. The criticism, voiced sharply by Gagan Choudhary, is that plastic textures and overall material richness still don't match the price; rivals like the Sonet and Venue offer plusher touchpoints. Leather seats and ventilated seats remain conspicuous omissions on a sub-4m SUV touching ₹16 lakh.
Powering every Brezza is the 1.5-litre K15C four-cylinder petrol with 12V smart hybrid assistance, producing 103 PS and 136 Nm. It pairs with a 5-speed manual or a new 6-speed torque converter automatic, replacing the old 4-speed unit. There is no turbo-petrol, no diesel and no factory CNG on the top trim. In the city, low-end response is adequate and the engine is impressively refined; NVH only intrudes past 4,000 rpm. The manual revs cleanly to its 6,000+ rpm redline and is the more engaging choice. The 6-speed automatic, however, is the bigger story: shifts are smooth and unobtrusive at cruise, and paddle shifters help when you need quicker downshifts. The catch, as MotorBeam notes after 4,000 km of long-term use, is that both engine and gearbox feel lazy when pushed hard. Overtakes above 100 kmph need planning and a downshift. This is a relaxed family powertrain, not an enthusiast's tool.
Ride and suspension tuning is where the new Brezza makes its most convincing case. The setup, MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam with coil springs at the rear, has been recalibrated to reduce the thuddy, stiff-legged feel of the older car. Small potholes are absorbed quietly, sharp expansion joints no longer transmit jolts to the spine, and on broken Indian backroads the suspension simply gets on with the job. Body roll, while still present, is now well controlled and never feels alarming. High-speed stability has also taken a step forward over the previous Vitara Brezza. Handling is the weaker half of the equation: the steering is light and easy in the city but vague and disconnected at speed, with limited self-centring at low speeds and no real feedback through corners. It is a car tuned for ease of use rather than driver involvement, which fits the Brezza's family-SUV brief but means enthusiasts should look at the Nexon or Venue.
Build quality is solid in the typical Maruti sense: panel gaps are consistent, doors shut with weight, and fresh cars are free of squeaks. Maruti has reportedly addressed the dashboard creak of older models. Safety is improved: six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, hill-hold, three-point seatbelts and ISOFIX are standard on higher trims, and the previous-generation Brezza scored four stars at Global NCAP. Feature highlights include a 360-degree camera, HUD, electric sunroof, auto-dimming IRVM, cruise control and connected-car tech. The touchscreen can be glitchy with Apple CarPlay connectivity, an issue likely fixable via a software update.
Pricing runs from roughly ₹7.34 lakh ex-showroom for the LXi to ₹16.6 lakh on-road in Mumbai for the ZXi+ AT dual-tone. The Brezza commands a premium partly because its 1.5-litre engine attracts higher GST than 1.2-litre rivals. The ZXi manual and automatic are the consensus value pick; the top ZXi+ feels stretched given the powertrain on offer. Where the Brezza claws back value is in ownership: real-world figures of 11-12 kmpl city and 15-17 kmpl highway, low service costs, the country's largest service network and strong resale. For buyers prioritising peace of mind over thrills, the maths still works.
TeamBHP's community broadly endorses the Brezza as a no-nonsense family SUV that delivers on Maruti's twin promises of low running costs and high resale, with owner reports backing real-world efficiency of 11-12 kmpl in the city and 15-16 kmpl on highways. Long-term observations highlight the touchscreen's Apple CarPlay glitches and the lazy gearbox response, but reliability of the engine and AMT/AT has been largely trouble-free. Owners of the older diesel upgrading to the new petrol miss the torque but appreciate the smoother NVH and improved ride.
"Sees the petrol Brezza as a long-overdue but worthwhile move that lets Maruti retain its sub-4m SUV crown, though the powertrain change is the bigger story than the cosmetic refresh."
"Calls the manual a strong value pick and praises the 6-speed AT as a major upgrade, but warns buyers that overtakes beyond 120 kmph need real effort from the naturally aspirated engine."
"Treats the Brezza as a feature-rich, well-rounded package, highlighting the smart hybrid system, 9-inch touchscreen, HUD, six airbags and 360 camera as the headline upgrades."
"Argues the Brezza is priced higher than rivals because of its 1.5L tax bracket and that interior textures still don't justify the sticker, though ride tuning and rear space are genuinely class-leading."
"After 4,000 km of long-term use, rates it a comfortable, reliable, easy-to-live-with SUV but says the ZXi+ is overpriced and the Hyundai Venue offers more value."