Maruti S-Presso

Expert Review by Maxabout

Overview

Maruti's mini-SUV is named after a type of coffee that most Indians might not be a fan of, an espresso is a tiny, bitter beverage with an acquired taste. Fortunately, we don't have to get used to driving a Maruti Suzuki or any other car that may not be to our liking. Furthermore, the formula isn't particularly novel either as Renault has done this successfully with the Kwid in the past. And Maruti wants to capitalise on our fondness for automobiles with raised ride heights, as well as our collective aversion to what the government insists on calling roads.

Maruti S-Presso Design and Style

The S-Presso, which was previewed by the Maruti Future-S concept at the 2018 Auto Expo, is a long cry from the radical-looking design study. Many production cars appear different from their concept incarnations, but the S-Presso and Future-S are as different as chalk and cheese. While the former features a boxy body shape with simple surfaces and uninteresting lines, the latter is a more forward-thinking take on a crossover-inspired small automobile.

Clearly, the designers of this little automobile prioritised utility over form, resulting in an extremely functional interior, but more on that later. The front end resembles the Maruti Vitara Brezza, with a high-set hood and a streamlined upper grille. The two-tone bumper strives to verify the SUV aspirations of the car, while the horizontally oriented LED DRLs, which are, of course, optional extras, add some premiumness to the design.

Maruti S-Presso seems slab-sided in profile, with soft creases and an enormous expanse of sheet metal, together with the somewhat modest DLO (Daylight Opening). The black plastic wrapping on the car's side skirts, fortunately, provides some visual relief. The back end of the car is where the style becomes intriguing. A beautiful pair of tail lamps, a discrete roof spoiler, and a two-tone bumper that complements the front end are among the highlights.

Maruti S-Presso Engine and Gearbox

The BS6-compliant variant of the K10B 1.0-litre, three-pot, naturally aspirated petrol engine found under the hood of the Alto K10 powers the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso. The engine produces a maximum of 67 HP at 5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 90 Nm at 3,500 rpm. Given the low curb weight of 726 kg and the limited capacity petrol engine, this inexpensive car performs admirably. S-Presso also borrowed the transmission options from the K10, with a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT.

Maruti S-Presso Suspension, Brakes and Tyres

The baseline Maruti Suzuki S-Presso is built on the carmaker's HEARTECT-K platform and features a front MacPherson Strut with Coil Spring and a rear Torsion Beam with Coil Spring suspension. Front disc brakes and rear drum brakes are in charge of stopping. In terms of tyres and wheels, Maruti has supplied the base variant with 145/80 R13 tyres and 13-inch alloy wheels. The wheel size and tyre section change across variations.

Maruti Suzuki also includes various standard safety features, such as a driver-side airbag, ABS with EBD, seat belt reminders, and a speed alert system. Furthermore, rear parking sensors are standard, allowing the car to be effortlessly parked in tight situations. Passenger-side airbags, Seat Belt Pre-tensioner, and Force limiters are among the additional safety features.

Interior and Instrument Console of Maruti S-Presso

Foremost, unlike the exterior, the interior of the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso appears to be visually connected to the concept. True, you don't get the concept's amazing suicide doors, but you get a spherical centre console enclosed in a shell. It boasts a 7.0-inch SmartPlay Studio infotainment system, and a design inspired by the dial of a modern digital wristwatch, according to the company. The steering is from the Maruti parts bin and looks athletic, while the plastic quality is adequate for a car in this class.

While the Maruti S-Presso is not a large car by any means, its inside would make you believe otherwise. The cabin is light and spacious, with enough room for four full-grown individuals. The driver's seat is situated rather high, giving the driver a good perspective of the road. This is something that is typical of SUVs, and it benefits the tiny car. Passengers in both rows have plenty of legroom, and all the chairs are fairly supportive. The rear seats demand a larger pair of headrests and the S-Presso comes with a 240L cargo capacity.

Key Features of Maruti S-Presso

The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso comes with a host of features, some of the key features on the Maruti S-Presso mini-SUV are a 7.0-inch SmartPlay Studio touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Digital Instrument cluster with distance-to-empty, fuel consumption, gear-shift indicator and other functions, Steering-mounted controls, keyless entry and roof antenna; among a host of others.

ABS with EBD, driver and passenger airbags, immobilizer, central locking, pedestrian protection, high-speed warning, seat-belt reminder and pre-tensioner, speed-sensing auto door lock, reverse parking sensors and such are some safety features on the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso.

Top Speed and Mileage of Maruti S-Presso

The Maruti S-Presso offers ARAI-certified mileage of 21.4km/l for the petrol-manual powertrain. The petrol-automatic powertrain on the Maruti S-Presso available on the higher trims offers an ARAI-certified mileage of 21.7km/l, while the CNG variant gives the mileage of 31.2 km/kg. With the top speed of 148 km/h, it takes Maruti S-Presso to speed up from 0 to 100 km/h in around 13 seconds.

Maruti S-Presso Colour Options

The official Maruti website shows a total of 8 variants and the 6 available colours for Maruti S-Presso are Metallic Silky Silver, Solid Sizzle Orange, Solid White, Pearl Starry Blue, and Solid Fire Red and Metallic Granite Grey.

Maruti S-Presso Competitors

Renault KWID and Datsun GO are the prime rivals of the Maruti S-Presso in the same mini-SUV segment and Maruti Wagon R, Tata Tiago, and Hyundai Santro are also some similar cars that can be considered while browsing some other options against the S-Presso.

Conclusion

The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso received a zero-star rating in the Global NCAP #SaferCarsForIndia crash tests. While none of the immediate S-Presso competitors performed well in the crash tests, we would have wanted to see this compact car do better. They included the front passenger airbag in the higher variations, but purchasers of other variants must pay a Rs 6,000 premium to receive this crucial safety feature on their vehicles. Maruti aimed the S-Presso at individuals looking for a tiny hatchback that is distinct from other hatchbacks on the market. The S-Presso has a fair chance of success if it follows the market's SUV trend. So, if safety isn't your priority, this could be a realistic alternative for your first mini-SUV.