A heavily camouflaged test mule of an all-new SUV has recently been spied testing on our roads, and we suspect it to be the upcoming three-row derivative of the Maruti Grand Vitara SUV. Autocar India exclusively reported on Maruti working on a new 7-seater version of the Grand Vitara back in early 2023, and this is the first sighting of the prototype that’s internally codenamed Y17.
- Grand Vitara 7-seater gets e Vitara-inspired styling
- Will carry over the same platform and engines as regular Grand Vitara
- Will be produced at Maruti’s new plant in Kharkhoda
Maruti Grand Vitara three-row spied for the first time
The giveaway that this is an SUV based on the Grand Vitara are the doors – the overall shape, the window line and even the positioning of the mirrors are quite similar to the regular Grand Vitara. However, a closer look reveals a slightly longer overhang at the rear to accommodate an additional row of seats, and it is likely Maruti will have also increased the wheelbase.
What’s interesting is that some of the design details, very faintly visible through the camouflage, are far removed from the Grand Vitara. In fact, they seem inspired by the upcoming Maruti e Vitara, especially the lighting elements and the front bumper. There seems to be an LED DRL setup up top, with Maruti’s signature three-dot motif, while the main headlamps are positioned on the bumper. The surfacing of the bumper with centrally-mounted air inlets also looks similar to the e Vitara. At the rear, it seems to have wraparound full-width LED tail lamps.
Maruti seems to have done a good job differentiating the upcoming three-row SUV from its 5-seater sibling, at least visually. Not much of the interior can be seen in this sighting, but three’s a large free-standing infotainment screen, and the dashboard design will likely also be completely new.
Maruti Grand Vitara three-row engine, platform
The Y17 SUV will sit on the same global C platform as the standard Grand Vitara, and it is also expected to carry forward the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated and 1.5-litre petrol-hybrid engines; gearbox options, too, are expected to be carried over from the 5-seater SUV.
Sources tell us that the three-row version of the Grand Vitara will be built at Maruti’s upcoming plant in Kharkhoda, Haryana. This new plant will be operational by mid-2025, and the Y17 is expected to be the first model to be mass produced here. Therefore, a debut towards the end of 2025 can be expected.
Upon launch, the Maruti Y17 will be positioned to rival the likes of the Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus, all of which are also three-row derivatives of their respective 5-seater siblings.
Also See:
Kia Syros: what to expect ahead of December 19 debut
Skoda increases production capacity as Kylaq production begins