We drove the much-awaited compact SUV of 2016, the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza to see if it can really live up to the hype that it has created. Will it be one of India's most popular cars in the years to come? Let's see if it passes the test. Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Test Drive Model: ZDi Plus with the 1.3-litre diesel engine. The new offering was launched in the second week of March, 2016. The Vitara Brezza is presently available only in diesel variants. The range is starting at a competitive price of 6.99 Lakhs. Vitara Brezza will be competing in compact SUV segment. Ford Ecosport, Renault Duster and Hyundai Creta are popular models in this segment in India. EXTERIOR The first thing you really notice is how this sub 4-meter compact SUV appears to look much bigger than it actually is and how the front is angled in a way to make it look aggressive and appear much wider than it is. The front gets a very well designed and detailed chrome grille that joins the two headlamps together. The top of the line car that we have here gets daytime running lights and a projector headlamps setup. The front bumper is sporty and gets a large blacked out air dam which is well complemented by the silver skid plate. INTERIOR The central console is finished in gloss black while the dashboard itself gets a matte black tone. The Brezza also gets a brushed aluminum styling feature that runs horizontally on the dashboard and helps break up the singular color’s monotony. The central screen gets inbuilt navigation and Apple CarPlay which is a real boon in case you use an Apple device. All in all, the Vitara Brezza is jammed pack with gadgetry! That said, plastic quality is quite substandard and does offer slightly mediocre tactile feel. The textured plastic on the top half of the dashboard also looks and feels a little tacky. The central panel also has rather large panel gaps and feels not as solid as it feels on most other cars in this segment or hatchbacks that are similarly priced. SPACE In terms of seating space, the Vitara Brezza scores high. The front seats are very comfortable and offer a good overall support. The rear seats are spacious and offer good legroom due to the scooped out front seats and good under thigh support too. There is also enough headroom for the average passenger despite the stylish sloping roofline. That said, we are immensely disappointed with the fact that despite the demand, the Vitara Brezza does not get leather interiors even on the most expensive versions. The large 328-litre boot might not be the biggest in its category. PERFORMANCE The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is powered by a 1.3-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder unit that makes 90PS of peak power and 200Nm of peak torque. This of course is the same engine that we are used to in the likes of the Ciaz and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox that has specially been tuned for the Brezza. The first thing you feel when you get behind the wheel of the Brezza is the uncanny sense of familiarity. It drives pretty much identical to the likes of the Swift and the Baleno. The gearbox too is as slick and crisp as it always was but is not as firm as the likes of the Swift. HANDLING Being a taller SUV, the Vitara Brezza will handle like one. That is exactly what we assumed about it till we actually put it through its paces. Of course, there is a fair bit of body roll but the suspension setup is on the stiffer side making the Brezza handle quite well for what is essentially a tall SUV. Continuing on the handling aspects a little more, the Brezza is quite similar to the Duster’s setup in many ways as both these SUVs love being chucked into a corner with a sense of confidence and not making a fuss while at it. Maruti has always made neutral handling cars and the Brezza based on Suzuki’s brand new global C-Platform (first car in India to get the new platform) is no different. VERDICT There is no denying the fact that the Vitara Brezza is a sure shot winner for Maruti Suzuki with a real possibility of it becoming its bread and butter product in the next few years. It has exciting and yet understated looks, a good interior that comes packed with gadgets and a good mechanical package. Negatives of course include the plastic quality which really needs to be improved and the fact that the NVH levels are just a tad bit too high for our liking. Although we were a bit skeptical about the Vitara Brezza, the car certainly has not disappointed in any form or measure and is certainly something we would strongly advice our readers to buy if you are looking for a new car around the Rs 10 lakh range. For news, reviews and complete information on Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, log on to: ****** Reach us At: Facebook: ****** Twitter: ****** Pinterest: ****** Google : ******