Maruti S-Cross Zeta review after 1-year of ownership

The S-Cross replaced my ageing Honda Jazz hatchback.

BHPian ShreyG recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Maruti S Cross Zeta | 1-year ownership Review

Prologue (Decision Making)

So the search started in December 2020 (bang in the middle of peak Covid) and was triggered by my upcoming marriage and an ageing Jazz in the stable.

The requirements were:

• A reliable, fuss-free vehicle that can start in a single crank after being left under covers for 6 months, twice a year
• Crossover / Mini SUV over sedans for those cross country trips to the Himalayas
• Petrol Manual (my mother, who would also be a frequent driver, prefers manual)
• Budget - About 10 lakhs which can be stretched to a maximum of 12
• Decent interiors (should feel similar or better to the outgoing Jazz)
• The waiting period should be less than a month

Other Vehicles Considered (TATAs and VAGs not considered owing to requirement number 1)

• Kia Seltos / Hyundai Creta (1.5NA): Lovely to look at, fantastic interiors. But obnoxious waiting times resulted in me not even TDing them.
• Ford Ecosport: Amazing to drive with good interiors. But felt slightly tight for 3 abreast in the back seat. This was a year back with no indication about Ford leaving
• Maruti Suzuki Brezza: For some reason, the looks really did not feel great and again, waiting times were immense
• Honda WR-V: Did not feel an upgrade over the Jazz in any way

The final toss-up was between the S Cross and the Ciaz. But then the argument was if the Ciaz, then why not the Honda City. So we finalized on the S Cross Zeta 1.5NA (mild hybrid)

1. On-road price: Rs 11.17 lakhs (Mohali, Punjab)
2. February 2021 discount: Rs 50,000
3. Onroad price after discount and exchange: Rs 8.95 lakhs with a 5-year warranty

Current Odometer reading: ~12,000 km (70% highway)

A Special Shoutout to the SA at CM auto sales in Mohali. Was accommodating of all the requests made and was proactive in informing about the status of the car during the delivery phase. It took about 2 weeks from the date of booking to getting the keys to Casper

Experience so far:

A solid Maruti vehicle with its legendary ASS and reliability. The hybrid system works a treat and the car does not feel strained under heavy acceleration. All free services (3) have been completed without any fuss or complaints at the Mohali service centre itself.

Likes:

• Looks - Imposing front stance. The car looks bigger from the outside
• Quiet cabin - Noise from the road and engine is minimal
• Engine - While it will not set the charts on fire, aided by the battery, the pick up is quite good., But not for enthusiasts. Super silent BTW
• FE - Averaging about 16kmpl based on the onboard computer
• Highway Dynamics - While the steering is no Honda, it is precise and weighs up well once speed picks up
• Interiors and space - The interiors feel well put together and the vehicle can seat 5 people in comfort. Boot space is also good enough for airport runs
• Air conditioning - This is a special mention. The AC (there are no rear vents) was able to quickly cool the car even in Punjab's June heat

Dislikes:

• The car is wanting the 6th gear since the motor spins at about 3000 rpm at 100kmph. Seems high for continuous cruising
• The ride isn't that planted on low speeds. High-speed ride is excellent though
• Missing features such as 6 airbags, sunroof etc.
• The engine has a weak mid-range and requires frequent gear changes

Silly Incident

I had gone to rural Punjab to visit someone. That was the day a bull decided to play headbutt with my car. The left rear light was attacked which left a small dent and some chipped paint. Fortunately, no glass was broken and the light overall remains intact.

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