Maruti Suzuki To Launch New SUV This Year: What Could It Be?

India’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, has confirmed plans to introduce a new SUV in FY26, adding to its growing SUV portfolio which currently includes the Fronx, Brezza, Jimny, and Grand Vitara. The announcement was made by Chairman R.C. Bhargava during the company’s FY25 earnings call, as the automaker eyes a stronger foothold in the country’s fast-expanding SUV market.

While Bhargava did not reveal further details about the upcoming model, the move reflects a strategic push by Maruti to capitalise on the SUV segment’s rising contribution to overall passenger vehicle (PV) sales in India. According to industry data, SUVs accounted for 54.34 per cent of total PV sales in FY25, up from 50.49 per cent in FY24—a significant jump in just one year, driven by changing consumer preferences for higher ground clearance, robust road presence, and more spacious cabins.

Although Maruti Suzuki has not confirmed the specifications of the new SUV, speculation is rife that the company could be preparing to launch a seven-seater SUV, a gap currently visible in its existing portfolio. The company has only five-seater SUVs at present, and test mules of a larger SUV—possibly based on the Grand Vitara platform—have been spotted undergoing road trials in recent months. 

We expect the three-row SUV based on the Heartect platform, which underpins the Grand Vitara, could serve as a volume driver for Maruti in both domestic and export markets. This would place the new model in direct competition with vehicles like the Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, and Mahindra XUV700. 

Such a move would not only help Maruti enter a new sub-segment within SUVs but also offer a larger alternative for customers looking to stay within the Maruti family while upgrading from smaller models like the Brezza or Fronx. 

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