As for the mechanical bits, the new S-Cross will now come only with the DDiS 200 engine, which is the 1.3-litre turbo-diesel motor, that produces 90 PS and 200 Nm of torque, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Maruti Suzuki have discontinued the bigger DDiS 320 motor, which was a 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel engine. The smaller engine also gets Maruti’s smart Hybrid system that features an Integrated Starter Generator that helps improve the fuel-efficiency and also aids performance. The start/stop feature also cuts off the engine when you slot the gear lever into neutral, for instance, at a red light, and lift your foot off the clutch. This, too, cuts down on fuel consumption.
We drove the new S-Cross in the city of lakes – Udaipur – and noticed that the feel of the engine has hardly changed. But, then again, this is essentially the same engine as before. It lacks refinement as the diesel chatter is clearly audible inside the cabin, even at idle. There is hardly any power or torque that comes through before 1,800-2,000 rpm and, after that, all of it is unleashed at once and you have to be ready to work your right foot to control it. The noticeable turbo-lag does bother. However, once it spools up, the power and torque delivery are somewhat sudden.
The five-speed manual gearbox is slick with taller ratios and spot-on shifts. To drive, the car feels pretty good once it’s out of the turbo-lag region as it gathers speed pretty quickly. To give you a more precise note on the performance factors, we will have to wait for the road test.
Handling and ride quality haven’t really changed as much of the suspension setup is the same as before. It rides well with the suspension taking much of the roughness out of the ride giving it good ride quality. Handling is not that great as there is some amount of body roll that interferes. But, it manages to be a somewhat engaging in the corners so long as you don’t push it hard. The new JK UX Royale tyres also performed much better than the old JK tyres as the grip levels are better and the tyres don’t squeal in a turn at low speeds.
Overall, the new S-Cross feels pretty much the same as before in terms of driveability, handling and ride quality. However, it is the design of the new S-Cross that has changed dramatically and we reckon that, with the added amount of bling, the car should be able to get more customers than before. Plus Nexa’s improved network with integrated service should ensure that the consumers have a smooth sales and after-sales experience. As for the price, Maruti Suzuki will be launching the car tomorrow, so watch this space to know more.
