BHPian geekay_c137 recently shared this with other enthusiastThe Criteria: What I Wanted from My Next CarThis time, I was crystal clear with my requirements:An SUV- A must for Chennai’s patchy roads, and it needed to hold up well during regular waterlogging during monsoons.Occasional hill drives- We take yearly trips to the ghats, so it had to perform there as well.Proven, reliable engine- No turbo due to long-term reliability concerns, just a trustworthy naturally aspirated engineHassle-free service- After the Tata experience, this became a non-negotiable.Practical features- I wasn’t chasing luxury or gimmicks, only the essentialsNo sunroof- Personal preference, and a safety concern to me.The Decision- Why I Chose the Grand Vitara Delta variant:Around the end of 2024, while casually checking the options, I requested a test drive for Grand Vitara and the Nexa service manager, Nandhanam, Chennai brought the test drive car to my place within 45 minutes. Out of three Delta variants readily available in stock, one was grey- my only preferred color in GV, manufactured in November 2024. I got a great exchange value for my Altroz of 6.30L, year-end discounts of 1.7L out of 15.26L on-road price of the delta variant, and A no-nonsense, professional experience at Nexa. It ticked all the boxes, and with the reliable 1.5L NA petrol engine, I had found my peace.Booking:The whole process was surprisingly quick and efficient. The team handled the documentation smoothly, and didn’t push for unnecessary accessories. Only accessory I opted for was the alloy wheels from Nexa. No chrome overload or pointless additions. We took the delivery in January 2025. Post delivery, installed a 7D mat from a local car accessories shop for 5K & a Redtiger dual dashcam F7N from Amazon for 13K, which i installed myself.Meet Hodor – My Grand Vitara:Yes, I named my car Hodor after the beloved Game of Thrones character. The Grand Vitara, just like Hodor, is: Strong, Reliable – just does the job, Slow – Not in a hurry, but always gets you there. Every time I take the wheel, I feel that calm strength. Hodor fits him perfectly. Features – Just What I Needed: The Delta variant is the sweet spot for those who don’t need excessive tech but want solid basics:Simple, yet perfect infotainment system.Wireless Apple CarPlay- Works like a charm.Rear cameraCruise ControlTilt & Telescopic SteeringHeight Adjustable Driver SeatClassic Analog dials: Less electronics = Fewer problemsRear AC ventsType C & USB charging portsSpacious & Comfortable cabinMusic system- I can feel the big difference in sound quality compared to the JBL system in my Altroz, but this is no less of a system. It’s well-balanced and enjoyableThe features are not flashy, but everything is well-built, logical, and functional. Only missing features in my list are Rear wiper & Alloy wheels (which I got it fixed as accessory). LikesHassle-free service experience with Nexa service centres- Covered in detail in the dedicated section below. No complaints so far.Spacious and comfortable cabin- Plenty of room for the family, wide seats, good headroom and legroom. Felt like real upgrade.Smooth and predictable engine- The 1.5L NA does its job without fuss.Ground clearance is a real advantage- 210 mm gives peace of mind on rough patches and during rains. In fact, I feel like I’ve moved into a comfort zone where I no longer worry about small bumps, as the GV handles them with ease.DislikesBrakes feel spongy- Not confidence inspiring, especially coming from the Altroz. Takes time to get used to, during quick or emergency braking.Headlamps aren’t great- Halogens don’t offer good spread and brightness, especially in rains or highway night drives. Looking for upgrade options.No fog lamps on any variant- Yes, Maruti doesn’t offer fog lamps even though the stock headlamps are average. I’m considering installing aftermarket LED fog lamps with proper housing for the GV, available in most accessory shops.No type C port at front side- Yes, Type-C port is provided only at the rear. The front gets just one USB port and a 12V socket. Strange placement.Driving experience:City: Power delivery is just right for city use. It cruises comfortably within city limits without feeling underpowered. I feel the electric motor of mild hybrid system, kicks in to assist with torque in the lower RPMs, the pull is evident when you press the accelerator harder in open stretches.Refinement is impressive- the engine stays quiet unless you rev it hard. Light steering and great visibility make daily drives effortless.My office commute is 45kms up and down. Gear shifts are smooth, and clutch modulation is easy, making it a no-stress car for stop-and-go traffic (PS: I enjoy driving the manual especially when you have such a smooth system in place (same with my Altroz)).City mileage- 12kmplHighway: The Grand Vitara cruises effortlessly at 80-100 kmph. That’s its sweet spot.The ride remains composed, and cabin insulation is good enough to keep wind and road noise low. Beyond 100 kmph, which is not recommended, the NVH levels are average.Overtaking needs proper planning. Once you drop from high speed, the car takes its own sweet time to regain the speed which is something completely opposite to what I’ve experienced in Altroz Diesel. However, I’ve become a sedate driver over time, with my family, there’s no rush or need of high speed beyond 100 kmph.Highway mileage- 17kmplHills:We took Hodor to Munnar recently for our family trip. Fully loaded, I was curious to see how it handled the hills.Verdict? No drama, no struggle.The 1.5L NA engine may not be quick, but it pulled cleanly through ghats without any signs of strain.The ground clearance (210 mm) handled broken roads, inclines, and a bit off-roads like a champ.The cabin remained composed and comfortable throughout the trip. Trust me, we did not feel tired throughout the 1200 km trip.It’s a cruiser, not a sprinter – and that’s exactly what I wanted.Service Experience One of the biggest reasons I chose Maruti Suzuki was the promise of hassle-free service, and they delivered. First two services done (1000 Kms & 5000 Kms) in Nexa, Keelkatalai, Chennai which is closer to my place. Here’s what stood out:They create a WhatsApp group for each service involving the SA, service manager, and customer care executive. All communication happens there.Pickup and drop facility without any delays or confusion.No surprises, no ghost charges, and absolutely no delays so far.Conclusion – From Frustration to SatisfactionBeing a Tata fan, I’ve moved from chaos to calm with Maruti Suzuki. The Grand Vitara may not make headlines, but it gives me peace of mind and in today’s world, that’s priceless. And that, for me, is worth every rupee. I no longer worry about unexpected niggles, spend hours chasing service reps, feel anxious on long drives. 7000 km of peaceful ownership so far. More updates to come as I clock more miles with Hodor. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
