With the mild-hybrid option, the Brezza ZXI and ZXI+ MT variants are now almost km per liter more fuel efficient than the Kia Sonet.
Maruti Suzuki India has re-introduced its ‘mild-hybrid’ technology in the Brezza with a manual transmission option. The price of this variant, offered with the ZXI MT trim level, has been fixed 11.05 lakh (ex-showroom), while the ZXI+ MT with ‘mild-hybrid’ technology has been priced at 12.48 lakh. This technology is also available with automatic transmission options for the VXI, ZXI and ZXI+ trim levels.
Now with the mild hybrid option, the fuel efficiency of the ZXI and ZXI+ manual transmission options has increased from 17.38 km/l to 19.89 km/l. This makes the SUV about 1 km per liter more fuel efficient than the Sonet, although the Frontex returns a claimed mileage of 21.7 km per liter which is 1.9 km per liter more than the Brezza Hybrid.
Interestingly, this figure is slightly lower than the 20.5 kmpl figure that the Brezza’s 103hp, K15C engine with mild-hybrid technology used to deliver before it was discontinued. The Brezza automatics continue to post ARAI-rated 19.8kpl. Apart from the petrol powertrain, the Brezza is also offered with a CNG fuel option. However, the CNG model does not get ‘mild-hybrid’ technology or an automatic option. The claimed fuel efficiency of the Brezza CNG model is 25.5 km/kg.
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According to Maruti, the smart hybrid technology improves driving performance and fuel efficiency. In both manual and automatic gearboxes, the engine starts quietly when the correct position is reached and automatically stops when idling. It has two batteries, one of which is a lithium-ion battery.
As of now, the ‘mild-hybrid’ technology is being offered in six models including the Brezza, Ertiga, XL6, Frontex, Ciaz and Grand Vitara. Meanwhile, some trim levels of the Invicto and Grand Vitara are being offered with ‘strong-hybrid’ technology. The company aims to achieve 25 percent of its total sales from hybrid models by financial year 2031.