Maruti Suzuki plans to add an all-new compact SUV to its lineup, which is expected to hit our market next year

Maruti Suzuki has a lot of new models in the works, and many of these upcoming vehicles will be SUVs. The Indo-Japanese automaker, like most other automakers currently operating in the country, now plans to focus heavily on SUVs as they are very popular among new car buyers.

Currently, the compact SUV segment is the most hotly contested space in the Indian automotive market, and the manufacturer plans to expand its presence in this segment. Maruti Suzuki already has Vitara Brezza here, which is expected to undergo a generation change soon (assumed to be named just Brezza) and another will be introduced in this segment very soon.

Dubbed ‘YTB’, this new compact crossover will be based on the brand’s top-end sedan – Baleno – and reports suggest it will have a sleek coupe-style design. Some reports suggest that it will be a premium model, positioned above Brezza, while other reports state the opposite, suggesting that the new model will be rather cheaper.

Under the hood, Maruti YTB could get an electrified 1.5-litre petrol engine, likely with mild-hybrid and strong-hybrid options on offer. The automaker will also use these same powertrain choices for its upcoming midsize SUV (codename YFG). Manual and automatic transmission options would be available.

Some reports had even suggested that Maruti Suzuki might offer the same 1.2L petrol engine as Baleno on YTB, but tuned to deliver more power. Speculation of a turbo-petrol engine option has also been circulating online! However, this is only speculation at the moment; we hope more details will soon be available online.

Maruti Suzuki is expected to introduce the new generation Brezza in India in the coming months. The manufacturer will continue with its new intermediate SUV (YFG), which will replace the aging S-Cross. The Baleno (YTB)-based crossover is expected to go on sale after these two models, likely in 2023.