Maruti Suzuki Updates Grand Vitara With More Safety Tech

Indian auto giant Maruti Suzuki has updated its Grand Vitara with a new safety feature. The brand has stated that the SUV’s strong-hybrid variants will now get Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System or AVAS. This has also resulted in prices of the Grand Vitara hybrid variants receiving a modest price hike. We take a closer look.

Maruti Grand Vitara: What does AVAS stand for?

Maruti states that the new AVAS feature works by emitting a low-level alert sound system that can be heard up to five feet away from the vehicle. This allows other drivers or pedestrians nearby that a vehicle is close by. This feature complies with the Automotive Industry Standard 173. It is required for the approval of Quiet Road Transport Vehicles with regard to their reduced audibility.

What is the Quiet Road Transport Vehicles standard?

As per the AIS 173 draft notification, Quiet Road Transport Vehicles are cars that have at least one electric motor or an electric motor generator. This includes all EV, strong-hybrid vehicles like the Grand Vitara, fuel-cell vehicles, or fuel-cell hybrid four-wheelers.

The Grand Vitara is the first hybrid vehicle in India to get the AVAS feature. One can expect more and more vehicles to come equipped with the feature in the coming years.

Maruti Grand Vitara: Price Hike

With the addition of this new feature, Maruti has hiked prices of the Grand Vitara hybrid variants by Rs 4,000. Prices for the compact SUV now range from Rs 18.29 lakh to Rs 19.79 lakh (ex-showroom). In comparison, the non-hybrid trims do not receive a price change.

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