Maruti Suzuki has unveiled the 2025 iteration of its S-Cross, marking a significant step forward in its approach to the increasingly competitive crossover segment. The original S-Cross, introduced in 2015, was Maruti’s attempt at entering the premium market.
However, despite its strong fundamentals, it struggled to dominate due to its conservative styling and unclear identity between an SUV and a hatchback.
With this third-generation model, Maruti Suzuki has carefully addressed past shortcomings, delivering a crossover that offers a stronger visual appeal, improved technology, and the brand’s signature value-for-money proposition.
After spending time with the 2025 S-Cross across different terrains, it’s evident that this is not just a facelift but a complete reimagining of the model’s role in Maruti’s lineup.
The launch of this model is well-timed, as Indian buyers increasingly prefer SUVs and crossovers over traditional hatchbacks and sedans. With nearly every automaker offering compelling options in this segment, Maruti Suzuki faces both an opportunity and a challenge—to capture more customers while standing out in a crowded market.
Design
The 2025 S-Cross features a more confident and contemporary design, addressing the lack of visual appeal that held back previous generations. The new front fascia includes an expanded grille with horizontal chrome accents that seamlessly connect to sharp LED headlamps with integrated daytime running lights.
The hood is now sculpted with subtle power bulges, adding to the SUV-like stance that Indian buyers prefer. The bumper is more aggressive, featuring angular fog lamp housings and a silver skid plate for a rugged touch.
In profile, the car now has an increased ground clearance of 195mm, up from 180mm, making it better suited for rough Indian roads. Flared wheel arches house 17-inch machine-cut alloy wheels on top trims.
The overall silhouette remains practical, avoiding the sloping coupe-like roofline that some competitors have adopted, ensuring ample headroom for passengers. Roof rails are standard across all trims, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.
At the rear, the S-Cross now has sleek LED taillights connected by a chrome strip with the Maruti Suzuki logo. A silver skid plate on the rear bumper echoes the front design, while dual-tone cladding around the lower body adds to its rugged appeal.
The tailgate is designed with practicality in mind, offering a low loading height for easier cargo handling.
Buyers can choose from seven exterior colors, including classic shades and bolder options like Caffeine Brown, Nexa Blue, and a striking Phoenix Red that shifts tones under different lighting conditions. Higher trims also offer a dual-tone finish with a contrasting black roof for added style.
Interior
Inside, the 2025 S-Cross presents a more premium and driver-focused cabin. The dashboard is horizontally layered with soft-touch materials on the upper portion, while piano black and brushed aluminum-effect trims enhance its upmarket feel.
The front seats now offer better lateral support without compromising comfort. The driver’s seat on higher trims is six-way adjustable, and the steering wheel features both tilt and telescopic adjustments, allowing for a more customized driving position. The leather-wrapped steering wheel houses controls for audio, phone, and cruise functions, ensuring convenience.
Rear passengers benefit from spacious seating with a well-cushioned bench that can comfortably accommodate three adults. The 2,600mm wheelbase remains unchanged, but better packaging has improved legroom. Additional features like rear AC vents, USB charging ports, and reclining seatbacks improve comfort, especially for long journeys.
Cargo space stands at 430 liters with all seats in place, expanding to 1,110 liters when the 60:40 split rear seats are folded. The cargo area also features a dual-level floor, which allows owners to choose between a flat loading surface or additional depth for larger items.
Technology
The centerpiece of the cabin is a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, positioned high on the dashboard for better visibility. The interface has been redesigned with an intuitive layout, faster response times, and high-resolution graphics.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available on mid and higher trims, while all models include USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and steering-mounted controls.
The driver gets a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, which displays speed, fuel economy, navigation prompts, and active safety system statuses. The display is sharp and automatically adjusts brightness based on ambient lighting.
Maruti’s next-generation connected car technology allows owners to control functions remotely via a smartphone app. Users can lock or unlock the car, pre-set the climate control, track the vehicle’s location, and receive maintenance alerts.
The system also includes voice recognition in multiple Indian languages, allowing drivers to operate key functions with natural speech commands.
Other notable features include wireless phone charging, an eight-speaker Arkamys sound system, automatic climate control, cruise control, and keyless entry with push-button start. Higher trims offer a panoramic sunroof, a feature gaining popularity among Indian buyers for its added sense of space and luxury.
Performance
The 2025 S-Cross offers two powertrain options, catering to both fuel efficiency and performance-oriented buyers.
The standard engine is a 1.5-liter K15C petrol unit with dual VVT and mild-hybrid technology. Producing 103 hp and 138 Nm of torque, it offers a smooth and reliable performance suited for daily city driving and highway cruising.
The mild-hybrid system enhances fuel efficiency through auto start-stop, regenerative braking, and torque assist during acceleration. This results in an impressive mileage of around 20 km/l in mixed driving conditions.
Buyers can choose between a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. The new automatic transmission replaces the outdated four-speed unit, offering smoother gear changes and better highway performance.
For those seeking more power, Maruti has reintroduced a turbocharged engine option. The 1.5-liter BoosterJet turbo petrol produces 148 hp and 245 Nm of torque, significantly improving acceleration.
This variant is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and can achieve 0-100 km/h in approximately 9.5 seconds. While fuel economy drops slightly to around 16-17 km/l, it offers a more engaging driving experience.
The S-Cross remains front-wheel drive, as Maruti has prioritized efficiency and affordability over all-wheel-drive capability. However, the increased ground clearance and improved suspension make it more capable on rough roads.
Driving Experience
The 2025 S-Cross has been engineered for a comfortable and stable ride. The MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension setup provides a well-balanced mix of comfort and handling. It absorbs road imperfections well, making it ideal for Indian roads while maintaining stability on highways.
Steering response has been improved, offering a more connected feel at higher speeds while remaining light in city traffic. Hybrid models benefit from smoother brake pedal feedback, ensuring seamless transitions between regenerative and mechanical braking.
NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) levels have been reduced with extra insulation in the doors, firewall, and floor. Wind and road noise are minimal at highway speeds, making long drives more comfortable.
Safety
Safety has been significantly improved in the 2025 S-Cross. Standard features include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. Higher trims add side and curtain airbags, increasing the total to six airbags.
For the first time, Maruti is offering ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) in the S-Cross. The top-spec Alpha+ variant includes autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and driver fatigue detection. These systems enhance highway safety but may have limitations in Indian city traffic conditions.
A reinforced chassis improves crash safety, and visibility is enhanced with a standard rear-view camera and a 360-degree camera on top variants.
Pricing and Value
The 2025 S-Cross is competitively priced within the compact crossover segment:
| Variant | Price (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Sigma (Base) | ₹9.95 lakh |
| Delta | ₹11.50 lakh |
| Zeta | ₹13.00 lakh |
| Alpha | ₹14.50 lakh |
| Alpha+ (Turbo) | ₹16.95 lakh |
Maruti Suzuki’s extensive service network and affordable maintenance costs further strengthen its value proposition. With strong resale value and an efficient ownership experience, the new S-Cross remains a smart buy in this competitive segment.
FAQs
What are the engine options in the 2025 S-Cross?
It offers a 1.5L petrol mild-hybrid and a 1.5L turbo petrol.
Does the 2025 S-Cross have ADAS?
Yes, the top variant features ADAS with lane assist and braking.
What is the fuel efficiency of the new S-Cross?
The mild-hybrid delivers around 20 km/l, while the turbo gives 16-17 km/l.
Does the S-Cross offer all-wheel drive?
No, it is available only with front-wheel drive.
What is the starting price of the 2025 S-Cross?
The base model starts at ₹9.95 lakh (ex-showroom).
