The Maruti Brezza has always had the Tata Nexon as one of its strongest rivals. The Nexon continues to be one of Tata Motors’ best-selling models in India. However, the recently launched Brezza facelift gives Tata fresh cause for concern. With the introduction of a new turbo-petrol engine, the Brezza has stepped up its performance game. This brings it much closer to the Nexon, making the competition between the two SUVs even tighter. And the pricing makes it even more fierce. The new Brezza starts at Rs 7.39 lakh, ex-showroom. Here is a closer look at how the two compare.
Both the Brezza and Nexon belong to the sub-four metre SUV segment. This is, in fact, a segment that is very sensitive to pricing and value offered. A sharp pricing can shape the success of a product here, and Maruti seems to know this well. The new Brezza starts at Rs 7.39 lakh, ex-showroom. That almost matches the Nexon’s entry price of Rs 7.37 lakh, ex-showroom.
The prices of the range-topping variants, however, tell a different story. The new Brezza’s range-topping 1.5-litre variant (ZXI Plus 1.5L 6AT Dual tone) costs Rs 13.71 lakh, ex-showroom. The most expensive petrol variant of the Nexon (Fearless Plus A PS Dark DCA) costs Rs 14.02 lakh, ex-showroom.
Of course, it has a turbocharged petrol engine, dual-clutch automatic transmission, and several additional features like a panoramic sunroof. If we are to compare the ZXI+ AT Dual tone to the Nexon Fearless+ A PS DCA, the prices are almost on par with each other- 13.71 lakh and 13.70 lakh. The Nexon is, in fact, cheaper by Rs 1000 and the equipment levels are comparable.
Tata Nexon offers a sea of trims and powertrain options to choose from. The Brezza, on the other hand, keeps things clean. It comes in just four trims and two engine options. This makes choice easier for the consumer.
Now, let’s compare apples to apples. Turbos to turbos! The Brezza comes with a 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine and this makes it qualify for tax benefits. The GST on turbo variants is just 18%, whereas that on 1.5-litre variants is 40%. This enabled Maruti Suzuki to pull off a masterstroke with pricing.
The range-topping turbo-petrol variant (ZXi+ Turbo 1.0L 6MT dual-tone) costs just Rs 11.32 lakh, ex-showroom. Rs 2.38 lakh less than the comparable Nexon turbo-petrol variant. What you miss in this deal is an automatic transmission as the Brezza turbo is only available with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Even the manual turbo-petrol variant (Fearless + PS 1.2) costs Rs 12.35 lakh, ex-showroom. 1.03 lakh rupees more than the range-topping Brezza turbo. This puts Tata in a tricky situation. Although Maruti Suzuki has said that these are introductory prices valid for a limited period of time, they are likely to be sustained.
The facelift has given the new Brezza a stronger foothold in its segment. There is now a Brezza variant for everyone. The thrill-seekers can opt for the turbo-petrol variants. This solves ones of the biggest complaints that people had about this SUV. The time-tested 1.5L naturally aspirated engine has been retained and is offered with both manual and automatic transmission options. It will appeal well to the mileage-conscious crowd. The CNG version continues and is for many, the ideal alternative to a diesel powertrain.
The Nexon on the other hand, offers more powertrain options. It is available with turbo-petrol, diesel, and CNG engine options. Of the two, just the Nexon offers a diesel engine. The Brezza, however, has the advantage of having a better CNG setup. It features an underbody CNG tank. This frees up a lot of boot space. The Nexon has a twin-cylinder setup for CNG storage which is not as efficient as the Brezza’s.
Talking of output figures, the Brezza’s turbocharged petrol makes 110PS and 170Nm. The 1.5L naturally aspirated engine makes 103PS and 139Nm. The CNG version has an output of 88PS and 121Nm.
The Nexon’s only petrol engine option, the 1.2L turbocharged Revotron petrol, makes 120PS and 170Nm. It makes the same torque as the Brezza’s turbo-engine but is more powerful and can be had with automatic transmissions as well.
Both SUVs are 3995mm long. The Nexon is wider by 14mm. The Brezza, on the other hand, stands 65mm taller. Inside, headroom is slightly better in the Brezza, particularly at the rear. The new Brezza sees the addition of features like a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, 360-degree camera, 64-colour ambient lighting, ventilated seats, air purifier and more. It continues with a single-pane sunroof, whereas the Nexon has a panoramic unit. The Tata also has a slightly larger touchscreen (10.25-inch), ADAS, and a few other additional features.
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