Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

Maruti Suzuki has developed the S-Presso’s design by taking inspiration from SUVs. It hence has a tallboy stance, with prominent design traits such as a high-placed bonnet, a large front windshield, and a chunky black cladding all around the body.

Front Profile

Its fascia features a high-set bonnet, dual-chamber headlights and a wide grille. The upright proportions and chunky lower bumper give the front a more upright appearance than most conventional entry-level hatchbacks.

Side Profile

The short body and tall roof are most obvious from the side. At 3,565 mm long and 1,520 mm wide, the S-Presso remains easy to place in confined spaces, while the 180 mm ground clearance adds to its raised stance.

Rear Profile

The rear design is much cleaner and more upright than the front, with the tall tailgate keeping the loading lip relatively accessible. The compact size also means there is little excess length to worry about when reversing into a tight space.

Maruti Suzuki offers the S-Presso car in a total of seven colourway choices: Solid Sizzle Orange, Solid Fire Red, Metallic Silky Silver, Solid Superior White, Bluish Black, Pearl Starry Blue, and Metallic Granite Grey.

The cabin has a simple layout with the instrument cluster positioned in the centre on the dashboard and also gets a high-mounted driving position. The tall roof does much of the work when it comes to creating space, giving occupants generous headroom despite the car's compact footprint.

Front Seats

Getting into the front is easy, thanks to the high seating position and wide-opening doors. Visibility is another advantage here, with the elevated driving position lending the driver a clear view over the bonnet and towards the sides. The seats are adequate for urban use, though their relatively narrow shape could be bothersome to a few people on long journeys.

Rear Seats

The rear bench has respectable kneeroom and headroom for a car of this size. While three occupants can fit into the rear seats of the S-Presso, it would be better suited and more comfortable for carrying only two adults.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso Features & Technology

On the equipment front, the S-Presso comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the top-spec VXi+ (O) variant. The lower-spec variants, however, come with a simple 2-DIN audio system only. Features such as electrically adjustable ORVMs and steering-mounted audio controls are reserved for the higher-spec variants. Maruti Suzuki offers a manual AC with heater from the mid-spec LXi (O) variant onwards.

Storage & Practicality

In terms of storage, the S-Presso gets a glovebox, a utility area in the dashboard, and door pockets and cup holders around the centre console. The front accessory socket provides a basic charging option, while higher variants add USB connectivity through the infotainment system. That said, it misses out on a dedicated rear charging port.

Boot Space

The S-Presso has 239 litres of boot space on offer. While it does prove to be sufficient for routine shopping and smaller bags, when carrying bulky luggage for several occupants is considered, it will require some organisation.

All the basic safety features are covered in the S-Presso, including dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors. That said, there is no rear parking camera on board the hatchback. While the 2022 version of the S-Presso had scored a one-star rating in Global NCAP, the current iteration has yet to be crash tested by the Bharat NCAP.

Passive & Structural Safety

Its passive safety features include dual front airbags as standard, along with seatbelt safety equipment and ISOFIX child-seat mounts. It also gets electronic stability control as standard across the range.

Active Safety & Driver Assistance

ABS with EBD, electronic stability control and reverse parking sensors are standard across the range. Hill-hold assist is linked to the AMT variants, helping prevent rollback when moving away on an incline. The S-Presso does not offer a rear parking camera.

Safety Features by Variant

The core safety equipment remains broadly unchanged across the four trim levels.

The S-Presso is placed at the lower end of India's hatchback car market and overlaps most directly with the Renault Kwid, Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 and Maruti Suzuki Celerio. While they largely differ in body style, cabin space and equipment, the availability of petrol, CNG and AMT automatic options varies between them.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso vs Renault Kwid

The Kwid is the one here that goes the SUV-inspired route, with its exterior design and features list doing more to give it a larger-car impression. Its boot is also bigger, while higher variants offer equipment such as a larger touchscreen infotainment system and a rear parking camera.

On the other hand, the S-Presso's advantage is its upright stance. You sit higher, the body is narrower, and the car takes up less space on the road. It also offers factory-fitted CNG, giving it a powertrain option the Kwid does not have, as it’s fitted at the dealership level.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso vs Maruti Suzuki Alto K10

The Alto K10 is the more conventional hatchback of the two, being relatively shorter and having familiar proportions. It shares the 1.0-litre K10C engine family with the S-Presso and is available with both manual and AMT gearboxes.

The S-Presso changes the driving position considerably. Its taller body places the occupants higher and gives the cabin more vertical space, while its styling and seating position are aimed at buyers who want something different from a traditional small hatchback.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso vs Maruti Suzuki Celerio

The Celerio is placed slightly higher in Maruti Suzuki's hatchback lineup. It is 3,695 mm long and 1,655 mm wide, compared to the S-Presso's 3,565 mm length and 1,520 mm width, and hence offers a roomier cabin and a larger 292-litre boot. It also has petrol, CNG and AMT combinations.

On the flip side, the S-Presso fights back with a smaller footprint and lower entry price. It is easier to fit into narrow parking spaces and crowded lanes, while its tall cabin gives it a distinctly different seating position.

Which Entry-Level Hatchback Should You Pick?

• Maruti Suzuki S-Presso: Pick the S-Presso if a tall seating position, compact dimensions and a factory-fitted CNG option are high on your list.
• Maruti Suzuki Alto K10: The Alto K10 is the more conventional choice if you want a small hatchback with the same basic 1.0-litre engine family and a lower seating position.
• Renault Kwid: The Kwid suits buyers drawn to its SUV-inspired styling, larger boot and feature package.
• Maruti Suzuki Celerio: The Celerio is the step-up option for buyers who want more cabin and boot space and are prepared to spend more.

The S-Presso's strongest attributes are tied to its urban role. Its compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre, the tall cabin provides useful headroom and buyers have three distinct powertrain choices. The same compact packaging and modest engine output become more limiting when highway driving and carrying several passengers become regular requirements.

The S-Presso has a fairly clear job: it is a city-friendly car for buyers who want a high-seating position without moving into a larger vehicle. Its narrow body, light controls and short turning circle make everyday manoeuvring easy, while the tall cabin gives it more usable vertical space than its exterior footprint suggests.

Its powertrain choices also give the car three distinct identities. The petrol-manual is the relatively straightforward option, while the AMT works better for buyers who spend long periods in traffic. Meanwhile, the CNG version is for those who prioritise running costs. That said, even with three powertrain choices, the S-Presso is certainly not a highway-oriented car, and the modest engine needs more planning once speeds rise or the car is carrying several people.

The features suite is another area where the price positioning becomes apparent. The VXi+ (O) gets the most useful touchscreen unit and electrically adjustable ORVMs, but the lower variants are far more basic. The 239-litre boot handles everyday luggage, although a small family heading out with several large bags will have to pack carefully. However, the safety equipment is fairly basic, and there is no rear parking camera.

For its intended urban role, the S-Presso gets the important fundamentals right: it is small, easy to park, reasonably spacious inside, and available with both AMT and CNG. The VXi (O) is the most value-for-money variant in the lineup for buyers who want a better balance of equipment and powertrain choice, while buyers prioritising the convenience of an automatic gearbox can look at the VXi (O) AMT.