Maruti Suzuki Cervo: It also is a major milestone in the development of the India’s micro-mobility category, introducing kei car sensibilities to the cramped streets of its sub-continent.
At a time when Maruti Suzuki is busy increasing its product range, Cervo is likely to play a role in joining the dots in the entry-level hatchback and premium compact categories.
Maruti Suzuki Cervo: Design and Exterior
The Cervo with its narrow, low slung stance has all the signs of the modern, youthful design language and its small footprint is tailor made for India’s traffic infested city roads.
Measuring less than 4 meters in length, the car has signature LED daytime running lights, aggressive front grille, to sculpted body lines that give a more premium look to its dimensions.
It has a high roof design to provide ample head room and line up the shelter’s sides perfectly with the bed of your truck.
Interior and Technology
And in, the Cervo is roomy and provident with its ergos. Sitting higher up affords good visibility and like the dashboard floating touchscreen, supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Higher trims boast some of the comfort, convenience and technology features you’d expect to find in more expensive segments, with automatic climate control, keyless entry and push-button start being just some of the premium touches offered.
Performance and Efficiency
The Cervo is powered by Maruti’s fuel efficient K-Series 1.0-liter engine producing around 67 HP and 90 Nm of torque.
Even if those numbers don’t sound all that impressive, they are quite fine to get a vehicle of this size and type going.
Transmission choices will be a 5-speed manual gearbox along with Maruti’s AGS (Auto Gear Shift). The best bit though, is the fuel efficiency, with claimed figures over 22 km/l in combined driving cycles.
Safety Features
Safety has been given stress Muller and Viraatnewcomer and it gets dual airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control and rear parking sensors as standard on all trims.
Top-spec trims will feature side and curtain airbags, a camera on the reverse and Maruti’s own HEARTECT platform that will make the car stronger at impact.
Pricing and Positioning
Maruti Suzuki Cervo: Sitting somewhere between the Alto and the Swift in Maruti’s lineup, the Cervo is designed to woo those that want a city car with premium touches than a basic mobile.
Price would be in the range of ₹4.5 lakhs - ₹7 lakhs (ex-showroom), and that would be comparably aggressive in the category.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Good fuel economy for a 4 seater car, in town as well as on the highway
Small size makes it ideal for maneuvering through tight urban navigation
Another surprise is that the inside is surprisingly spacious considering the small footprint by which you will have judged from the dimensions.
Best in class safety across all variants
Smartphone connectivity with Integrated modern technology
Stylish design which goes beyond the mini car stereotype
Luxurious interior appointments rarely seen in this class
Cons:
Insufficient baggage space when all seats are occupied
Underpowered for long road trips
Higher trim levels get into the range of more powerful, larger vehicles
There is wind noise present at the higher speeds
Limited head room for the tall in the back.
The low ground clearance could be tricky on very lumpy surfaces
Aftermarket support not as deep as long enduring Maruti models
Maruti Suzuki Cervo: Market Impact
The Cervo A comes at a time when Indian consumers have started looking at efficient urban mobility solutions without sacrificing the features.
With the new model, Maruti Suzuki shows its appreciation of changing customer needs and also builds on its highly trusted legacy in small cars.
Fickle as gasoline prices may be and tight as city parking is becoming, vehicles such as the Cervo are starting to make sense to your average joe: maximum use, minimal space.
It remains to be seen if this particular model will translate into high sales, but at least it shows a smart reaction to the new demands of urban mobility.
The Cervo will hardly revolutionize the market, but it neatly fills a niche that is expanding—a niche for people who want something more grown-up than the car they started with but who don’t need the size or expense of a larger car.