Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift to become first Maruti with a 6-speed manual with 1.5-litre petrol engine
Bharat NCAP documents reveal the updated Brezza will pair Maruti Suzuki's 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine with a six-speed manual gearbox for the first time, while the upcoming 1.0-litre turbo will also get the new transmission.
Ahead of its official launch on July 24, the 2026 Maruti Suzuki Brezza has revealed one of its biggest mechanical upgrades yet. Bharat NCAP documents published alongside the SUV's five-star crash test results confirm that the facelifted Brezza will become the first Maruti Suzuki passenger vehicle to offer a six-speed manual gearbox with the brand's familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.
The Bharat NCAP listing shows that the updated Brezza will be available with multiple powertrain combinations: a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, and a new 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine that will be offered exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox.
This marks a significant milestone for Maruti Suzuki. Until now, every manual passenger vehicle in the company's line-up with the 1.5-litre NA or 1.2-litre NA engine has used a five-speed gearbox. Models such as the Grand Vitara, Jimny and Victoris continue to use a five-speed manual with the 1.5-litre engine, while the Fronx's 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo is also limited to a five-speed manual despite sharing the same engine.
The addition of a sixth gear is expected to improve highway cruising by lowering engine speeds at higher velocities, while also potentially enhancing fuel efficiency and refinement. The closer gear ratios could also improve drivability without compromising low-speed performance.
Bharat NCAP listing confirms variants
According to the Bharat NCAP documentation, the six-speed manual gearbox with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine will be available on the LXi, VXi, ZXi and ZXi+ variants.
The six-speed automatic transmission will be offered on the VXi, ZXi and ZXi+ trims.
Meanwhile, the new 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine paired with the six-speed manual gearbox will be available in the LXi, VXi, ZXi and ZXi variants, as listed in the Bharat NCAP report.
Five-star Bharat NCAP safety rating
The powertrain details surfaced alongside the Brezza's Bharat NCAP crash test results, where the compact SUV secured a five-star safety rating for both adult and child occupant protection.
The facelifted Brezza scored 30.41 out of 32 points for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and 43 out of 49 points for Child Occupant Protection (COP). The crash test was conducted on the Brezza ZXi+ 1.5-litre automatic variant, with the rating extending to several manual, automatic and upcoming turbo-petrol variants listed by Bharat NCAP.
The result makes the Brezza the third Maruti Suzuki model to achieve a five-star Bharat NCAP rating, reinforcing the company's growing emphasis on safety.
Turbo engine joins the line-up
Alongside the gearbox upgrade, the facelifted Brezza is also expected to introduce Maruti Suzuki's 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine for the first time. The three-cylinder engine, already seen in the Fronx, develops 100bhp and 148Nm of torque and is expected to be positioned as a more performance-oriented alternative to the existing 1.5-litre naturally aspirated unit.
Unlike the Fronx, which continues with a five-speed manual, the Brezza will pair the Boosterjet engine with the new six-speed manual gearbox, making it the first Maruti Suzuki passenger vehicle to receive this transmission.
Launch on July 24
Beyond the mechanical changes, the facelifted Brezza will receive a refreshed exterior with a redesigned grille, revised bumpers and new alloy wheels, while the cabin is expected to gain a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen, ventilated front seats, wireless charging, ambient lighting, an electric sunroof and Level-2 ADAS on higher variants.
Bookings are already open for a token amount of Rs 11,000, with prices set to be announced at its official launch on July 24. The updated Brezza will continue to rival the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Skoda Kylaq, but the introduction of a six-speed manual gearbox and a turbo-petrol option gives Maruti Suzuki two significant mechanical upgrades that could strengthen its position in India's highly competitive compact SUV segment.
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