Maruti Suzuki Hustler: The boxy profile of an odd-looking vehicle reflects the morning sunlight, as it swerves its way through the clogged streets of Delhi.
Too tall to be a hatchback and too short to be a proper SUV, the Funky looking car dresses snappy proportions with a dash of cheeriness down to its bones.
What you see is not just another car, it is the Maruti Suzuki Hustler, a car that could possibly change the face of India’s entry-level SUV market with its funky appeal and utilitarian take on urban comity.
Maruti Suzuki Hustler A Global Icon Looking at the Indian Market
It may have achieved it’s cult status in tuner mad Japan being an integral part of Suzuki’s popular “kei car” stable, but it’s sightings on Indian roads has thrown the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons about Maruti Suzuki’s intentions for the cute little attention grabber.
The car has been spied earlier in August this year, without any camouflage by the automotive enthusiasts in Delhi, and all this makes us believe that the country’s largest automaker might really be considering bringing this characterful mini-SUV into its local lineup.
The timing seems strategic. In urban clutter and decreasing parking space, there is a preference for cars that are compact and of SUV-like practicality.
Salesmen have tasted blood in models like the Tata Punch, confirming that India’s requirements for small, feature-laden mini-SUVs with lofty driving positions but not overly large footprints, are insatiable.
Maruti Suzuki may use the name with a new model, adding new life into its portfolio whilst discontinuing certain aging models like the Ignis, entry level hatch that nobody talks about for quiet some time now.
According to industry reports the Jimny has even beaten the sales of the Ignis in the recent past, indicating that it might be the right time for Maruti to revive this section of his portfolio again.
Design That Defies Convention
The first thing you notice about the Hustler is its full-on boxiness, which values function above form while oozing character. The car has a tall stance and short overhangs, with the wheels pushed to the corners to provide customers with a spacious interior despite the vehicle being compact on the outside. The tall boy shape has lots of headroom, and large windows give the interior an open, roomy feel.
The front end has a friendly looking, unique face with round shaped LED headlights which is set in very close proximity to a very small narrow grille that gives the Hustler the persona of a cute but mean off-roader! And it gets even better – with body cladding around the wheel arches and the lower half of the car, little scrapes and cuts on the body are things of the past and it gives the car some of that macho image that Indian buyers seem to love so much.
At 3.4-metres in length, the Hustler is a strange in-betweener, larger than micro cars such as the Alto and smaller than sub-four metre SUVs like the ones that are on top of the sales charts now. It could distinguish this one as a new option for buyers who want SUV-like practicality in a city-friendlier package.
Powertrain choice for Indian needs
Where the Hustler available for the Japanese domestic market comes with a tiny 660cc engine (both na and turbo versions) to adhere to the kei car norms, the Indian iteration would most likely get bigger engines for local needs and requirements.
According to reports Maruti Suzuki might provide the India-spec Hustler with a choice of engines that are known from its current range. But the existence of the 1.2-liter K-series petrol engine that drives so many of its siblings makes for an easy option – it pumps out a good-for-its-dimensions 90 horses and 113 Nm of torque, more than enough considering the little Hustler is, well, little, and not all that heavy either.
Moreover, with Maruti’s recent bent of interest for alternative fuels, a CNG edition is a possibility as well to appeal to the growing number of fuel-cost sensitive buyers.
This dual fuel system works well for other Maruti vehicles, providing savings in running costs while maintaining the flexibility of gasoline when necessary.
Gearbox choices for the car could be a 5-speed manual and possibly an auto – most likely the AMT which has gone down well in other affordable Maruti models. That would make the Hustler both an affordable first car for teen drivers, and a second kitchen runabout for busy families.
Inside: Maximized Space, Minimized Footprint
The kei car’s triumphs have always been in using its small physical dimensions to house a relatively big interior, and the Hustler is no exception.
Its boxy design (not just for looks: it maximizes interior volume, comfortably seating four full-sized adults in a vehicle that’s as long as three other cars) 7.
If we were to go by the international-spec model and Maruti’s standard process of India-specific transformations, the car could get a no-nonsense yet funky interior with smart storage spaces and a versatile seating system.
The high roof line means there’s plenty of head room, and the upright seating position gives a high perch with excellent visibility that lots of drivers like.
Having said that, by today’s standards, the India-spec Hustler would probably even at this price-point have a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone compatibility, steering-mounted controls and basic features like air conditioning. More expensive trims may bring automatic climate control, keyless entry and push-button start to improve the ownership experience.
Modern standards of safety provisions
Adhering to the safety norms has become a considerable point of focus in the Indian market today, where car buyers today are looking for more safety features even in an entry-level car.
In line with this, the Indian Hustler could once again be loaded with features such as dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat anchors as standard right from the base spec.
Upper-spec models might come with the reversing camera, extra airbags and electronic stability control for a complete safety package. It’s a move that would see the Hustler become competitive in terms of safety against rivals such as the upcoming Tata Punch, which is set to use safety as a selling point.
Electric Ambitions
Rumors of an electric Hustler are the most interesting of all. Maruti Suzuki has announced that it will exhibit the Hustler EV at the Auto Expo 2025 giving clear indications that it intends to follow through with the platform and use it as part of their push towards electrification.
Such an electric version is said to come with a small battery pack—30 kWh is rumoured—which should last a decent 250 kilometers per single charge.
This would make it an affordable urban runabout, and would meet most Indian drivers’ daily commuting needs without the cost and weight penalties of a larger battery.
It closely falls in line with Maruti Suzuki’s electrification strategy whereby the company is looking to introduce six electric cars by 2030 in India.
The Hustler EV could be a good entry point for those hesitant to spend big on an electric vehicle, which may be inexpensive for budge-conscious buyers to experience zero-emission motoring since EVs come at a premium, resulting in tepid responses towards EVs.
Market Positioning and Anticipated Pricing
Then when are we going to see the Hustler on our roads? Maruti Suzuki hasn’t given definite timelines about the launch yet, but those in the know say that it could even be late in 2025 or early 2026, the ICE version could be launched sooner vis-à-vis the EV version.
To succeed in India’s cutthroat market, pricing would be key for the Hustler. For the regular petrol version, we expect it to be priced from ₹5.65 lakh (ex-showroom) which should make it the third product in Maruti’s line-up, slotted between the S-Presso and the Ignis.
It would put in reach of first-time car buyers looking for something with a bit more personality than run-of-the-mill entry-level hatchbacks.
The electric version would certainly be a more expensive proposition, and could perhaps start at around ₹7-10 lakh depending on the battery size and feature-list.
Even so, that would still put it as one of the most budget-friendly EV options currently available — especially when you consider the government incentives that can be stacked atop that.
The Competition Awaits
The Hustler’s introduction would bring even more competition to an already crowded space. It would have the Tata Punch as its most immediate rival, which has been doing rather well for itself due to being a mini-SUV and comes with the gorgeous ground clearance and sturdy build. The Punch has been a popular product in the Indian market and has consistently featured among the top-selling cars.
Rivals would be the Hyundai Exter, the Renault Kiger and the Nissan Magnite—all other compact models with a crossover-type look to them. It is the Hustler’s — whose boxy, quirky profile could also win it some grace-points — boxy proportions, and possibly, pricing, could help it stand out in the sea of me-too competitors if Maruti plays to its strengths of (in India at least) unrivalled service support and reliability.
Maruti Suzuki Hustler The Road Ahead
Whether the Hustler is Maruti Suzuki’s only product or comes with an electric alternative as well, the Hustler’s launch can be an exciting move by Maruti Suzuki from a strategic point of view.
As the nation’s top carmaker responds to consumer trends and stricter emissions standards, cars such as the Hustler present chances to update a brand image while playing to its traditional strengths of price and practicality.
This fun little space saver would be yet another exciting choice for Indian audiences in an ever expanding market segment, for all we know. The Hustler’s combination of unique styling, practical packaging and possible electric twin might well hold the attraction for those city-dwellers in search of something a little different to the mainstream fare that patroll our highways.
The road-testing continues throughout India and while Maruti hones its product strategy, it`s increasingly likely to be focusing on the profound fact that this is a distinctly unconventional roadster that India could well grow more fond of, given half a chance and selling price (plenty of which has already been invested in the development). When it does, this boxy little character will write an interesting new page in India’s automotive narrative.