Maruti Suzuki Gypsy

Overview: The Maruti Gypsy is a four wheel drive SUV, based on the Suzuki Jimny long wheel base. The Gypsy is available as a pickup and with four doors. It was sold as the Suzuki Samurai in North and South America, the Suzuki Sierra and Holden Drover in Australia and Kenya respectively, the Suzuki Caribbean in Asia and the Maruti Gypsy in India. It is found on the streets of Malta and Hungary in Europe too.

Maruti offers the Gypsy in three variants; 'soft top', 'hard top' and as an 'ambulance car'. The trims available are Gypsy Soft Top-Non-Metallic/Metallic; Gypsy Hard Top-Non-Metallic/Metallic and the Gypsy Ambulence-Non-Metallic/Metallic.

The Gypsy has always been the favourite of the youth and is the official vehicle for a number of government departments like the police and the Para military forces, because of its tough nature and low maintenance costs.

Powertrain and Performance: Powering the Gypsy is a 1.3L In-line 4, 80 bhp engine that forks out 1.5 m worth of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox that serves up near seamless shifts. Mileage in the city doesn't quite impress, while on the highway it renders an average performance of 8-12kpl. The gas tank has a storage capacity of 40 liters.

The Gypsy comes equipped with a reliable steering damper that absorbs shocks. It is an extremely tenacious and reliable SUV, ideal for those with a sense of adventure. With a ground clearance of 210 mm, this Maruti is sure to go places and makes for better off-road handling. It is very high on thermal conductivity and heats up quickly even in extremely cold conditions.

Considering its size and weight, this Maruti is tough and can take a lot of rough treatment. This SUV with a four-wheel-drive is much easier to drive than any of its counterparts. Long journeys can be a little uneasy though.

Build and Styling: The Maruti Gypsy is offered in 4 colours namely, Wine Red, Superior White, Bright Red and Silky Silver. Exterior equipment includes; a drivers' side rear view mirror, a spare wheel cover, front footstep assembly, and a foldable front windscreen.

The Gypsy offers a host of interior amenities some of which include; a vanity mirror on the left sunvisor, reclining and sliding front seats, fabric upholstery in the hard top, adjustable head restraints, a front package tray, a lockable glove compartment, floor carpet, steering lock, and an inside rear view mirror. The HT (Hard Top) version has features like fabric upholstery and a fiber reinforced plastic top, while the ST (Soft Top) version has a foldable windscreen and a removable canvas top. Safety Belt Pretensioners is one of the safety features provided by Gypsy.

The Maruti Gypsy has a number of unique features, ensures better control, more power, a comfortable ride and greater responsiveness. With these interesting features one can be rest assured to go places literally.