Maruti Suzuki Brezza Boosterjet review: Turbo power finally arrives… but there’s one big catch

Maruti Suzuki has given the popular Brezza a significant mechanical upgrade with its 2026 facelift.

At first glance, you might struggle to identify the changes. The exterior design remains familiar, while the cabin continues to follow the same basic layout. But underneath that familiar appearance, Maruti has made one particularly important change the Brezza now gets a 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbocharged petrol engine.

And surprisingly, the new engine isn’t just about adding performance.

Because of its smaller engine capacity, the new Brezza also gets a lower starting price, making the facelift an interesting proposition for buyers looking for a compact SUV.

We drove the turbo-petrol Brezza to find out whether the Boosterjet engine actually makes the SUV better.

Brezza facelift design: Spotting the changes isn’t easy

The 2026 Brezza isn’t a radical visual makeover.

It continues with the familiar dual-projector LED headlamps, but the LED fog lamps now feature a circular design housed inside a more angular enclosure.

The styling appears to take some inspiration from the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, particularly around the fog-lamp area.

The test car featured Maruti’s optional Persona package, which adds red accents to areas including the front grille, lower bumper, body cladding and rear bumper.

A “Turbo Boosterjet” sticker on the rear quarter glass further identifies the turbo version.

The alloy wheels also get a redesigned pattern, while two new exterior colours Vivacious Orange and Lustrous Beige have been introduced.

Overall, however, the Brezza remains instantly recognisable.

Cabin gets more features rather than a complete redesign

Inside, Maruti has followed a similar approach.

The dashboard layout remains familiar, but the company has added a new brown soft-touch dashboard insert, complemented by black hard plastics and piano-black elements.

The black-and-brown theme continues onto the leatherette seats.

The light-grey headliner, however, makes the cabin feel a little more cost-conscious than some of its newer rivals.

Where the Brezza makes up for the lack of a dramatic redesign is equipment.

The 2026 model now gets features such as:

• Ventilated front seats
• Wireless mobile charging
• 64-colour ambient lighting
• 360-degree parking camera
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system

The SUV continues to offer familiar features including an electric sunroof, head-up display and Arkamys audio system.

New 10.1-inch touchscreen improves the experience

The new 10.1-inch infotainment display is one of the more noticeable cabin upgrades.

It offers sharper graphics and better resolution than the previous system, and its interface and performance are similar to the unit already seen in the Victoris.

It isn’t necessarily revolutionary, but it feels modern and fits better with the Brezza’s upgraded equipment list.

Safety gets a clever upgrade

One of the most interesting changes to the 2026 Brezza isn’t immediately visible.

The SUV does not get a full ADAS system, but Maruti has introduced rear-mounted radar hardware that enables several ADAS-like safety functions.

These include:

• Blind-spot warning
• Lane-change alert
• Safe-exit warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert

These systems can be particularly useful in crowded city conditions and when reversing or changing lanes.

The Brezza also now carries a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating, while standard safety equipment includes six airbags, hill-hold assist, tyre-pressure monitoring and reverse parking sensors.

The big change: 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol

Now we come to the biggest reason to consider the facelift.

The new 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine produces 110 PS and 170 Nm.

For comparison, the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre K15C petrol engine remains available in the Brezza lineup.

The turbo engine’s biggest advantage becomes obvious when you push the accelerator.

The Brezza feels more responsive and energetic than the naturally aspirated version. It doesn’t suddenly turn into a performance SUV, but the additional torque gives it a noticeable boost, particularly at lower speeds.

Acceleration remains relatively linear rather than aggressive.

That actually suits the Brezza’s character.

Six-speed manual gearbox adds another welcome change

The Boosterjet engine is paired with a new six-speed manual gearbox.

The light clutch action is typical of Maruti Suzuki, making the Brezza easy to drive in traffic.

The extra torque also improves low-speed drivability, reducing the need to constantly work the gearbox in everyday conditions.

On highways, the sixth gear is particularly useful.

The Brezza can reach expressway speeds without much effort, and the engine doesn’t feel particularly strained even at triple-digit speeds.

But don’t expect a sporty SUV

The turbo engine adds some much-needed enthusiasm, but the Brezza hasn’t suddenly become a driver’s SUV.

The suspension remains tuned primarily for comfort, which is good news for families but less exciting for enthusiastic drivers.

During sudden direction changes at higher speeds, the SUV can feel unsettled.

In other words, the Boosterjet makes the Brezza quicker, but it doesn’t completely change its underlying personality.

And perhaps that’s a good thing.

The Brezza is designed primarily as a practical family SUV, not a corner-carving performance machine.

The biggest problem with the Boosterjet: No automatic

There is one decision from Maruti Suzuki that is difficult to ignore.

The Boosterjet engine is currently available only with the six-speed manual gearbox.

If you want an automatic Brezza, you still have to choose the 1.5-litre petrol engine.

That’s slightly disappointing because the turbo engine’s stronger torque would pair naturally with an automatic gearbox, particularly for buyers who spend most of their time driving in cities.

The naturally aspirated automatic version is smooth and practical, but it doesn’t deliver the same punch as the Boosterjet.

For some buyers, the lack of a turbo automatic could therefore be a deal-breaker.

How is Maruti Suzuki able to lower the Brezza’s price?

Here’s perhaps the most surprising part of the facelift.

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The 2026 Maruti Suzuki Brezza now starts at approximately Rs 7.40 lakh (ex-showroom).

The lower price is linked to the new 998cc turbo-petrol engine.

Because the engine displacement is below 1,200cc, the Brezza can reportedly fall into the lower 18% GST category for petrol vehicles, rather than the higher 40% GST applicable to petrol vehicles above 1,200cc.

That allows Maruti Suzuki to offer a lower entry price while simultaneously adding more equipment and a new engine option.

It is an unusual combination: more power, more features and a lower starting price.

Should you buy the Brezza Boosterjet?

The answer depends largely on what you want from your SUV.

If you’re upgrading from a hatchback or an entry-level sedan and want a comfortable, practical family SUV, the 2026 Brezza remains an attractive package.

The new Boosterjet engine makes the biggest difference for buyers who felt the previous Brezza was lacking in driving enthusiasm.

It isn’t a hot SUV, but it is noticeably more lively.

The upgraded safety equipment, new infotainment system, ventilated seats, 360-degree camera and other features further strengthen the package.

However, buyers looking for an automatic turbo-petrol SUV will have to look elsewhere.

Verdict

The 2026 Brezza facelift is more than a cosmetic update.

The new Boosterjet engine gives the SUV an ingredient it previously lacked a stronger sense of performance and driving engagement.

It still prioritises comfort over outright handling, and the absence of an automatic option for the turbo engine is a missed opportunity.

But with a lower starting price and a stronger equipment list, the Brezza has become an even more compelling family SUV.

For those who want simplicity and an automatic gearbox, the familiar K15C petrol Brezza remains the sensible choice.

For drivers who want a little more excitement, the Boosterjet is the version worth looking at.

Note: Prices and specifications mentioned in this review are based on the information provided and may vary by variant, location and applicable taxes. Ex-showroom prices should be verified with Maruti Suzuki before purchase.