First of all, bravo for being courageous enough to click on this article’s link. It would not have been easy for you to see the primary photograph and still go ahead. And if you are one of those who saw the Future S Concept and believed that was a head-turner, what you see here is also one but only the other way around. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso. It has arrived sporting a starting price tag of Rs 3.69 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Here’s the complete price list:

If you have not bothered counting them, there are a total of four primary trim levels – Std, Lxi, Vxi and Vxi+. Powering each one of them is the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine that also does duty in the Alto K10 and the entry-level derivatives of the WagonR. The motor puts out an honest 67hp/90Nm, and it is couplable with a 5-speed MT and a 5-speed AMT. Mileage? If you opt for the Std or Lxi variants, the S-Presso can go as high as 21.4kmpl. The rest are capable of returning 21.7kmpl. The headline is, of course, the BS6 tag. As expected, the S-Presso becomes Maruti Suzuki’s eighth BS6-ready car.

Maruti Suzuki calls the S-Presso a mini SUV. Well, that is up to the consumer to decide whether it is one, or just a glorified, differently designed WagonR. As far as the standard list of features goes, it does not include an AC, power steering or even an accessory socket. However, it does cover a driver’s airbag, ABS with EBD, seatbelt reminder for front occupants, rear parking sensors and a speed alert system. Except for the Vxi+ variants, only the optional trim levels of others bring in an airbag for the front passenger.

If you want features like a 7.0-inch infotainment system, support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, body-coloured and internally adjustable ORVMs, low fuel and door ajar warning, a multifunction steering wheel and handbrake warning, only the range-topping trim will fulfil the requirements. Maruti Suzuki is offering the S-Presso in six colours – orange, blue, white, red, grey and silver.

We are sure that there will be people who will think that it doesn’t matter what the colour options are, how bad the standard kit is or how competitively priced the S-Presso is. They will say just one thing – this is one utterly hideous looking thing. However, this is a Maruti Suzuki, and that is enough for tight-budgeted people to shortlist the new “Mini SUV”. In India, it is a rival to the Renault Kwid and the Datsun Redi-Go.