Maruti Gypsy is one of the most remarkable cars of India. The Gypsy has been sidelined by the arrival of more sophisticated SUV’s, and is now almost unseen on our roads. However, the armed forces’ demand for this capable off-roader has kept it alive, and Maruti has been quietly upgrading it, first with the 1.3 Esteem engine in 1996, then with an MPFi version in 2000.

 

The Gypsy, introduced in 1987, is based on the Suzuki SJ series. In 1993, it gained a wider track, to aid stability, and in 1996, though the all-round leaf spring suspension stayed. The practicality-limiting three-door layout hasn’t changed, and remains one of the Gypsy’s biggest weaknesses.

 

The Gypsy is offered in soft-top and hard-top variants. The soft-top is well made and easy to remove, but a pain to take off. It doesn’t leak, but it does tend to collect water, which will flow off as soon as you open a door. The hard-top is considerably more practical and secure, but the thick C-pillars wreck visibility.

 

The Gypsy is a simple, useful off-road workhorse, and that is reflected in the basic, functional interior. It is very clear and rough, with a handy grab-rail, and a clever lockable glove box, with the engine release hidden inside. The front seats are high-set, giving you a commanding view of the road, but they are absolutely basic and flat, offering no support for thighs, back or shoulders. At the rear, the soft-top offers two centre-facing benches, the hard-top a single conventional bench. The soft-top’s benches are all right for rural transport or the military, but have too little comfort and legroom to make sense for family use. The hard-top’s bench is considerably better, but even here, legroom and seat comfort are not great, a problem being the high floor.

 

Safety equipment is lacking, and the Gypsy doesn’t even have proper reel-type seatbelts, forget things like airbags. The plastics used are hard wearing and easily washed, which makes sense for the Gypsy’s utilitarian needs. In 1996, the Gypsy gained the Esteem’s 1298cc petrol engine to replace the 1.0-litre that had underpowered it for a generation. In 2000, it was given 16 valves and fuel injection, boosting power to 81bhp. Although the motor is essentially the same as the Esteem’s, it has been tuned more for torque and drivability than top-end whack, which is better for off-roading.  In fact, between 20-80kph in third gear, the Gypsy is quicker than the Esteem. It does seem to run out of steam at the top end, but for an SUV, this performance is respectable.

 

The gearing is still quite tall, which is fine for a highway car, but the Gypsy, unfortunately, is not a high way. Fuel economy is pretty poor for a vehicle this light. With the torquey 1.3 engine, the Gypsy is more than ever the best off-roader in the country. On the road however, the Gypsy is a pain to drive, crude, rattly and noisy, with a bone-jarring ride. The heaving, pitching ride is the worst bit, but the handling and steering vie for top honours as well. It is very cumbersome in the city, with its 12- meter turning circle.

 

The Gypsy, although very capable and almost indestructible, has never been made much sense, being a three-door petrol UV with no road manners. It had some appeal as an SUV in its prime, but with the arrival of the Scorpio, Qualis and other, more civilized MUVs, it doesn’t make sense as a family car.

Filed under: Maruti Cars in India