Check out what Maruti Suzuki S-Cross has to offer for gadget enthusiasts

Recently, we had the opportunity to try out the S-Cross - the new premium crossover vehicle(with Android Car Stereo) from Maruti SuzukiBSE -1.86 % (to be sold through the exclusive Nexa dealerships). This is a car that has a lot of tech built in from the get-go. For starters, Maruti has included what they call the 'Smartplay' head unit. This unit has a 7-inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) display with a very clean look (no buttons). The difference here is that this screen is also multi-touch capable while the touch buttons on the bezel include power, a volume slider, voice control, home and settings.

It's a proprietary interface but it does connect with your Android or iOS smartphone — the system can access your phonebook and allows you to make/receive calls (using your voice or controlled with steering mounted buttons). You'll also find the common USB and aux inputs, placed in the centrally mounted armrest.

For instance, if you engage reverse, the main display switches to the rear view camera input within a second, while the multiinformation displays shows you how close you are to obstacles using the ultrasonic parking sensors.

We liked the well laid out auto A/C controls, start/stop button and steering mounted cruise control buttons too. If you get the Suzuki Remote Control App from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store (and if the phone is already connected via Bluetooth), the app becomes a remote control for the infotainment system. This means that you can use the phone to adjust volume, change radio stations, mute, change sources, skip tracks and power on/off the system. This can be quite useful if you're in the back seat. Prices for the S-Cross start at Rs 8,34,000. The price of the DDiS 320 Alpha we tested is Rs 13,74,000 (all prices ex-Delhi).

There's no Car DVD  and this might seem odd to some, but all our media is either on phones/tablets or USB drives anyway. In addition, the touchscreen gives you access to navigation and the system is linked with an additional multi-information display in the instrument binnacle.