Maruti Suzuki has launched the Victoris, a showroom-friendly midsize SUV positioned to challenge the Hyundai Creta by offering Grand Vitara-level equipment through Maruti’s far larger Arena dealer network. Priced at an introductory ₹10.50–19.98 lakh, the Victoris pairs comprehensive feature content (including ADAS and a premium sound system) with strong crash-test performance, five stars from both Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP, giving Maruti a potent mainstream alternative to the Creta.
Why Maruti Suzuki Victoris is Good?
Maruti’s strategy with the Maruti Suzuki Victoris is simple: deliver a product that offers much of the Grand Vitara experience but make it available to more buyers by selling it through the company’s Arena showrooms rather than Nexa. According to the report, Maruti has roughly six Arena outlets for every Nexa, and that wider distribution is central to the Victoris’ competitive play against segment leaders such as the Hyundai Creta.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris Key specifications & price
- Maruti Suzuki Victoris Price (introductory): ₹10.50 lakh – ₹19.98 lakh (ex-showroom, reported).
- Powertrains: 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol with mild-hybrid options (manual and automatic; AWD available), a strong hybrid variant also offered.
- Maruti Suzuki Victoris Power figures: Mild-hybrid automatic AWD quoted at 103 hp; strong hybrid combined output around 115 hp (reported).
- Maruti Suzuki Victoris Fuel economy: Strong hybrid rated at 28.65 km/L; petrol manual 21.18 km/L; petrol automatic 21.06 km/L; AWD automatic 19.07 km/L.
- Safety: 5-star ratings for both Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP.
- Notable kit: ADAS (first for Maruti), 10.25-inch full digital driver display, 10.1-inch infotainment (Smart Play Pro X) with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 8-speaker Infinity by Harman system with subwoofer and Dolby Atmos, PM2.5 air filter, ventilated front seats, powered driver seat, panoramic sunroof, surround (360°) camera, and six airbags standard.
Interior and equipment, premium cues, a few cost compromises
The Maruti Suzuki Victoris borrows heavily from Maruti’s current interior architecture: a freestanding touchscreen that integrates into a cascading center console, a large digital driver cluster, ambient lighting, and a generally improved perceived quality with soft-touch panels in key sightlines. The top models deliver full digital instrumentation and a markedly upgraded infotainment experience (new hardware/software branded Smart Play Pro X).
Practicality and fit-and-finish are mixed: the cabin includes useful conveniences such as a wireless charger and multiple USB-C ports, but some switchgear and small storage spaces are carried over from older Maruti models, detail elements that slightly date the cabin. Upholstery choices vary by variant: hybrid models get all-black trim with bronze highlights; other variants feature white-on-black upholstery that may prove harder to keep clean.
Exterior design, a conscious departure from “busy” styling
Styling is deliberately restrained compared with some rivals and even Maruti’s own Grand Vitara. The front end is described as neutral and widely appealing, with DRLs that some observers liken to European brands. The rear is the most polarizing element: a slim LED light-bar and compact lamp cluster sit against a very flat, vertical tail surface that some testers find austerely simple and, in places, slightly less premium than the rest of the execution.
Packaging compromises: boot, spare and practicality notes
- The strong hybrid variant loses usable luggage space due to battery placement and does not carry a spare wheel, only a puncture repair kit is supplied (Maruti will sell a spare as an accessory for petrol/strong-hybrid variants but not for the CNG variant).
- Petrol variants have a larger boot and additional under-floor storage; CNG versions occupy this under-floor space with the CNG tank.
Drive impressions, refined in town, strained on the highway (mild hybrid); strong hybrid impresses on efficiency
- Mild-hybrid 1.5 petrol (103 hp): compliant and refined around town; however, reviewers found it underpowered on highways where overtakes require significant revs. The six-speed automatic is well-tuned and smooth, but the engine’s low power output is the car’s principal weak point in real-world highway use.
- Strong hybrid (~115 hp combined): delivers markedly better urgency and exceptionally high real-world fuel economy (commonly above 20 km/L during the test, with Maruti’s official rating at 28.65 km/L). The hybrid uses electric drive extensively in everyday conditions, giving a much more frugal and responsive feel. Engine noise when the petrol unit engages is a noted drawback, it becomes coarse when it cuts in.
- Ride & handling: chassis feels a touch top-heavy; steering is safe but not especially engaging. Suspension is firm, helpful for control and some off-road confidence but at the expense of supple comfort over poor surfaces.
ADAS, off-road capability and equipment edge
- ADAS: This is Maruti’s first model to offer ADAS; the system’s calibration is praised for being appropriately conservative for Indian conditions, gentle lane-keeping intervention, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control that displays information in the head-up display. ADAS is available on automatic mild-hybrid variants (not on manual or strong-hybrid).
- Off-road ability: The Maruti Suzuki Victoris features Maruti’s AllGrip Select AWD system on select variants and demonstrated competent low-speed off-road performance in controlled tests (steep descents, side-dips and rutted tracks), aided by 360° cameras and traction modes.
Verdict, a strategic, competitive mainstream SUV
The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is, in essence, a broader-reach iteration of the Grand Vitara: similar underpinnings and many of the same strengths, but made available to a far larger customer base via Arena showrooms. It pairs segment-leading equipment (ADAS, digital cluster, premium audio) and five-star safety with extremely competitive introductory pricing. The mild-hybrid petrol’s modest power output is the model’s main shortcoming, while the strong hybrid stands out for its real-world efficiency and livelier performance, albeit with some refinement trade-offs when the petrol engine engages.
For buyers prioritising features, safety and fuel economy, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris is a compelling mainstream choice. For those focused on outright performance and brisk highway passing, rivals offering more powerful turbocharged engines may still hold the edge.
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