The Maruti Suzuki Victoris enters one of the most fiercely contested segments in our market – midsize SUVs. Currently ruled by the venerable Creta, the Victoris aims to take on the Hyundai by offering a wide range of powertrains, a sharp design and in a first for Maruti, ADAS features.
And even though Maruti does have the Grand Vitara in this space, the Victoris will be retailed through the brand’s more widespread Arena retail channel as opposed to Nexa, thus enabling it to reach a wider consumer base. The Victoris will also be exported from India to over 100 countries, signalling just how important this product is to India’s number 1 carmaker. Let’s see if it’s up to the task.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris design and engineering – 8/10
Sharp new design language, segmented LED lights make an impression; based on the same platform as the Grand Vitara.
The Victoris makes a very good first impression with its design. Sharp and distinctive, it borrows cues from the upcoming e Vitara SUV and it also has some resemblance to the smaller Brezza. Up front, there’s segmented LED DRLs, a chiseled bumper, with a wide airdam and a skid plate element lower down. Then there’s strong character lines along the sides and squared off wheel arches with plastic cladding which helps give a muscular stance.
What also helps matters are the attractive, dual-tone 17-inch alloys and the blacked out roof and pillars. The raked rear windscreen also gives it a coupe SUV vibe and makes it appear longer than it is. Out back, it gets a striking, segment LED lightbar with a flat tailgate and it’s from this angle that the Victoris doesn’t appear the most cohesive. Still on the whole, it’s an attractive looking SUV and it can be had in as many as seven colours.
Like the Grand Vitara, the Victoris is based on Suzuki’s Global C platform which Maruti has dubbed ‘Suzuki Tect’. As for dimensions, it measures 4360mm in length, 1795mm in width and 1655mm in height with a 2600mm long wheelbase, which makes it more or less as big as the Grand Vitara.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris interior space and comfort – 8/10
Layered dash is attractive and it gets two upholstery colour options.
Inside too, it’s a familiar yet distinctive affair. The dashboard and steering wheel are completely different to the Grand Vitara but you’ll still find shared bits like the window switches, indicator stalks and more. Like the Grand Vitara, the Victoris too gets two interior colour schemes – ivory and black with silver accents for the petrol and CNG versions and all black with rose gold accents for the strong hybrid. While the dual tone upholstery of the petrol and CNG does help the sense of space inside, the fabric inserts on the seats will be tough to keep clean. Personally, I prefer the all black upholstery of the strong hybrid.
On top of the layered dashboard sits a free standing touchscreen below which are the AC vents and the AC controls. It’s nice to see physical toggle switches for this and a rotary knob for the volume too. There’s also a vibrant, fully digital instrument cluster – a first for Maruti. The dash is broken up by a soft touch, leatherette panel with contrasting stitching which does uplift the cabin. And so does the ambient lighting which is displayed in a pattern on the passenger side and in the footwell. A special mention also goes to the all-new steering wheel which is nice to look at and hold and features physical buttons too. The overall fit/finish and quality of materials inside the cabin do feel a notch above what we’re used to from Marutis and that comes as no surprise given this SUV’s export aspirations.
The front seats are very comfortable, with just the right amount of support, cushioning and under-thigh support. And on a hot day you’ll also appreciate the fabric inserts in the upholstery which cools down quicker than leatherette. However, it does fall short when it comes to the rear seat. Headroom and kneeroom is tight for taller passengers and the relatively narrow cabin means it won’t be ideal for seating three adults. What’s good though is that you’re sat high up which gives you a good view out and the panoramic sunroof and large windows do help the sense of space. The seat itself is comfortable and supportive though and you also get dedicated AC vents, USB ports and a fold down armrest with cupholders at the back.
Practicality is good too, with large doorbins, a sizable glovebox, a cubby under the front armrest, two cupholders, a dedicated wireless phone charging pad and some additional space ahead of the gear lever. Boot space also depends on which version you opt for. The petrol and CNG get the same space, the latter thanks to an underbody mounted CNG tank. The strong hybrid meanwhile gets a raised boot floor thanks to the battery pack placed underneath. What is a downer however is that no versions come with a spare tyre and you only get a puncture repair kit instead. Buyers can opt to buy the spare wheel separately at the time of purchase.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris features and safety – 9/10
Gets Maruti’s new infotainment touchscreen and a powered tailgate; digital cluster and ADAS features are a Maruti first; has a 5-star safety rating.
The Victoris is also more feature-rich than any Maruti Suzuki. Compared to the Grand Vitara, the Victoris packs in a larger touchscreen, a fully digital instrument cluster and Level 2 ADAS tech. Dubbed Smartplay Pro X, the new 10.1-inch touchscreen impresses with its slickness and response and Maruti’s new user interface is also easy to navigate and easier on the eye too. The new 10.25-inch instrument cluster too has crisp graphics and a high resolution and you can even change the display themes. However, it doesn’t pack in a blind spot monitor or display navigation like some of its competitors.
Of other things, the top-spec ZXI+(O) gets ventilated front seats, a powered driver’s seat, electronic parking brake (petrol only), panoramic sunroof, a heads-up display, a theatre mode, leatherette upholstery, configurable ambient lighting, all LED lighting, 17-inch diamond cut alloys, a PM2.5 air filter, an 8-speaker Infinity audio system with Dolby Atmos (it sounds quite average though), connected car tech, a powered tailgate with gesture control (segment first) and much more. It’s clear that Maruti hasn’t left any stone unturned in terms of comfort and convenience features.
And it’s a similar story with the safety kit too. The Victoris’ safety suite comprises six airbags, traction control, brake assist, hill hold control, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and more as standard. Higher variants also get a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring system, and as a first for a Maruti model, Level 2 ADAS (Petrol AT only). Moreover, the Victoris has also received a full 5-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP, furthering its safety credentials.
As mentioned, the Victoris is the first Maruti to feature Level 2 ADAS features like autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control and more. And what’s nice is that it’s well suited to Indian road conditions. The AEB isn’t too sensitive and provides adequate warning before applying the brakes, the lane keep assist isn’t very intrusive and the adaptive cruise control too worked as intended.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris performance and refinement – 7/10
Powertrains are refined but not for the performance-oriented; AWD is capable off-road while strong hybrid makes for a smooth driving experience; tyre and road noise is audible inside.
One of the Victoris’ strong points is the number of powertrain options available. Sure there’s no diesel or turbo-petrol, but you can choose between a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol, a 1.5-litre CNG and a 1.5-litre strong hybrid. The CNG comes with a 5-speed manual and the strong hybrid gets an eCVT only, but the 1.5 NA petrol engine can be had with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter automatic; the latter also comes with Suzuki’s AllGrip AWD system.
We got to experience the strong hybrid and the AWD versions of the Victoris on our drive. Starting with the 1.5 petrol mild hybrid, this engine is a familiar one that does duty in a number of Maruti models like the Grand Vitara and Brezza. Output stands at 103hp and 139Nm, and despite it weighing only around 1300kg, the Victoris petrol does feel underpowered and its clear focus is on efficiency. This especially comes to the fore when you want to make a quick overtake on the highway where you’re left wanting more. Selecting Sport mode amps up the response which does help matters a bit, but there’s no escaping this engine’s lack of grunt. What it does impress with, is its refinement and paired with the smooth torque converter gearbox, means it makes for a near seamless drive experience. You also get paddleshifters which do their bit to add engagement.
A special off-road course also successfully demonstrated the Victoris AWD’s off tarmac prowess. It packs in modes like Snow, Sport, Auto and even has a Lock function that’ll split power 50:50 front/rear and it comes with hill descent control for greater control. The Victoris AWD tackled the articulation, rough roads and steep decline obstacles with ease and as such, this will be a good option for those living in hilly areas with poor road conditions.
But what is undoubtedly the powertrain to go for is the strong hybrid. This is also a familiar one, as it is shared with the Grand Vitara, and as such combined output stands at the same 116hp. This powertrain uses a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine along with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery.
The strong hybrid starts off in EV mode, and as long as you’re light with your throttle inputs and the battery has juice, it will stay in that mode which makes for a smooth and soothing drive experience. When you prod the throttle harder or if the battery is low, the engine comes to life to boost performance and charge the battery. This unit is smooth as far as three cylinder units go but it is audible when you rev it hard. In hybrid mode (engine + motor), the Victoris responds keenly from the get-go and the instant torque from the electric motor makes overtaking easy. You also get drive modes with the strong hybrid – Eco and Power – which have a corresponding effect on the powertrain’s response. And complementing it is a smooth CVT gearbox, which makes the drive seamless. While the powertrains are refined, what does filter through to the cabin is tyre and road noise, especially at higher speeds.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris mileage – 9/10
Strong hybrid delivers an impressive 28.56kpl, while the AWD returns 19.07kpl (ARAI).
On our short drive, we didn’t get to test the Victoris’ fuel efficiency, but rather unsurprisingly the strong hybrid is claimed to be the most efficient, delivering 28.56kpl (ARAI). Meanwhile, the AWD AT is said to return 19.07kpl (ARAI). This makes the Victoris more fuel efficient than the Grand Vitara and that’s down to better aerodynamics and low rolling resistance tyres.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris ride comfort and handling – 8/10
Ride is on the firmer side but it deals with broken roads well; body roll is well-controlled which makes it feel predictable around bends.
The Victoris also strikes a good balance between ride comfort and handling. The ride, especially on the strong hybrid owing to its higher kerb weight, does feel a bit firm at lower speeds but that does mean that it feels composed and mature at higher speeds and while tackling the rough stuff. Furthermore, it should also get more pliant when fully loaded. What’s also nice is that the suspension also works silently.
The steering too has the right amount of weight, which means it’s light and easy enough to twirl in traffic yet reassuring at higher speeds. The steering also feels direct enough and along with its good body control means it feels agile and predictable around bends. In conclusion, the Victoris has impressive road manners.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris price and verdict – 8/10
Priced well, packed with features, and with a wide powertrain range, the Victoris is the most compelling rival the Creta has had in a while.
The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is priced from Rs 10.49 lakh for the base petrol manual up to Rs 19.99 lakh (introductory, ex-showroom, India) for the range-topping strong hybrid. This comes across as competitive in its segment and considering all that it packs in, makes the Victoris a value for money choice.
It may not be a lot different from the Grand Vitara, it doesn’t get punchy diesel and turbo-petrol options and it’s not the most spacious at the rear. On the surface then, it may appear a bit too vanilla but it has exactly what level-headed buyers are looking for – efficient powertrains, lengthy features list, a comfy cabin and it’s backed up by Maruti’s widespread service network. It also excels in the ride and handling department, has a number of firsts for a Maruti and its proven to be safe too. While Maruti may market it as an ideal choice for the youth, the Victoris actually represents a very good buy for the family-oriented. As such, the Victoris is the most serious competitor the Hyundai Creta has had in a while.
