Maruti Suzuki Invicto: Maruti Suzuki on Wednesday unleashed the Invicto, marking the car maker’s latest foray into the premium end of the market, boasting a spacious and feature-rich MPV that marries the brand’s traditional reliability to luxury.
More or less a renamed Toyota Innova Hycross, Maruti has added its own design changes, badging, and a ‘value’ spin to the pricing of the Invicto. But does it live up to its status as a luxury family vehicle or is it simply the same old dog with a new collar?
Here is a closer look at what Invicto has in store.
Maruti Suzuki Invicto Design: Sharp Yet Subtle
At a first look, the Maruti Invicto does look familiar, undeniably so. That’s because it is based on and shares its frame and silhouette with the Innova Hycross. But Maruti’s given it a design of its own with a grille design consisting of twin chrome slats, bumper tweaks and unique LED DRLs.
The other is the more elegant Maruti’s Nexa design philosophy for the front end—the Maruti bit more elegant, a tad less gaudy.
Aside from that, the alloy wheels and rear profile are more or less reminiscent of the Hycross, but some chrome touches here and there and a blacked-out look have given it a niche identity.
Interior & Comfort:
Room, Sweet Room If it’s roominess you’re after, the Xterra is for you.
Enter the vehicle and you’re welcomed into a big, luxe cabin. The sophisticated dual-tone black with champagne gold finish. The dashboard looks clean and I like that they used some soft-touch materials to put your hand on.
The star of the show is the 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, complemented by a clear and crisp digital driver’s display.
Invicto is strongest in seating. The second-row captain seats are very comfortable, and great for long trips. There’s plenty of legroom in all three rows, so it fits families well.
And this segment, the third row is actually usable even for adults, a huge plus.
Performance: Silky, Efficient, and Hybrid-Ready
Powering the Maruti Invicto is a 2.0L petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology, churning out about 186 hp. There is no diesel choice, which might alienate purist MPV buyers, though that hybrid compensates by providing a remarkably smooth performance and immense fuel efficiency.
The e-CVT automatic transmission provides coming and going drivability, so to speak, particularly in city-type traffic.
It’s not the sportiest drive around, but that isn’t the purpose of this MPV. It excels in providing a composed, stress-free cruise and formidable fuel economy – about 23.24 km/l (claimed) which is exceptional for something with this much real estate.
Ride Quality & Safety
It certainly feels that way, thanks in no small part to its monocoque chassis, which makes sure the Invicto is poised and stable. It swallows bumps and is impressively stable on the highway. The steering is light and easy to manage in city driving, but doesn’t deliver much feedback at higher speeds.
For safety, it packs six airbags, ABS with EBD, 360-degree camera, traction control, and front and rear parking sensors. But it loses some of the advanced driver assistance features (ADAS) that are growing in popularity in this class.
Features Checklist: Thanks for Almost Everything
Beyond the big infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster, you also receive stuff like:
Dual-zone climate control
Ventilated front seats
Powered driver’s seat
Panoramic sunroof
Wireless charging
Connected car tech (SuzukiConnect)
However, the rear seat entertainment, powered tailgate and some premium touches are missing, perhaps to keep the price lower than the Innova.
Pros:
Sleek and fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain
Cabin is large and comfortable
Premium design touches
Strong feature list
Well known Maruti service FAMILY
Cons:
No diesel engine option
Misses out on ADAS features
Not as strong for premium buyers in terms of the badge value compared to Toyota
Not much to differentiate from the Hycross visually
Maruti Suzuki Invicto Judgment: A Good All Round Premium MPV
The Maruti Suzuki Invicto may not re-invent the MPV wheel, but it’s a tidy package of comfort, efficiency and features, and with the added advantage of a wide Maruti service network.
For people shopping for the top (7-seater) guys who can’t quite make it all the way up to the Toyota, the Invicto is a good value alternative. It’s not flashy — but it is practical, polished and reliable.