Multi-purpose Hybrid

The Invicto is the most premium model offered by Maruti Suzuki and, apart from the space, it also packs a load of tech and creature comforts to rival some more expensive—but much smaller—luxury offerings

- Jim Gorde

THERE AREN'T TOO MANY CARS THAT CAN match up to the Toyota Innova. So, when the all-new Innova Hycross Hybrid arrived, Maruti Suzuki knew exactly what it needed to do—slap the “S” logo on to the grille, tailgate, wheel rims, and steering wheel. Although it could be considered one of the most prominent instances of badge-engineering, it is a smart move. On the one hand, a petrol-powered, front-wheel-drive, monocoque-based Toyota Innova was not easy to digest for many, and, on the other, a hybrid-only seven-seater in Nexa showrooms was an opportunity too lucrative to pass on. Enter the Invicto.

It even shares 57 per cent of its name with its derivative model, but once past that, there’s a lot more to it. It means more numbers higher up the scale for Maruti Suzuki, as well as more for Toyota, too. Invicto sales have been roughly between 200 and 800 cars per month over the past year; not bad considering the price range is Rs 25 lakh to Rs 29 lakh, the latter being for the “Alpha+” variant that we have here.

The styling may be almost entirely unchanged, but there's no denying it does look modern. Japanese minivans are a thing of beauty to some—and to me—at least in terms of execution and practicality, if not explicitly appearance. The Invicto doesn’t have sliding rear doors, thus it is easily perceived as a shuttle but with SUV(-ish) genes. Yes, it’s front-wheel drive and doesn't have even a second electric motor on the rear axle, but it is not meant to be an SUV. For a stylish people-mover, it ticks all the right boxes.