AIMING FOR THE TOP

With the Victoris, Maruti Suzuki is gunning for the top spot in the SUV segment. But does it have what it takes to dethrone the long-standing segment leader – the Hyundai Creta?

- ISHAN RAGHAVA

The Victoris seems to be a very calculated move by Maruti Suzuki to strengthen its position in the premium SUV segment. The Creta has been a stellar success for Hyundai in India and has been posting record sales despite its premium price and positioning. It's hardly surprising, then, that Maruti Suzuki wants a piece of that lucrative pie. Now, while the Grand Vitara initially showed some promise, it simply failed to match the sales numbers of the Creta. So, Maruti Suzuki clearly needed to bring in something more exciting in the segment to boost their numbers, and that's where the Victoris comes in. Even though it’s more or less identical to the Grand Vitara in terms of platform and mechanical hardware, the Victoris distinguishes itself through a completely new design and more aspirational positioning.

SHARP LOOKS

Right from the outset, the Victoris strikes you with its sharp, contemporary design, crafted entirely by Maruti Suzuki's India design team. It features a bold front end with a large grille, which gives it a distinct identity, setting it apart from anything else in Maruti Suzuki's current lineup. I also like the choice of bold, vibrant colours - particularly the eternal blue and sizzling red - for they accentuate the car's design.

The profile is equally striking, with squared wheel arches, a slightly sloping roofline (more on that later), and multiple lines and creases. At the rear, a full-width LED taillamp with some snazzy graphics makes the Victoris look wider than it actually is. A sloping rear windscreen, sporty spoiler, and beefy skid plates further add to its SUV styling.