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 comfort

- 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.