MASS MARKET MAGIC

Maruti’s newest compact SUV, the Victoris, promises to be an all you can» eat buffet for the masses. But is it?

- CYRUS DHABHAR

The Fronx landed in 2023. The Jimny followed in 2024. One sells like samosas at a railway station, but without the enthusiast appeal it deserves. The other, loved by purists, struggled at the sales counter. That failure was a reminder for Maruti to stick to what it does best - cars for the people. Cars that sell, cars families nod approvingly at, and cars that, somehow, always turn out to be good to drive. Come 2025 and the new Victrois will be just that.

Now usually, telling you what I think of the car in the first paragraph is a bit futile for magazine readers. Why read till the end if I've literally just told you the plot line. But you'll have to excuse my tardiness, its been well over a decade since I have written a copy for print - and frankly, my fingers are a little excited in finding their voice again. But yes, to cut a long story short, the Victoris is exactly what you would expect from a new Maruti SUV. And now would be a great time to tell you what that is.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT!

Let's get straight to it. The Victoris is well priced. Crucially, unlike the Grand Vitara, this one is sold through Maruti's 3,000-plus Arena outlets. Accessibility alone guarantees volumes. For years, many felt cars like the Baleno or Vitara would've doubled numbers if they'd been in every Arena showroom instead of the split Nexa/Arena strategy. The Victoris fixes that.

WHY SIMPLE DESIGN IS GOOD!