MARUTI SUZUKI VICTORIS

Maruti's tech-loaded SUV undercuts the segment king

- Words By: Sohil Nikam

It's impossible to talk about certain cars without bringing up their rivals. Case in point: the newly launched Maruti Suzuki Victoris. Its prime competitor? The undisputed king of the midsize SUV segment is the Hyundai Creta. At a starting price of ₹10.5 lakh (ex-showroom), the Victoris undercuts the Creta by about ₹60,000. While the margin might not sound massive, in India's price-sensitive market, even that could tip the scales. The Victoris is aimed squarely at Millennial and Gen Z audiences, which means folks with growing spending power and a penchant for tech-laden, aspirational products. And on that front, Maruti has made sure the Victoris is packed with modern features. The question is: does it truly have what it takes to challenge the Creta? Let's dive in.

QUINTESSENTIALLY MARUTI DESIGN

Connected LED tail lamps with a scattered glow effect give the Victoris a distinctive rear profile. The Victoris avoids the over-styled look that plagues many new SUVs, and that's a relief. It doesn't shout for attention, but instead carries a clean, confident, and unmistakably Maruti design language. Its front is inspired by the e-Vitara, with slim LED DRLs and a modest chrome bar that isn't too flashy. It's got 17-inch turbine-style alloys that add a dash of sharpness to the whole affair.

As for its rear, it's headlined by connected LED tail lamps with a unique scattered glow effect. At over 4.3 metres long, the Victoris sits firmly in midsize SUV territory, being larger than the Brezza, but not quite as wide as the Creta. The dimensions allow for a respectable 370 litres of boot space. A clever detail is in the CNG variant, which hides the CNG assembly completely under the floor, leaving the boot unobstructed. However, a notable downside is that none of the variants offer a spare tyre.