Paradigm Shift

Maruti Suzuki's Victoris takes direct aim at the Korean duo with a bold design, multiple powertrains including hybrid, CNG and AWD, and a feature-rich, safety-first package. We tested this new SUV on and off the tarmac

- Dipayan Dutta

The Victoris is Maruti Suzuki’s next big bet in the C-segment SUV space. From the moment you see the launch specs, you get the sense that Maruti isn’t here to muck about: this is a serious contender meant to shift volumes. Which is why it’s being sold through Arena rather than Nexa — they're aiming for mass appeal.

The C-segment SUV space in India is large and hungry: there’s room for more than just the Creta/Seltos/Kushaq etc. Manufacturers can—and should—field multiple products in roughly the same space, each with slightly different strengths, price points, features. Victoris looks like Maruti’s answer to the challenge of offering a value-rich, feature-heavy, safety-led SUV for folks who want more than a mid-trim Creta but still want good bang for buck.

Although the Victoris is built on the same platform as the Grand Vitara, Maruti has worked hard to give it its own visual identity. Where the Vitara feels a little restrained, the Victoris embraces a bolder face. The front end is arguably its strongest suit — the headlamps are sleek and set off by a chrome strip that stretches across the nose, giving the impression that the lamps are connected. It’s a simple element but one that adds cohesion and presence.

From the side, you can’t escape the family resemblance. The stance, the way the doors are cut, and the surfacing along the shoulders remind you of the Vitara. But it’s the section beyond the C-pillar that really sets the Victoris apart. The treatment of the rear quarter glass and roofline adds distinction, making it look different not only from its sibling but also from everything else in this segment.