Maruti Suzuki Victoris: Is It Truly The Most Affordable Compact SUV With ADAS In Its Segment?

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris has entered the market promising a lot, in terms of modern styling, feature-packed interiors, and the trust of India’s largest carmaker. On paper, it seems like a compelling deal, sitting neatly between the Brezza and the Grand Vitara (more towards the latter). 

Now, the Victoris is the first Maruti SUV to come with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). But is it the most affordable compact SUV to get this safety tech? 

Know Your Rivals Thoroughly!

Firstly, let’s understand the positioning of the Victoris. The new compact SUV has been slotted into the fiercely competitive compact SUV segment, which is a tough one to crack for any car. Who are the Victoris’ competitors? Well, first, you have the Hyundai Creta, which outsells any other compact SUV by a huge margin. So with the Victoris, Maruti’s main target would be to attack the Creta.  

Other rivals include the Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, MG Astor, Skoda Kushaq and VW Taigun. So, clearly, the Victoris has many players to battle it out against. But with ADAS in question here, the real rivals are those SUVs that also pack this tech.

Price Check

Here, we have compared the most popular rivals of the Victoris and their entry-level ADAS variants against those of the Victoris. The Victoris gets ADAS from the ZXi Plus variant, which is priced at Rs 17.19 lakh (ex-showroom). Now, let's compare this price with the competition…

As seen above, similar variants of the Elevate and Astor with ADAS are comparatively more affordable than the Victoris. Even the crowd-favourite Creta will help you save almost a lakh! However, the Curvv and the Seltos with ADAS are costlier. 

Not The Most Affordable, But…

The Victoris is the first Maruti SUV to get Level 2 ADAS, and it comes with features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, and emergency braking. The Honda Elevate also gets a similar setup, while the MG Astor sticks to a basic level-1 suite, with alerts like forward collision and lane departure warning. The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos offers almost the same mix as the Victoris.

So yes, you can buy more affordable SUVs with ADAS, but the Victoris gives Maruti buyers their first taste of this tech and still manages to pack good safety bundles in the segment. The only catch here is that ADAS in the Victoris is limited to the 1.5-litre petrol engine, paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic. You can’t have this tech with the other powertrain options including the strong-hybrid. 

Add to that its modern design, a feature-rich cabin, and a positioning that bridges the gap between budget-friendly and premium, and the Victoris starts to look less like an overpriced option and more like a practical long-term investment for buyers who prioritize peace of mind over outright sticker price. 

A Quick Look At What Else The Victoris Brings To The Table

Maruti claims that the Victoris is directed towards the youth of the country, with elegant and modern design language, and an interior that is loaded with tech and features. Its engine options are fuel-efficient, with the hybrid powertrain being the preferred choice. 

Its top features include a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment, a 10.25-inch digital driver's display, a panoramic sunroof, 64-colour ambient lighting, an 8-speaker Infinity sound system, powered seats, ventilated front seats, and wireless phone charging. Safety features besides level-2 ADAS include a 360-degree camera, ABS with EBD, TPMS, and front and rear parking sensors.  

It gets a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine, a strong-hybrid petrol engine, and a CNG option as well. 

ZigSays…

In the end, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris may not wear the crown of being the cheapest compact SUV with ADAS in its segment, but it still manages to carve out a space for itself. Let’s also keep in mind that the Victoris is the newest of the lot, and most rivals offering ADAS are already a couple of years old. So you do get something fresh and unique among the popular faces.

So yes, while cheaper ADAS-equipped SUVs exist, the Victoris gives you the peace of mind of Maruti ownership, plus a bang for buck considering the fact that you get all the best-in-segment features and strong hybrid powertrain option as well. 

What do you think about the Victoris? Let us know in the comments section below.