Maruti Victoris: What's Good And Not So Good About It?

Maruti has just shaken up the market with the launch of the Victoris by throwing everything it can at it. A sleek design, a new interior, plenty of features including some firsts for a Maruti and efficient powertrain… It's clear that Maruti has come all guns blazing. Priced from Rs 10.49 lakh(ex-showroom), does it have what it takes to beat dominant rivals to become the best mid-size SUV? 

We explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Victoris to find out! 

Maruti Victoris: Exterior

The Victoris comes across as clean and fresh for the most part. In typical Maruti fashion, designers have made it inoffensive and classy while avoiding excessive flash. While it won’t grab eyeballs easily, the neat and simple design is bound to age gracefully. 

While we have no complaints in the front and side profile, the rear-end could have been executed better to gel along with the overall look. Yes, the design for the rear connected taillamp strip is a unique standout and offers a breath of fresh air. However, the steeply raked rear windshield and the flat tailgate just does not match up to the rest of the design.

Maruti Victoris: Interior And Comfort

Inside the Victoris lies a premium looking cabin loaded with features and technology which will appeal to younger buyers. Petrol and CNG variants come with a dual-tone black-white colour scheme, while the strong hybrid gets a black hue with champagne gold inserts. The textured patterns on the dashboard and door panels also add a touch of personality.

The Victoris also debuts a new steering wheel design for Maruti which looks and feels upmarket. However, the quality of some of the materials used, especially the new controls for the climate control, feel cheap. The basic incandescent bulbs used for the cabin lights don’t help either. Also, rear headroom is strictly average, especially in the variants with the panoramic sunroof.

Maruti Victoris: Features

Maruti has equipped the Victoris with a long list of features such as a 10.1-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, 64-colour ambient, powered tailgate, heads-up display, 8-speaker Infinity sound system with Dolby Atmos and an 8-way powered driver seat.

The safety kit of the Victoris is extensive as well and includes 6-airbags, electronic stability control, front and rear paking sensors, 360 degree camera, all wheel disc brakes, traction control system and electronic parking brake with auto-hold. It also gets a Level 2 ADAS suite with features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision warning and auto emergency braking. 

The Victoris also scored 5 stars in the Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP crash tests.

As such, the Victoris has a long equipment list which matches segment leaders, there are some misses. The ADAS suite is not offered with the strong-hybrid variants, CNG or even the manual transmission petrol variants. The strong-hybrid also does not get rain-sensing wipers, electronic parking brake or paddle shifters.

Maruti Victoris: Performance

Under the hood, the Victoris gets three engine options - a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol, a 1.5-litre CNG and a 1.5-litre strong-hybrid. The petrol automatic version also gets an optional  all-wheel drive system. Here are the detailed specifications for the powertrains- 

*Combined Output

Having three unique powertrains gives the Victoris an edge over some of its rivals as it can cater to a more diverse set of buyers. What’s more, all three of them are frugal and contribute to lower fuel costs for users. The silence of the strong-hybrid when driving in electric power at city speeds will be appreciated, while the underbody setup for the S-CNG variants frees up extra luggage space. Even the petrol engine offers a refined and smooth driving experience.

However, none of them offer a thrilling experience behind the wheel if you’re in the mood for some fun. They lack outright power and can feel lethargic at highway speeds. Unlike segment leaders, Maruti has not offered a turbo-petrol or diesel engine to cater to those seeking a more enthusiastic experience.

Maruti Victoris: Ride And Handling

Talking of ride and handling, with the limited time we had on hand, the Victoris offers a plush and comfortable ride over broken roads. Even at highway speeds and cornering, it felt stable. On the other hand though, tyre and road noise could have been controlled with better insulation. 

Maruti Victoris: Rivals And Pricing

Priced between Rs 10.49 lakh to 19.98 lakh (ex-showroom), it offers a wide range of variants at competitive price points. Rivals for the Victoris include the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Astor, Maruti Grand Vitara and Volkswagen Taigun. For the detailed variant-wise price list of the Victoris, click here. 

Is The Maruti Victoris Worth Considering?

If you are looking for a family friendly compact SUV which is well equipped, affordable, safe and easy to own, the Maruti Victoris should definitely be on your shortlist. It offers a well rounded package for a diverse range of buyers while also giving you the same peace of mind that Maruti is known for. However, for buyers seeking excitement, more performance or a strong road presence, the Victoris might not be the car for you. 

As a family car, the Victoris does a great job that is also safe and premium at the same time.