Introduction
Maruti Suzuki joined hands with Toyota through an alliance that was forged back in 2019. This alliance witnessed badge engineered versions of various models such as the Urban Cruiser which is based on the Vitara Brezza, the Glanza which was based on the Baleno, and the Hyryder which is based on the Grand Vitara. With the latter, Maruti borrowed the strong hybrid motor from Toyota, unlike previous occasions where Toyota vehicles were powered by Maruti-sourced engines. Now, to take the alliance a step ahead, the Invicto steps in, becoming the first Toyota model (based on the Innova Hycross) to be adopted by Maruti, albeit with a few tweaks. So what exactly is the Invicto all about? Let’s find out.
Exterior
While the Glanza and Baleno only differentiated from each other in terms of the badging, the Vitara Brezza took a step further with revised elements like the grille front bumper. Then came the Hyryder which saw fairly more differentiating factors when compared to the Grand Vitara. Maruti has now taken a similar approach as the latter, and there are notable differences between both the MPVs.
Up-front, the Invicto gets redesigned LED headlamps that now come with the ‘NEXTre’ philosophy-based three element LED DRLs, the same design that is seen in other cars from the Nexa family such as the new Baleno and Grand Vitara. Further, there is a new grille with twin chrome slats. If you happen to have an eye for detail, you’d also notice the turn indicators that are now a tad bit smaller compared to the Hycross, courtesy of the new design for the front bumper.
Towards the side, the MPV boasts a new set of 17-inch machine-cut alloy wheels, and apart from that, the overall silhouette remains unchanged when compared to the Hycross side by side. The rear profile though, gets a revised rear bumper with a black insert and honeycomb pattern on either side. The tail light graphics have been tweaked too, and carry over the similar ‘NEXTre’ tri insert pattern as that of the headlamps, albeit on a larger scale. Given a choice to pick between the Hycross and Invicto solely on the design aspect, it would certainly be a tough choice in my hands, as I found both of them to be equally appealing.
Interior
Getting inside the Invicto is an easy affair, as the ‘SUV-inspired’ design means you have to climb into the car, not step into it or make yourself struggle to get in. You are greeted by a familiar black and beige interior theme, and one striking difference that immediately comes to your notice is the champagne gold inserts on the door pads, AC vents, and centre console. Customers buying this car can choose from seven-seater and eight-seater layouts, although the latter is available only with Zeta+ variant, while the seven-seater can be had in both, Zeta+ and Alpha+ variants.
You’ll have plenty of storage options all around, including the doors, cup holders on the centre console, cup holders in front of the AC vents that will cool your refreshments on the go, retractable sun shades in the second row, adjustable headrest for all passengers, and green tinted windows.
Further, the second-row occupants will benefit from individual armrests, a side table, and walk-in, slide, and recline function in the seven-seater version, while the eight-seater version will offer an armrest with cup holders and 60:40 split seats with walk-in, slide, and recline function. The 50:50 split and recline seat will be common across both seating layouts. The seats in the first two rows are comfortable, and the second row with the captain seats makes you feel a little more pampered, while also giving a marginally higher luxury quotient. That said, one glaring omission when compared to the Hycross is the Ottoman function for the second row (seven-seater version), which could become a deal maker or breaker, depending on which side you’re on.
Features
In terms of features, the Invicto will get a laundry list of items such as a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats, eight-way power adjustable driver seat, a powered tailgate, drive modes (Eco, Normal, and Power), and a EV mode switch function.
Also up for offer is cruise control, an engine start-stop button, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs, a 10.25-inch Magnum touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, six airbags, front parking sensors, a reverse parking camera, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function, VSC, HSA, TPMS, and Suzuki Connect telematics. A feature that would’ve certainly appealed to more customers is the ventilation function for the second-row seats, something that is currently offered only in one rival, the Tata Safari.
Powertrain
At the heart of the Invicto MPV is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, NA petrol engine with an output rated at 172bhp and 188Nm of torque. Then, the electric motor produces an additional 11bhp and 206Nm of twist, with all these figures being sent to the wheels via an e-CVT unit, which, by the way, is the sole transmission on offer. Yes, neither the Invicto nor the Hycross will be offered with a manual transmission. And we thought the death of manuals could be around the corner only due to EVs? Well, think again. For the uninitiated, the claimed mileage of the Invicto stands at 23.24kmpl.
Prices and competition
The Maruti Suzuki Invicto was launched with an introductory price tag ranging from Rs. 24.79 lakh for the entry-level Zeta Plus seven-seater variant, going up to Rs. 28.42 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom), for the top-spec Alpha+ seven-seater variant. It does undercut the Hycross by a fair amount, but that reduction in costs also means that it misses out on a few crucial features, and we have detailed this for you in a dedicated story. Coming back, the Invicto will go on to rival the Toyota Innova Hycross, Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Alcazar, and Kia Carens in India. We will be driving the Invicto soon, so stay tuned for our in-depth review.
