Maruti Suzuki Invicto First Drive: The Toyota Price for a Maruti Dilemma

Maruti Suzuki Invicto Review: What is a psychological price point? How do we define it? Or who defines it rather? And how does it change? Is it changing for Maruti? Or has it changed already and we missed it? Too many question marks to start thanks to the question that started popping up on my timelines and inbox the moment Invicto’s price was announced and our videos were published on Times Drive channels. “Would you pay Rs 30 lakh for a Maruti car?” Maruti Suzuki’s version of Innova Hycross launched with a price band of Rs 24.8 to 28.2 Lakh (ex-showroom).

Most of them wondered- how or why would anyone buy a rebadged Hycross with a Maruti badge for Rs 30 lakh? This figure could be simplistic as the on-road prices would vary but the question wasn’t frivolous. Not the kind of comments or questions we get from the online Maruti haters. This is a valid question. Most of us are discussing this launch and product strategy. I am sure Maruti Suzuki management must have gone through rounds of complex discussions too. India's number one car company has never sold a car which touched or crossed this price point. Plus, Invicto is going to compete with a product which is more of an independent brand in itself. Indian customers are okay with Toyota failing with a couple of products, they can doubt Toyota’s strategy for the Indian market but they are never unsure of the brand Innova. It is untouchable. It has been the undisputed champion of the MPV segment since the time we learned that there is a class of vehicles called MPVs. In that light, would the exact same product from Maruti’s stable make sense?

Maruti is known for value-for-money small cars, they have never operated in that price range and the fact that it is manufactured by Toyota might have limited their grasp over cost effectiveness. The point is that for a car which is already driven, reviewed and covered extensively, the rebadged version story didn’t have to be this complex, but it is. So, I sat down to make a list of why's and how's of Maruti Suzuki Invicto, just wanted to understand what Maruti Suzuki India is trying with Invicto, if my list makes sense and can I help all our friends who are planning to buy a premium MPV.

Why Maruti Suzuki Invicto?

It could be our laziness or just decades-old mental conditioning but most of us still think of Maruti as a paisa-vasool hatchback maker. Maker of 800s, Altos and WagonR. The reality, however, is very different. Maruti Suzuki is now the number one manufacturer in the Rs 10-20 lakh segment. The Alto is not even making it to the top 5 in the list of top 10 sellers. Maruti is selling more Brezza than the Alto now. It tells you the story of the Indian market and the car customer, how it has changed and how facts and perceptions work. Maruti has understood that hatchbacks can’t carry them forever. The reason they worked on the Grand Vitara and Fronx. Plus the Jimny. It is seeing results as well. The next step obviously had to be the 20 Lakh plus segment. And, when they have a tie-up with Toyota and supplied them with Baleno and Brezza (soon the Ertiga/XL6) why leave this best seller? Isn't social media already celebrating the Maruti Suzuki's version of Fortuner? You never know those memes will become a reality soon if the Invicto plan goes as per both Japanese manufacturers.

Maruti Suzuki Invicto: Hybrid Engine Option Only

Maruti Suzuki looks very focused with its Invicto as it is offered in just the 2.0 L intelligent electric hybrid system with eCVT option. So, this is a pure hybrid play in the premium segment. The combined power output is 184 bhp, and the engine produces 188 Nm of torque backed by the electric motor which can produce 206 Nm of torque. Obviously, the figures are similar to the Innova Hycross strong hybrid lineup. There are various drive modes available including Eco, Power and EV modes. The 0 to 100 kmph figure is around 9.5 seconds and claimed fuel economy of Invicto is 23.24 kmpl. I guess one of the biggest factors behind this only hybrid version could be the fuel efficiency, which matches Maruti Suzuki’s core philosophy.

How Safe is the Maruti Suzuki Invicto?

Maruti Suzuki Invicto is equipped with 6 standard airbags (front, side, and curtain), ABS with EBD, vehicle stability control with hill hold assist, front and rear disc brakes, and an electronic parking brake with auto hold. The list covers most of the safety features acronyms we see these days.

In addition to these safety features, Invicto also offers connected features such as an e-call facility. The 360-view camera with dynamic guidelines is helpful while parking a car this size. The camera quality however has major scope for improvement. The Invicto gets the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System as well.

Features in Maruti Suzuki Invicto

Let's start this list with the hottest trending hashtag of the auto industry- the sunroof. Invicto gets a twin pane panoramic sunroof. This list of features tilts more towards utility and comfort rather than gimmicks or quirky bits. The Invicto gets multi-zone temperature control for front and rear seats, powered seats with 2 memory settings, ventilated seats, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system (which looks a bit dated) and features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The version we drove had captain seats with a side table in between, easy to fold or open. You get a powered tailgate as well. Invicto gets connected features with inbuilt Suzuki Connect.

How different is the Maruti Invicto compared to Toyota Hycross then?

Not much. Hardly anything. You get a new headlamp design, tail lamps, front grille gets the contemporary Maruti Suzuki design treatment. It gets a bold two-slat chrome treatment, which makes it a family member of Grand Vitara and Fronx. The tyre size is 17 inches for the Invicto. The interior gets champagne gold inserts in the dash.

What about Invcito's drive, handling and comfort?

You already know this part. You have seen the Toyota Hycross reviews already, read what everyone has written. And, this car isn’t different. It drives confidently and maintains a solid stance. The suspension still has a superb balance between the highway and beyond-highway ride quality. This feels comfortable on the new-age highways we have and it feels reassuring on those roads too when we leave the highways. It can take bad roads with ease. Doesn’t fret. Even for urban commutes, it is an easy car to drive, considering its size and bulk. A decent 7-seater with a hybrid engine which supplies power more effortlessly. This feels like a car which you would want to ride in on a cross-country vacation or drive to work or movies without any hesitation.

The overall space and comfort are what this car is known for. This can be used for long drives with 6 adults with quite ease. The only limitation would be luggage space if the whole family decides to go on a longer trip. If not fully packed, the second-row captain seats offer fantastic comfort and flexibility. You can slide all the way back and enjoy a business-class kind of legroom and comfort. For taller passengers, the headroom is not that great, just adequate. The taller drivers, however, can face a bit of cramped space for leg movement.

Maruti Suzuki Invicto: Should you buy it?

There is no doubt that customers in this segment will have no confusion about what this product is. I still get some shocked faces when I tell them that Baleno and Glanza are the same, but the Innova brand is stronger. Customers know that Invicto is the Maruti version of Innova Hycross. Now the question is why customers would choose this over Hycross. Wouldn’t the Toyota badge be more attractive to them? It would be but the customers might be driven more by the availability, knowing exactly what this product is and who has built it. Plus there are Maruti loyals ready to move up the segment.

Seems like a win-win situation for Maruti because this is a segment that Maruti has never been able to enter. The product is already tried and tested, and all customers know that there is a long waiting period for Hycross. So by bringing in a strong hybrid option, Maruti has made an entry into a niche segment with a solid product. Now if Maruti can keep the waiting period under control, Invicto can capture that customer segment that wants to avoid the waiting period and prefers a spacious and tried-tested product over a badge.

Invicto Vs Innova Hycross price-list comparison

For your reference, I am adding the price list of both the Maruti Suzuki Invicto and Toyota Hycross.

Maruti Suzuki Invicto (Ex-Showroom Prices)

Zeta+7-seater	Rs 24,79,000
Zeta+8-seater	Rs 24,84,000
Alpha+ 7-seater	Rs 28,42,000

Innova Hycross Hybrid Automatic (Ex-Showroom prices)