More Than A Rebadged Toyota Innova Hyrcross?

Maruti Suzuki Invicto is a 7-8-seater SUV that India desperately needs. It may seem like a surprising statement, especially when the car in question costs upwards of Rs 30 lakh in India but it is true nonetheless. The degrading air quality and India’s urgent need to move towards an electrified future are two big reasons for the same. But there is a third reason as well and that’s because the Maruti Suzuki Invicto is promising to be a fantastic car for someone who wants their money’s worth. More specifically, the Maruti Suzuki Invicto is promising to be an amazing car that you might be able to buy. Confused? Let me explain. 

The Maruti Suzuki Invicto is based on the Toyota Innova Hycross. To be more specific, it is the Toyota Innova Hycross with just a Maruti Suzuki badge on it and some minor changes here and there. Now, the Innova Hycross, when it launched, saw huge demand, especially from fleet owners who previously relied on the Toyota Innova diesel to fulfil their requirements. But because of the “10-year ban rule” on Diesel vehicles in the National Capital Region of Delhi, the ever-lasting and well-built Innova didn’t seem as good of a long-term investment as it was earlier. 

Enter the Toyota Innova Hycross, the new big MUV that could seat 7 or 8, depending upon the configuration, and had a 2-litre petrol engine coupled with an electric motor instead of a diesel powertrain. The new Hybrid powertrain in the Toyota Innova Hycross means that it can last up to 15 years and can even go for fitness tests beyond that to further extend its lifeline. The hybrid system also has an automatic gearbox, an option no longer available in Innova Crysta Diesel, and also offers better fuel economy. As a result, the Toyota Innova Hycross became a huge success.

It was so huge that Toyota found itself struggling to meet the massive appetite of the Indian auto market. Seeing this opportunity, Suzuki stepped in with a rebadged Toyota Innova Hycross dubbed the Maruti Suzuki Invicto. With some visual and feature changes, the Indian buyers now had the option of another Innova Hycross like MUV which offered equally high VFM and was a good investment as well. With that said, is the Maruti Suzuki Invicto really worth it when compared to the Innova Hycross? What do you gain or miss out on in this Suzuki which once was a Toyota? And most importantly, are there any deal breakers? Here’s my answer.   

Maruti Suzuki Invicto Chassis, Design and Comfort

The Invicto, with dimensions of 4,755mm in length, 1,850mm in width, and 1,795mm in height, mirrors its Toyota counterpart in size. This makes it a prominent figure among other Maruti vehicles. Instead of a ladder-on-frame chassis, the Invicto makes use of the Monocoque chassis, about which we’ll talk later in the performance section.

Upon first look, the Invicto’s design closely mirrors the Toyota Innova Hycross, with subtle differences in elements like the grille and headlights. Maruti’s version has unique features, such as a distinct mesh grille and Tri-LED daytime running lights, characteristic of the Nexa range. Side-by-side with the Hycross, the Invicto shows minor changes in the front bumper and tail lights.

One of the standout features is the alloy wheels. Their stylish design is undeniable, but the 17-inch size seems undersized for such a sizable vehicle. It’s like putting dainty ballet shoes on a sumo wrestler! While their 17-inch size might make you think the Invicto skipped leg day, Unlike the top-tier Hycross, there’s no 18-inch rim option. Maruti made this choice prioritizing ride comfort as the 17-inch wheels do have a higher tire height. 

And the same is evident when you finally get to ride the Invicto. I kept the tire pressure at 35PSI during the entire testing period and the car performed very well over bad roads. The suspension comfort is as good as the Toyota Hyryder or the Grand Vitara, which is arguably the best in the mid-size SUV segment. Invicto also keeps the cabin fairly isolated from outside noise, especially when going over bad roads, thanks to thick window glass and top-notch insulation. And I can confirm that short of looking a bit unusual, the smaller 17-inch wheels do not contribute to any decrease in high-speed stability.

The Maruti Suzuki Invicto’s interior echoes the Hycross but stands out with its black and champagne gold palette, compared to Hycross’s brown. Its luxurious leatherette seats and plush dashboard materials scream opulence, though some plastics feel scratchy. Drivers will love the roomy seats, clear visibility, and handy controls, with a neat, user-friendly dashboard. The lack of thigh support for people taller than 5ft 8” might be hit or miss though. But ventilated front seats do make the long journeys a bit refreshing, especially during summer. 

Moving on to mid-row captain seats you’ll find ample leg and headroom. I am driving the Maruti Suzuki Alpha+ variant, which only comes with a 7-seat option featuring captain seats. However, an 8-seater option is available in the lower Zeta+ variant. The captain seats are adjustable but lack a boss mode. However, you can slide the seats forward or 

Backwards. Adjacent to the passenger seats, you also get a small tray to keep your smartphone along with some cup holders as well. However, it’s a missed opportunity that the surface offers no wireless charging. But you do get factory-fitted Window blinds which is much appreciated. 

Furthermore, you also get two Type-C fast charging ports at the rear which is another saving grace. Passengers also get rear AC blower vents and an option to adjust the fan speed and also the temperature, essentially creating two climate zones within the MUV. There is no option to control the infotainment system from the back and I think it is high time brands brought back a remote for accomplishing the same. Rear passengers also get two side-mounted blut colour mood lights whose brightness they can control. Going well along with it are two yellow colour cabin lights as well, which can be controlled either by the passengers or the driver at the front. 

In the 3rd row, you also get plenty of headroom and legroom because the middle-row seats easily slide forward. Passengers also get separate rests and blower vents. But unlike the middle row, passengers in the last row don’t get is fan speed regulator and a USB charging port. They also don’t get an attached tray set, which middle-row passengers have the convenience of. 

Maruti Suzuki Invicto Review: The Tech Inside

The tech is one of the main reasons why you or anyone else would consider spending upwards of Rs 30 lakh for the Maruti Suzuki Invicto. For instance, and probably the biggest tech feature, the hybrid system alone makes up for Invicto’s high asking price. Mainly because it does two main things – provide better fuel efficiency and grunt-mimicking, and quite honestly surpass the capabilities of, a diesel engine. 

Why? No DPF issue is the first reason. Ever since the BS6 norms came into being in April 2020 in India, diesel cars had to be fitted with a DPF or Diesel Particulate Filter. The device itself requires additional maintenance from the owner side as they now have the extra task of driving their cars in a certain way regularly, preferably at highway speeds, to clear off the built-up soot to avoid a drop in fuel efficiency and power. Although this problem varies depending upon the vehicle and its make it persists to some degree in all of them. 

Thankfully, BS6 petrol engines don’t need any such filter, making them easy to own. And combine the petrol engine with an electric motor and a battery and now your car is as fuel-efficient and punchy as a Diesel engine, without any of the hassles. Moreover, unlike a petrol engine, the vibrations and loudness of a diesel engine can also be brutish, especially if it is bigger than 2-litre, a size standard across this MUV segment. And as I mentioned, the 15-year life span of the vehicle, as specified by New Delhi, is another added thing the hybrid tech helps this car achieve. 

Additionally, the Maruti Suzuki Invicto also comes loaded with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with support for wireless Apple Car Play, a driver console that can turn digital and analogue based on your choice, a tire pressure monitoring system, cruise control and an EV mode. You also get 360-degree cameras, which are very useful in my opinion, only on Invicto’s Alpha+ variant. But the 10-inch touchscreen lags quite a bit and also has low resolution just like the 360-degree camera. 

You also get the option of a panoramic sunroof which is big enough that it lights up the entire cabin during the daytime, allowing even the rear passengers to enjoy the sky view. But another area of complaint in Maruti Suzuki Invicto would be its music system. Even in the top-end Maruti Suzuki Invicto Alpha+ variant, the speakers lack bass and sound mostly flat. They aren’t loud enough especially considering how big the inside cabin is. 

Maruti Suzuki Invicto Review: Performance And Fuel Economy

Fuel economy is one thing you can surely expect from a Maruti Suzuki and the Invicto delivers the same without a doubt. With a mix of city and highway driving the Toyota Innova Hycross rival easily delivered 17km/l. In heavy city traffic, this figure dropped to 14km/l. And while on a highway cruise, the hybrid powertrain’s efficiency remained between 20-22km/l. These numbers are astonishing for a 2-tonne MUV. 

What’s also astonishing and what many don’t usually expect from Maruti, is performance. And the Invicto is quicker and faster than its bulky appearance might lead you to believe. It glides forward with ease in sync with your throttle response. The electric motor often helps in getting it off the line and you can feel its instant torque. The engine comes alive as soon as the car picks up the pace and the 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine is smooth and punchy at the same time. 

What you will find lagging a bit is the eCVT gearbox. It whines if you put the throttle down or are using Invicto’s power drive mode. And many times it can’t keep up if you’re constantly putting the foot all the way down. Every other time though it works well and the gear change is smooth enough, especially when driving with a light or medium foot, that you won’t even feel as little as a “head-nod.”

Invicto’s Monocoque chassis though is a different story. It simply does not make you feel that you’re driving a 2000kg MUV with 185mm ground clearance. And it is a very strange feeling. Because the driver seat is really high and yet the body roll you’d expect the car to have isn’t there. Invicto feels stable, in turns, in a straight line, and even while overtaking traffic. It does all that with grace and stability. Somebody is still there but it won’t creep in unless you aren’t trying really hard. 

The suspension is very supple and combined with the increased tyre height, the resulting ride quality is plush. Invito absorbs bad roads really well and keeps its composure at high speed in a straight line. The suspension has enough travel too and during my time with the car, while driving it on Noida roads, it didn’t bottom out. 

Maruti Suzuki Invcito Review: Should You Buy It?

Indian buyers demand value for money in every product and the Maruti Suzuki Invicto lies in the same category. It is a 7-seater MUV with enough space and comfort in all its seats that you can go thousands of kilometres without breaking a sweat. Further helping you easefully cover that distance is a 2-litre petrol hybrid motor which is refined, fuel-efficient and powerful. A combination that’s sure to win over the Indian audience. And for a Rs 32 lakh price tag Invicto’s tech fulfils in some areas but lacks in others and mostly remains a hit-and-miss. The car itself is a great replacement for a Toyota Innova Crysta but otherwise is a relatively bare-bones Toyota Innova Hycross. Fortunately, that too is something that is great value for money. 

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