Maruti Invicto

There are no new reasons to consider the Maruti Invicto over and above the Toyota Innova Hycross The Invicto carries over the strengths and the bugbears from the Toyota. It’s simply a matter of choosing what you either like the look of, name of, or manage to get your hands on first

With that out of the way, let’s now focus on what the Invicto brings to the table. 

Maruti Suzuki’s Invicto blends SUV and MPV designs in equal measure. The result is a design that’s likely to pass muster with practically everyone in the family. An upright nose, a wide grille and high-set headlamps mean the Invicto has a face that’s confident. Full-LED headlamps get Nexa’s signature triple dot daytime running lamp setup. Compared to the Hycross, the bumper has been redesigned as well. 

Viewed from the side, the sheer size of the Invicto astonishes you. It’s capable of standing its own against SUVs that prey in the same price segment. You’d raise an eyebrow at the wheel size, though. It’s running on 17 inch wheels (one size down from the Hycross’s 18 inch), which despite having a classy design seem too little given the Invicto’s slab-sided profile. Tasteful dabs of chrome find their way on the door handles and under the windows. 

The upright rear end is the most MPV-like angle of the Invicto. Save for the tail lamps that get a different lighting pattern, the design remains unchanged compared to the Innova. 

You also get fewer colour options with the Invicto — blue, white, silver and grey. 

We’d have loved to see a little more differentiation in terms of design, much like the Grand Vitara and the Hyrder. Thankfully, this is at least a little more than a mere rebadging exercise. 

Doors of the Invicto open w-i-d-e. Getting in and out is an easy affair, and you’re greeted by a cabin that’s just finished in a different colour scheme. There are no visual changes otherwise. Maruti Suzuki has chosen an all-black theme with rose gold accents akin to what the Grand Vitara Hybrid wears. It’s classy, alright, but Maruti Suzuki could’ve chosen a contrast colour for the leatherette wrap on the dashboard and door pads. The black soft-touch material simply melds into the surrounding black plastic, and you might actually be a little surprised that it’s a different material and texture upon touching it. 

Save for these inserts, the plastic quality and the fit-finish leaves you wanting for more. Plastics on the dashboard are of the hard-but-durable variety which is sure to hold up over years of use. However, better graining and material would’ve helped it appeal to you a whole lot more today. We also found some iffy gaps in the interior trim on our brand new test car — not something you expect when shelling out over Rs 30 lakh. 

But, as you’d expect with a Toyota/Suzuki, ergonomics are on point. The cabin feels familiar and you’d be comfortable practically instantly if you’re upgrading from a smaller vehicle. You will also appreciate the driving position that gives you a clear view of the bonnet. All round visibility is fantastic, and it’s natural to feel confident piloting the Invicto. 

Space is a clear strength. You can very very comfortably fit a six-footer in each row. This isn’t one of those MPVs where the third row is reserved for kids. Actual adults can be seated here, for reasonably long journeys too. Third row occupants get roof-mounted AC vents, cupholders and phone chargers. 

The second row is where the magic is. Chances are you want to be chauffeur-driven in your new Invicto and it simply delivers here. The seats slide a fair bit backwards which means you can sit cross-legged with ease. There’s a (rather flimsy) fold-out tray table between the seats, sun blinds and two type-C chargers here. A fold-out tray on the seat back would’ve upped the experience. 

The captain seats by themselves are quite comfortable, accommodating even large frames with ease. There’s no electric adjustment for the slide or recline function here, nor do you get the ottomans that enhance calf support. This ups the comfort significantly on long drives and something you are likely to miss if you spend time in the rear seats commuting between cities. One feature you’re likely to miss is one-touch tumble for the second row, regardless of other features. The seats just slide and recline. While there’s enough space in the cabin for you to walk past the second row, a tumbling second row would’ve made ingress and egress far easier for third row occupants. 

Big On Features

Maruti Suzuki offers the Invicto in two variants: Zeta+ and Alpha+. The top-spec variant is based on the ZX trim on the Innova Hycross. This means there’s a whole lot of features to be had, many of which are a first for a Maruti Suzuki in India. Highlights include a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, front seat ventilation, a dedicated climate control zone for the second and third row occupants, and a powered tailgate.

Infotainment duties are handled by a 10.1-inch touchscreen that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Experience is sub-par for a vehicle this expensive — the screen lacks contrast and isn’t as snappy as you’d expect. The quality of the camera feed too seems sub-par for the price. Maruti Suzuki has also chosen to skip the 9-speaker JBL audio system that the Hycross gets to keep prices in check. 

As standard, the Invicto is offered with six airbags, ABS with EBD, and traction control. The base-spec version gets a reverse parking camera, but oddly skips out on parking sensors. It’s important to note that there’s no equivalent of the Hycross’s ZX (O) variant that adds ADAS to the feature list. Neither the Innova Hycross nor the Invicto have been crash tested yet by the Global NCAP or any other independent authority. 

Boot space is rated at 289-litres with all rows in place. This is plenty for a few duffle bags if you intend to head out to the farmhouse over the weekend. You can trade the third row for additional boot space — folding the third row gets you a total of 690-litres of space to play with. 

Powering the Invicto is Toyota’s 2.0-litre petrol motor that’s paired with an electric motor and a small battery pack. Interestingly, Maruti Suzuki has chosen to skip the non-hybrid powertrain altogether. This might just be a trick missed considering there’s a wide price gap left empty between the Hycross’s non-hybrid and hybrid variants. 

The Hybrid setup has a split personality. It’s calm, composed and unbelievably efficient when you’re in the mood for a leisurely drive. It starts up in EV mode and is happy pottering around purely on battery power at low speeds. As the speeds climb, the petrol motor kicks in, giving you the power you need. Lifting off of the throttle and braking feeds energy back into the battery. The electric motor takes over from time to time, helping you eke out more from every litre of petrol. 

If you want to get a move on quickly, the Invicto is happy to play ball too. Maruti Suzuki claims a 0-100kmph time of 9.5 seconds, and it gets quite close to that in the real world too. There’s ample power to have you cruise at triple-digit speeds and also overtake.

A well-tuned ride rounds off the driving experience. Slow speeds have you experience some side-to-side movement, but it never gets uncomfortable. The cabin settles quickly. High speed stability is fantastic and will inspire confidence over those interstate journeys for sure. 

The steering feels light enough for the Invicto to be easily maneuvered in city traffic. Steering weight at high speeds feels adequate as well. 

Compared to the Hycross ZX, the Invicto Alpha+ costs nearly a lakh less. The trade off in features is unlikely to bother you given the cost saving. If you’ve wanted an Innova and don’t really care about it being called a Toyota or an Innova, the Invicto should work just as well.