Maruti Suzuki Invicto

The Invicto is based on the Toyota Innova Hycross but Maruti Suzuki has gone the extra mile to visually distinguish the MPV from its Toyota counterpart. It comes with the signature Nexa face, highlighted by the new glossy black grille with loads of chrome details, including the twin chrome slats that connect the two headlamps. The LED headlamps too have been updated and now come with three-dot LED DRLs, which again is a Nexa signature. Another major change on the outside is the addition of a set of new 17-inch dual-tone precision-cut alloy wheels, which are a size smaller than what you get on the Innova Hycross. The taillamps too have been updated and come with matching tri-LED signature lights. 

Step inside and you’ll notice that the cabin is not any different when compared to the Hycross. The design and layout largely remain unchanged; what is new though, are the styling accents. In the Invicto, you get champagne gold inserts in the dashboard and door panels instead of the silver ones on the Hycross. The rest of the cabin pretty much looks the same. The seats are upholstered in faux leather, while the driver and front passenger get ventilated seats. Additionally, the driver also gets an electrically adjustable seat with a 2-step memory function, which is a first for a Nexa model. The Invicto also comes with a panoramic sunroof. 

The MPV is equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display that is loaded with SmartPlay Magnum+ infotainment system. However, like Hycross, here too the touchscreen unit is not very responsive and does have some latency issues. However, the unit gets both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Maruti does not offer a wireless charger or air purifier as standard, you can add them as an accessory, along with ambient lights.

The Invicto is loaded with features like 6 airbags, anti-locking braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), vehicle stability control with hill start assist, seat belt reminder (for all occupants), and ISOFIX child seat mounts. Additionally, Maruti Suzuki India is also offering front and reverse parking sensors, 360-view cameras and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. However, what you do not get are the Advanced Drive Assistant Systems or ADAS functionalities that are offered in the Innova Hycross.

The Invicto is only offered in the strong hybrid option, which means there is no regular petrol engine you can buy. Under the hood, you get the same 2.0-litre petrol engine that is paired with a 201.6-Volt AC Synchronous electric motor. The combined output of the powertrain stands at 184 bhp at 6000 rpm. At the same time, the engine develops a peak torque of 188 Nm at 4400-5200 rpm, while the electric motor offers an additional boost of 206 Nm, offering that additional boost when required.

The powertrain is paired with an electronically controlled Continuous Variable Transmission or e-CVT unit as standard. The unit does its job well, and you also get paddle shifters to shift between the three modes – Eco, Normal, and Power, which allows seamless transition between the engine, hybrid and electric drive modes. The powertrain develops a good amount of power and torque to pull this mammoth of an MPV.

In terms of ride quality, the Invicto’s suspension is a bit on the softer side, which allows it to take on all the undulations on the road with great ease. Additionally, the fatter rubber aids in making the ride a bit more supple, but on the flip side, the tyre noise has increased which possibly is a result of the new, large profile tyres. So yes, there is room for improvement about the NVH levels of the MPV.

However, in the handling department, things are quite good. The steering is light, which means manoeuvring this close to a 4.7-metre-long MPV in city traffic is that much easier. Yes, there is a noticeable amount of body roll, but despite that the Invicto feels very stable and the vehicle reacts to the steering inputs quite nicely.

The 2 variants of the Invicto are priced between Rs. 24.82 and Rs. 28.45 lakh, ex-showroom. This makes the MPV more affordable when compared to the Innova Hycross but you also get lesser number of features. This makes the MPV more value for money if you’re willing to compromise with some of these.
 

The company does offer the option of both a 7-seater as well as an 8-seater layout with the former featuring captain seats in the middle row. However, that option is only available for the Zeta+ variant, whereas this Alpha+ variant, which is the top-end model gets the captain seats as standard. This makes the latter a more ergonomic choice even though it is more expensive by a couple of lakhs.

The most expensive Maruti Suzuki product so far, has largely the Toyota Innova Hycross to deal with, an MPV it is based on. However, it misses out on some of the latter’s features – Ottoman seats, JBL sound system, 18-inch wheels and ADAS functions. But it is also cheaper by close to Rs. 2 lakh. The Invicto is certainly a capable, and well-equipped product. And if you can live without ADAS and a few other creature comforts, it certainly offers better value.