This seems to be a bit of a Maruti Suzuki Victoris special issue, but in reality, it is a sheer coincidence. When Maruti dropped off the Victoris, I was secretly hoping it was the hybrid for its better overall performance and its better urban fuel economy. The all-wheel drive or rather ‘all-grip’ badge at the back though was also a pleasant surprise considering I haven’t really spent real time with Maruti’s entry-level all-wheel-drive setup. So here it goes, this, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris is my new daily driver for the foreseeable future. Now we have already compared it to the Creta earlier in the issue, but let me reiterate a few things too. First, this SUV is just super comfortable. Somehow Maruti always just gets this right to the point of it being near perfect. Second, on first glance, it does not look like a Maruti product but something far more premium when you get into it without seeing the badge on the nose or boot. That by itself is high praise. Materials feel great, screens look premium and even most of the touch surfaces are a big upgrade from what people generally think Maruti cars get and frankly, with this being an Arena product, expect sales to go through the roof (even though Maruti’s overall market share is on the drop). And now the things I hate - and hate isn’t a word I use lightly. The sheer lack of performance and horsepower is just staggering. Every overtake or traffic move has to be calculated and thought out. Even my Alto K10 feels sprightlier and that thing is a 11-year-old car. Of course, switching to Sport mode makes a bit of a difference but still, it just is not enough. Now I know most people who buy a Maruti will never give two hoots about horsepower, but a little more thrown in won’t really hurt. It has also been super practical. The boot easily gobbled up a set of wheels that needed transporting and did it with room to spare. The Victoris has also been doing duty as the tracking car for some of our shoots and the extra space and comfort has yielded some great results too. All in all, this is a car I look forward to living with!
