Maruti Invicto

The Maruti Invicto is a car that offers a powerful engine and an efficient hybrid electric system. If you're considering buying a car and want to know about its engine and performance, read on!

Engine Specifications:

The Invicto is equipped with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine and a battery-powered electric motor. Combined, they produce 184 BHP of power and 206 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with an automatic transmission for smooth shifting.

Driving Experience:

Starting the Invicto is quiet and different from traditional cars. The electric motor provides instant power, making the car feel responsive. In heavy traffic, you can drive without using the accelerator pedal. The petrol engine only kicks in when more power is needed or at higher speeds. Overall, the Invicto is easy to drive in the city and handles well.

On the open road, the Invicto performs satisfactorily. It has enough power to keep up with traffic and overtaking is effortless. The car can maintain high speeds comfortably, and the cabin remains quiet with minimal outside noise.

Drive Modes:

The Invicto offers different drive modes to suit your preferences. The Normal mode provides a good balance of efficiency and performance for everyday driving. Eco mode prioritizes fuel efficiency by using the electric motor more and the petrol engine less. Power mode emphasizes performance, making it ideal for overtaking highways.

Noise and Comfort:

The Invicto does a great job of keeping the cabin quiet. The insulation is effective, and you won't hear much noise from the outside. Only when you press the accelerator hard, the petrol engine becomes louder. Wind noise is noticeable at higher speeds, but road noise is average.

Mileage and Fuel Economy:

The Invicto is quite fuel-efficient with an ARAI rating of 23.24 km/l. In our test drive, we achieved around 16 km/l, but with careful driving, you can expect even better mileage.

Conclusion:

The Maruti Invicto offers a powerful engine and a smooth driving experience. It is great for city driving and performs well on highways too. The car provides various drive modes to suit different preferences. The cabin is quiet and comfortable, ensuring a pleasant ride. With its impressive fuel economy, the Invicto is a reliable choice for those looking for a car with a strong engine and good performance.

The Maruti Invicto stands out with its impressive exterior design, showcasing a stylish and commanding presence on the road. In this review, we will explore the design elements and build quality of the car to provide a comprehensive understanding of its exterior aesthetics.

Design & Styling:

The Invicto inherits its attractive styling from the Innova Hycross, making it a real head-turner in the MPV segment. Maruti has made subtle modifications to differentiate it from its Toyota counterpart, resulting in a visually appealing vehicle. The car features a prominent radiator grille, raised bonnet line, and a muscular stance that contribute to its strong road presence.

Key design highlights include a large grille, chrome and silver inserts, LED daytime running lights, and striking headlamps and tail lamps. The Invicto also boasts well-defined character lines on the sides, plastic cladding around the wheel arches, and stylish 17-inch alloy wheels. It is available in four single-tone body colors: Nexa Blue (Celestial), Mystic White, Majestic Silver, and Stellar Bronze.

Build Quality, Fit & Finish:

The Invicto is built with a monocoque construction, utilizing the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) modular platform, shared with the Toyota Innova Hycross. The car exhibits solid build quality and has a substantial feel. The doors, tailgate, and bonnet possess a noticeable weight, instilling confidence in their durability. 

While the Invicto may not match the solidity of premium European cars, it is far from being light or flimsy. The doors close with a reassuring thud, and the overall fit and finish meet expectations for a vehicle derived from Toyota lineage. The Invicto has a curb weight ranging from 1,620 to 1,685 kg, depending on the variant.

Wheels & Tyres:

Both variants of the Invicto (Zeta+ and Alpha+) are equipped with 17-inch precision-cut alloy wheels, fitted with 215/60 section tires. These wheels are slightly smaller than those on the Hycross, and the tires are not as wide. However, the taller sidewalls of the tires compensate for the smaller wheel size. Despite this, some may find that the wheel-tire combination does not completely fill up the wheel arches, leaving room for improvement in terms of visual appeal.

Ground Clearance:

The Invicto boasts a respectable ground clearance of 185 mm, which should be sufficient for most users' needs. During our test, we did not experience any scraping or grounding issues, even when taking the car off-road for photography purposes.

The cabin design of the Maruti Invicto closely resembles that of the Toyota Hycross. However, it adopts an all-black theme with champagne gold inserts, deviating from the dual-tone dark chestnut theme with silver and gloss black inserts found in the Toyota version. 

The glass area is adequate, providing a satisfactory sense of openness. The dark-coloured interior, while not as "airy" as a beige cabin, offers the advantage of better-concealing signs of soiling. 

The quality of materials used in the cabin, particularly on the dashboard, is average and doesn't quite live up to the expectations for a car in this price range (around 30 lakh rupees).

The gear shifter is positioned on the centre fascia instead of the centre console, and paddle shifters are also included. Overall, the cabin feels solidly built and durable, with no noticeable rough edges.

Space & Comfort:

The Maruti Invicto offers ample space in the front cabin area. The width of the cabin and the headroom provided are generous, ensuring a comfortable experience for occupants. The electrically adjustable driver's seat provides satisfactory support and can be slid back enough to accommodate taller drivers comfortably. 

Unfortunately, the passenger seat lacks electric adjustment and height adjustment. The black leather upholstery is of acceptable quality, offering the right amount of cushioning and padding. Both front seats are equipped with ventilation, which is particularly beneficial in India's tropical climate. 

The high center console contributes to a cocooning effect in the cabin and features a fixed, long, and wide leather-wrapped armrest positioned at a comfortable height. The door pads also provide usable armrests for added comfort.

Driving Position & Ergonomics:

In terms of ergonomics, the Invicto is designed to be user-friendly. The steering wheel feels good to hold, and the horn pad is easy to press. The horn itself produces a pleasant, typically European dual-tone sound. The steering wheel is adjustable for both height and reach, allowing drivers to easily find their preferred driving position. 

As previously mentioned, the gear lever is conveniently placed on the front fascia, enhancing ease of use. All other controls are intuitively positioned and within easy reach.

The driving position in the Invicto is excellent, providing a clear view of the road ahead. The dashboard is not set too high, allowing even a driver of 5'10" to see over it and have visibility of the bonnet. However, rearward visibility is somewhat limited by the thick D-pillars. The driver's footwell features a large and useful dead pedal.

Cabin Storage:

The Maruti Invicto offers satisfactory cabin storage options. Two cupholders can be pulled out from under the side air-con vents, and two cupholders are located on the centre console. The door pockets are adequately sized to accommodate a 1-litre bottle and miscellaneous items. 

A deep storage bin is situated under the centre armrest. On the passenger side, a long and slim compartment is available on the dashboard, just above the glovebox, providing a convenient spot for front passengers to store their smartphones.

The glove box itself is of medium size, lacking a cooling vent or illumination. Moving to the rear, both front seats feature seatback pockets, with the left unit also incorporating a foldable bag hook. 

The rear door pads include pockets capable of holding a 1-liter bottle and small items. Additionally, there is a foldable tray with cupholders between the second-row seats, while individual cupholders and storage spaces are provided for smartphones for the third-row occupants.

Air-Conditioning:

The Maruti Invicto is equipped with a dual-zone climate control system that proves effective in cooling the cabin. During our test drive, the interior quickly became chilled even on a hot summer day in the Thar desert. Additionally, a pollution filter is included to enhance the overall air quality inside the car.

The Maruti Invicto prioritizes safety with its comprehensive range of features. It is equipped with 3-point seatbelts for all occupants, ensuring proper restraint in case of a collision. The presence of six airbags provides additional protection to both front and rear passengers. 

Advanced safety technologies include vehicle stability control, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), hill-hold assist, traction control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, SOS call functionality, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and front and rear parking sensors.

Additionally, the Invicto is equipped with a 360-degree camera system, enhancing visibility during parking and manoeuvring. However, it is worth noting that, unlike the Hycross, the Invicto does not feature Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Rear Seat Comfort & Space:

The second row of the Maruti Invicto offers excellent space and comfort for passengers. The two captain seats can accommodate larger individuals comfortably, and the cushioning is well-balanced. 

Individual folding armrests, extensive fore and aft travel range, and generous headroom further enhance passenger comfort. The seats provide good support and comfort, although under-thigh support may be inadequate for taller occupants. 

Passengers in the second row have access to rear air-con vents and two USB charging ports. It's important to note that the Invicto's second-row seats do not feature ottomans like those found in the Hycross. Additionally, the second-row seats require manual reclining, unlike the electrically reclining seats in the Hycross.

Accessing the third row of seats requires sliding the second-row seats forward, which can be a bit of an effort. While it may not be the easiest for adults, particularly those who are less mobile, it is more manageable compared to other 7-seater vehicles. Once in the third row, passengers will find it surprisingly usable. 

The seats are positioned at a decent height, providing adequate knee room, even for taller occupants after adjusting the second-row seats. Unlike the Innova Hycross, the Invicto does not have levers on the seatbacks of the second-row captain seats. This means that third-row passengers will need to request the second-row occupants to slide their seats forward. 

The third row offers sufficient headroom, and the backrest can be reclined for added comfort. In terms of width, two adults can fit comfortably, while a third adult may find it a bit cramped. However, three children can easily fit in the third row. Overall, the third-row seating in the Invicto is one of the best in its class, making it a suitable 7-seater vehicle.

The third row also features a 12V socket for charging gadgets, along with air vents along the sides of the roof, ensuring adequate ventilation.

Boot Space:

The Maruti Invicto offers a boot space of 239 litres with all seats in their upright position. This allows for limited storage, suitable for small to medium-sized bags. 

Folding down the third row of seats significantly improves the cargo space, providing 690 litres of luggage capacity. Notably, the cargo area boasts a completely flat floor when the third-row seats are folded, maximizing utility and ease of loading.