Maruti Suzuki has launched the Victoris SUV as its new flagship for Arena showrooms. While it is built on the same platform as the Grand Vitara and carries identical powertrain options, the Victoris has been designed to stand apart with a fresh identity inside and out. Interestingly, the Victoris is even more distinct from the Grand Vitara than the latter is from its Toyota sibling, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder.
Here’s a detailed look at how the two SUVs compare in terms of design, interiors, and mechanicals.
Exterior Design: Similar Proportions, Distinct Personalities
Both the Victoris and the Grand Vitara sit on the Global C platform and are nearly identical in size. The Victoris measures 4,360mm in length, 1,795mm in width, and 1,655mm in height. This makes it only 15mm longer and 10mm taller than the Grand Vitara, while the 2,600mm wheelbase remains the same.
Front Fascia
The Victoris does not follow the split-headlamp trend seen in many modern SUVs, instead opting for a more traditional headlamp setup. Unlike the Grand Vitara’s bold grille, the Victoris features a sealed-off fascia, inspired by the upcoming Maruti e-Vitara. The chrome strip between the headlamps is also more understated compared to the Vitara’s LED light bar.
Lower down, both SUVs feature body cladding and silver highlights, but the Victoris carries more blacked-out elements and adds fog lamps placed at the outer edges of the bumper.
Side Profile
From the side, their shared DNA is clearer, but Maruti has introduced key differences. The Victoris gets sharper body lines, larger rear quarter glass, more aggressive wheel arch cladding, and dual-tone paint for a sportier look. While both SUVs use 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, their designs are unique.
Rear Design
The biggest difference lies at the rear. The Victoris uses a slim, wraparound LED light bar with segmented elements, giving it a futuristic look. The Grand Vitara, meanwhile, mirrors its front-end styling with a split-tail lamp design. The Victoris also gets a more slanted rear windshield, in contrast to the Vitara’s upright stance.
Interior: Two Distinct Cabins
Step inside, and the differences become even more pronounced.
Victoris Cabin
The Victoris sports a 10.1-inch free-standing touchscreen, reminiscent of the Brezza but bigger and more advanced. It runs on new software with enhanced features, preloaded apps, and onboard navigation, features absent in the Grand Vitara.
The dashboard design is fresh, featuring a layered layout, soft-touch materials, ambient lighting, and an all-new sportier steering wheel.
Grand Vitara Cabin
The Grand Vitara, on the other hand, is characterized by a waterfall-style dashboard, gold accents, and leatherette padding. It uses a different set of HVAC controls and a more conventional steering wheel.
By offering unique switchgear and layouts, Maruti has broken away from its earlier practice of sharing components across models, giving both SUVs a strong individual identity.
Powertrain Options: Shared Engines, One Key Difference
Under the hood, both SUVs offer the same range of engines:
- 1.5-litre 4-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol (103hp)
- 1.5-litre 3-cylinder strong hybrid petrol (116hp)
- 1.5-litre petrol-CNG (89hp)
Transmission choices include a 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic for the petrol, e-CVT for the strong hybrid, and a 5-speed manual for the CNG. The Victoris also comes with the option of all-wheel drive when paired with the petrol-automatic configuration.
The CNG Advantage
The Victoris takes a practical lead over the Grand Vitara in CNG variants. Maruti has engineered the CNG tanks to sit under the body, which frees up boot space. In contrast, the Grand Vitara’s CNG tanks eat into luggage capacity significantly.
Retail Strategy: Arena vs Nexa
One of the biggest distinctions is in retail channels. While the Grand Vitara is sold through Nexa outlets, the Victoris will be retailed through Arena showrooms. This strategic move gives the Victoris a wider reach and potentially more competitive pricing.
Market Positioning: Taking on the Hyundai Creta
With its fresh design, improved practicality, and Arena availability, the Victoris positions itself as a stronger challenger to the Hyundai Creta, which continues to dominate this segment. Maruti’s ability to differentiate the Victoris while keeping costs in check could play a key role in expanding its market share.
Conclusion
The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is not just a rebadged Grand Vitara. From exterior styling to interior technology, it has been crafted to stand out as a premium yet accessible SUV in the Arena portfolio. While both share the same foundation and engines, the Victoris delivers unique styling cues, practical packaging—especially with the CNG—and a retail strategy aimed at broader reach.
With these differences, the Victoris could emerge as a game-changer for Maruti in the highly competitive midsize SUV space.
