KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Both cars are based on the same platform
- Features available on the Victoris will make it to the updated Grand Vitara.
- The Victoris is marginally longer than the Grand Vitara.
- The Victoris gets a lot of firsts for a Maruti Suzuki car.
The Maruti Suzuki Victoris has come in all guns blazing, and it is quite the big move from the car maker to shake things up in the mid-size SUV segment. With the Grand Vitara, Maruti Suzuki is aiming for more premium buyers, while the Victoris aims to be on the budget end, considering it will be retailed via Arena outlets.
Here we shall look at how similar and different the Victoris and the Grand Vitara are, but before going any further, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and automotive updates.
Also read: Maruti Suzuki Victoris vs Hyundai Creta - Creating Difference
Maruti Suzuki Victoris Vs Grand Vitara Design
Both cars follow a similar approach to design, using many modern elements and keeping it conventional, especially to take on the segment leader, i.e the Hyundai Creta. While the Grand Vitara comes with a larger grille placed conventionally in the middle, the Victoris has its grille placed slightly lower down. The Grand Vitara also gets its headlamps placed below the DRLs, while the Victoris gets a conventional headlamp setup with a thin DRL strip running just above.
From the side, both cars keep it rather simple, with no dramatic creases and elements to be seen. The Grand Vitara and the Victoris sit on 17-inch wheels across all variants, with machined alloy rims exclusively reserved for the top-end variants. One interesting bit is that the roofline and window-line of the Victoris appear inspired by a certain American premium SUV.
Towards the rear, the Victoris will remind you of the e Vitara with its connected tail lamp strip. The Grand Vitara also comes with a connected tail lamp, and it appears just a bit more upright compared to the Victoris. Interestingly though, if we look at the dimensions bit, the Victoris is marginally longer and taller than the Grand Vitara, but the wheelbase measures the same.
Overall though, both the Grand Vitara and the Victoris keep it simple and conventional when it comes to appearances, and it is really a formula borrowed from Honda's books; the Activa does not really please or offend anyone with its design, and this logic could well apply here too.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris Vs Grand Vitara Powertrain
Both the Grand Vitara and the Victoris receive the same set of 1.5-litre nat-asp petrol powertrains, with near-identical output figures as well. The table below represents how the two cars are like under the hood.
| Specification | Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | Maruti Suzuki Victoris |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5L Mild-Hybrid Petrol | 101.6 bhp, 139 Nm, 5-speed MT / 6-speed AT | 101.6 bhp, 139 Nm, 5-speed MT / 6-speed AT |
| 1.5L Strong-Hybrid Petrol | 113.9 bhp, 141 Nm | 113.9 bhp, 141 Nm |
| 1.5L CNG | 86.6 bhp, 121.5 Nm | 86.6 bhp, 121.5 Nm |
| AWD Option | Yes (1.5L Mild-Hybrid AT only) | Yes (1.5L Mild-Hybrid AT only) |
| Transmission Choices | 5MT / 6AT / e-CVT (Hybrid) | 5MT / 6AT / e-CVT (Hybrid) |
While both the Maruti siblings miss out on a diesel and a turbo-petrol option, they get a strong-hybrid and a CNG option instead, which is a different strategy compared to what Hyundai, Kia and Tata do in this segment. Those wanting to opt for the all-wheel drive system will get it exclusively with the automatic transmission variants of the 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol. Based on our experience with the Grand Vitara, we can safelty say the Victoris should be able to hold its own if you do decide to indulge in some off-roading.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris Vs Grand Vitara Features And Interiors
This is where the Victoris and the Grand Vitara are different by huge margins. The Victoris packs in a lot of firsts for a Maruti Suzuki. However, that said, these features will also be carried over to the Grand Vitara in its update, which should not be too far away now.
The Victoris joins the Dzire, becoming one of the few Maruti Suzuki cars to score a full five stars at the GNCAP crash tests. The firsts it packs for a Maruti include a Level 2 ADAS suite, a fully digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touch screen infotainment system, an 8-speaker Infinity Harman Kardon sound system, an 8-way power-adjustable driver seat, gesture-controlled powered tailgate, drive modes, an electronic parking brake, 64-colour ambient lighting, and a cooled wireless charging pad. Then there are other things such as wireless smartphone connectivity, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, powered ORVMs, rear A/C vents and more.
Meanwhile, the Grand Vitara is equipped with a head-up display, 360-degree camera, a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, voice commands, twin dials with a digital display, manually-adjustable driver seat height, wireless charging pad, a panoramic sunroof, a 6-speaker Clarion sound system, wireless smartphone connectivity, front ventilated seats, footwell lighting, six airbags, hill-hold assist, electronic stability programme, hill-descent control, rear disc brakes. and a tyre pressure monitoring system among other things.
As for how the Victoris is in terms of the real-world driving experience, you will have to wait till September 19 for our review to drop; stay tuned!
Verdict
With the Victoris and the Grand Vitara, Maruti Suzuki has ensured it has two weapons in the mid-size SUV segment, focusing on both budget and premium ends. It will be interesting to see how things fare out for the Victoris and its competitors.
