The
minivan segment lives in a perpetual crisis since SUVs came into our lives.
All the brands that once opted for them are abandoning them or reconverting
them to "save the furniture". In the last year, we have seen several
cases but the most striking is that of the Renault Espace. With the latest
iteration, it has taken a step back from being a minivan to being an SUV. But
with the Maruti Suzuki Undefeated, the same will not happen.
Perhaps
the Undefeated Suzuki does not sound like anything to you and you are right. If
you have noticed its name, Maruti first goes, which is an Indian vehicle
manufacturer that has controlled Japan for many years. Together they have
reached the top of the sales charts in India and adjacent countries and with
Undefeated they want to repeat their success. In fact, you may see Suzuki with
different eyes when you meet this interesting model... Did you know that it
flirts with premiums?
The
Suzuki Invicto is a premium cut minivan that will be sold in India and adjacent
countries…
The
first thing to note is that the line Suzuki Invicto plays halfway between
minivans and SUVs. So far nothing new because the house follows market trends
but even so, it is closer to the former than to the latter. All in all, it's
enough to take a look at the design of the windshield as well as the basic
lines and decorations that complement it to understand the game: protected
wheel arches or raised beltline.
At the
front, there are some torn optics that are joined in the center through chrome
molding that gives the trapezoidal grille an original touch. This has a very
attractive exclusive interior pattern that gives way, below, to a sports bumper
with two false air inlets on the outside. The good one is at the bottom and is
adorned with a discreet silver-tone splitter. For its part, daylight goes over
the false air inlets.
The
side view is simple combining the minivan and SUV strokes that we have
indicated before. The doors are of the conventional type, not being able to
choose sliding, so access to the last row of seats is more complex. At the rear, we have torn optics that bite into the trunk lid, which, in this case, can be
electric. There is also no lack of a chrome trim that occupies the entire width
of the body or an attractive bumper.
Really,
a premium Suzuki...?
If the Maruti, Suzuki Invito is attractive on the inside you will be
surprised. If we removed the logo that is on the steering wheel, more than one
would not know in which model it has been uploaded. Just take a look to see in
the center the generous central touch screen as well as the configurable
digital instrument panel mixed with analog clocks. In this case, it stands out
for keeping the analog controls to manage the dual-zone climate control.
As a
fact to take into account, the Invicto has a spacious cabin for 5, 6, 7, or 8
passengers. But the charm of this minivan does not lie in its ample space but
in the high equipment possibilities that it enjoys. Thus, there will be no
shortage of elements such as a large glass roof, electric seats upholstered in
leather, or the Suzuki Connect system with advanced functions and e-Call
functionality or wireless connectivity with Alexa...
How is
the mechanical offer of the Undefeated…? Would it make sense for it to be sold
in Europe…?
To
promote this model at Maruti Suzuki they have bet big. They have chosen a
hybrid unit that is born from the union of a 2.0 DOHC thermal engine associated
with a “self-recharging” hybrid system. In itself, it is the Toyota hybrid
system with 137 kW (186 hp) and 206 Nm of torque managed by an automatic
transmission type e-CVT. This force reaches the ground through the front end
and thanks to it it goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds.
However,
if you have come this far, we must tell you a little secret. The Maruti Suzuki
Invicto is nothing more than a clone of the Toyota Innova Hycross that the
Japanese house sells in part of Asia. In fact, its platform is the TNGA-C which
supports the Corolla and other compact models of the brand. Hence, we treat it
as a premium model because due to its finishes, it could well be liked in
Europe. Of course, do not wait to see it here because it would not
"cook"...
TRUE…?
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