Maruti Invicto
Maruti Invicto Pros
A great-looking MPV. SUVish styling packs appeal
Nicely designed interiors, good comfort in all 3 rows and usable boot (even with third-row up)
Many Maruti dealers across the country are currently offering faster delivery than that for the Innova Hycross
Loaded with features such as a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, dual-zone climate control, 360-degree camera, connected car features, leather upholstery, drive modes, paddle shifters, ambient lighting etc.
Hybrid powertrain makes it lighter on the pocket than diesel and future-proof too. Very good fuel efficiency
Lower emissions will appeal to environmentally-conscious buyers. And those who arent ready for an EV yet
Impressively fast for a MUV. Very quick straight-line performance
Monocoque construction results in sorted handling, comfortable ride quality & overall better driving experience than a body-on-frame UV
Brilliant NVH levels result in a quiet and serene experience inside the cabin
Toyota's bullet-proof reliability combined with Maruti's excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences
Safety features such as 6 airbags, ABS, ESP, TC, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, TPMS, ISOFIX & 3-point seatbelts for all
Maruti Invicto Cons
Expensive with on-road price crossing Rs. 35 lakhs. This is the most expensive car Maruti has ever sold
Toyota offers you a longer warranty, better badge (the big "T") and nameplate ("Innova")
Top-end variant is only available with captain seats in the middle row. No bench option is inexplicable!!
Innova Hycross has more features. Missing on the Maruti are Ottoman seats, ADAS, fore & aft adjustment levers on the second-row seatbacks, foglamps, 9-speaker JBL system etc.
17" wheels with 60 profile tyres compromise the overall stance; they look very small
Monocoque construction wont be as rugged & abuse-friendly as a body-on-frame build
Interior plastic quality is very mediocre, some parts feel budget-grade
Non-hybrid regular petrol engine unavailable on Invicto (it is sold on the Hycross). Further, Invicto is available only in 4 colours and 2 variants
Poor sound quality from the 6-speaker system (subwoofer missing too), poor camera resolution and a basic infotainment system display
Both cars - the Invicto & Hycross - don't offer rain-sensing wipers or lumbar adjustment
The already-good ride quality could be even better with higher-profile tyres (e.g. on craters)
Link to review Toyota Innova Hycross
Toyota Innova Hycross Pros:
A great-looking MPV. SUVish styling packs appeal
Upmarket interiors, good comfort in all 3 rows and usable boot (even with 3rd row up)
Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable rear ottoman seats, multi-zone climate control, connected car features, leather upholstery, drive modes, etc.
Hybrid powertrain makes it lighter on the pocket than diesel and future-proof too. Very good fuel efficiency (expect city FE of 15-17 km/l)
Impressive performance with a sub-10 second 0-100 km/h time (Toyota claims 9.5 seconds)
Monocoque construction results in sorted handling and comfortable ride quality
Brilliant NVH levels result in a quiet and serene experience inside the cabin
Toyota's bullet-proof reliability, excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences
Safety features such as 6 airbags, Toyota Safety Sense (ADAS), ABS, ESP, TC, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, TPMS, Isofix & 3-point seatbelts for all
Toyota Innova Hycross Cons:
Premium pricing. More expensive than the already-pricey Innova Crysta
Top-end variants are only available with captain seats in the middle row. No bench option is inexplicable!!
18" wheels with 50 profile tyres compromise the overall stance; they look very small
Monocoque construction wont be as rugged & abuse-friendly as the Crysta's body-on-frame build
Rear seat ottomans are useless for taller passengers
Average sound quality from the JBL system, poor camera resolution and a basic infotainment system display
Missing features such as rain-sensing wipers, lumbar adjustment, boss lever on the front passenger seat...
The already-good ride quality could be even better with higher-profile tyres (e.g. on craters). 225/50 sidewalls are on the shorter side
Link to Review Toyota Innova Crysta
Toyota Innova Crysta Pros:
Indestructible build & durability. The Innova is known for its bullet-proof reliability
Spacious, flexible & practical cabin. An extremely comfortable long-distance commuter
Upmarket interiors. The ZX variant is plush
Powerful diesel engines with user-selectable driving modes
Balanced suspension & road manners. High-speed stability is rock solid
Top-notch safety kit. 7 airbags, ABS, ESP, TC, Isofix & 3-point seatbelts for all
Feature packed! Leather seats, LED headlamps, mood lighting, cruise control & lots more
Toyota's excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences
Toyota Innova Crysta Cons:
Top ZX variant is unavailable with a middle-row bench seat (8-seater)
Lower variant's interior looks too basic
2.4's NVH package still has holes to fill (engine clatter, dancing gear lever)
Heavy steering at parking / low speeds. It can get cumbersome in the city
Poor sound quality from the ICE. Cheap speakers beg for an upgrade
Link to Review (Toyota Innova Crysta : Official Review) Mahindra XUV700
Mahindra XUV700 Pros:
Handsome styling matched to solid build quality. Has street presence, feels robust
Very spacious interiors with comfy seats and sorted ergonomics. 6-footer passengers welcome!
182 BHP turbo-diesel & 197 BHP turbo-petrol make for a potent line-up
Smooth 6-speed torque converter Automatics available with both engines
Sorted suspension with good road manners & high-speed stability
AWD is available for the adventurous, unlike most FWD crossovers in the segment
Loaded with features like radar-based driver assistance system, pop-out door handles, panoramic sunroof, driver memory seat, 360-degree camera, 10.25" infotainment & instrument cluster etc.
12-speaker Sony audio system is fantastic! You'll enjoy its sound quality
Safety features include 7 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, hill descent control, driver drowsiness detection, TPMS, ISOFIX...
Mahindra XUV700 Cons:
Negligible boot space with the 3rd-row seat up. Either 5 on-board or 7 with a roof-top carrier
Cramped 3rd-row seat is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed
Petrol AT is thirsty due to its hefty weight, 197 BHP & torque-converter AT
Some cabin plastics & a few rough areas don't feel premium in an otherwise loaded SUV
Missing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM, ventilated seats, paddle shifters, full-size spare wheel, ambient lighting, rear sunblinds...
Concerns over niggles & bugs in a freshly baked, complex Mahindra. We saw 2!
Mahindra's after-sales service is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
AWD is available just with the Diesel AT, and not the MT or petrol motor
Link to Review Tata Safari
Tata Safari Pros:
The iconic brand Safari is back! We agree with using the legendary nameplate for this car
Stunning looks & strong road presence. Solid build too
Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
Extra 3rd row of seats brings lots more practicality & utility
Superb captain chairs available as an option for the middle row (top variant only)
Extras over the Harrier include rear disc brakes, TPMS, e-parking brake, auto-hold, boss mode
Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. The sound quality & bass are enjoyable
168 BHP 2.0L diesel offers good driveability and a punchy mid-range
Smooth & competent 6-speed automatic transmission
Sufficient ground clearance + terrain response system for rough and wet roads
Top-notch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, rest break reminder, hill hold, brake disc wiping & more
Features such as the panoramic sunroof, Eco & Sport modes, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control
Tata Safari Cons:
Heavy steering gets cumbersome at parking / u-turn / crawling speeds (<5 km/h)
3rd-row access is too difficult in the captain seat variant
Negligible boot space with all the seats up - a paltry 73 litres
Safari ATs focus is on smoothness & comfort; gearbox is not the most responsive
Concerns over niggles & long-term reliability. Our test car had a problem too!
Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (12 months is the norm today)
Diesel engine does get loud above 3,500 rpm & its engine note is quite sad too
No petrol option (almost all competitors offer it). No AWD for enthusiasts either
Although improved, the Safari's steering @ 120 km/h is still a level too sensitive
Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
We dont agree with the excessive chrome (outside), impractical white interiors & 18 rims (bit firmer ride)
Link to Review Mahindra Scorpio-N
Link to review (Mahindra Scorpio-N Review) MG Hector Plus
Link to Close Look Hyundai Alcazar
Hyundai Alcazar Pros:
A 3-row family car that's well-built inside out
User-friendly interiors look really good (brown shade is awesome) and have quality parts
Economical 1.5L diesel is available in MT & AT variants. Offers good driveability
Comfortable ride quality with neutral road manners
Unladen ground clearance of 200 mm is perfect for Indian roads
The Alcazar's safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, auto-hold, TPMS etc.
Impressive kit (fully digital instruments, 360-degree camera, 2nd-row wireless charger, panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, Bose sound system, cooled seats & loads more)
Hyundai's competent after-sales service & wide dealer network
Hyundai Alcazar Cons:
Oddball love-it-or-hate-it face. We find the Alcazar's front design to be weird & overdone
2nd-row legroom is mediocre (captain seat variant). Compromises have been made to accommodate the 3rd-row & boot
3rd-row seat is best suited to kids only. Not really a place for adults
Rs. ~3 lakh OTR premium over the Creta on the higher variants is too much!
Diesels 113 BHP & 250 Nm although adequate is the lowest in the segment
Competitors like the Tata Safari & MG Hector Plus offer way more spacious cabins
Some misses (no auto wipers, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyres on top trims etc.)
Link to Review (Hyundai Alcazar Review)