ACKO Drive Awards 2026: The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is Victorious in the 2026 Compact SUV Category

One of the most highly anticipated launches of this year, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris is not only set to be a major force in the Indian market, but also a strategically important model for the company’s Arena distribution network. With around 1,000 bookings per day before prices were even announced, and over 25,000 units booked over the course of the festive period this year and now 70,000 in total, the Victoris is already clearly popular.

The Victoris is very similar to its Nexa-flavoured sibling, the Grand Vitara, and is based on the same platform, called Global C. However, it has a more modern design with LED projector headlamps, an LED light bar on the rear, and aero-cut alloy wheels. It’s available in your choice of 1.5-litre petrol, a 1.5-litre petrol + CNG, and 1.5-litre strong hybrid powertrains. There’s even an all-wheel drive option. This is also the first Maruti Suzuki model to feature ADAS for improved safety, with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and more. 

In terms of cabin features, there’s a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 10.25-inch virtual instrument cluster, 360-degree cameras, an 8-speaker audio system with Dolby Atmos, Amazon Alexa integration, and more, depending on which variant you choose.

The Victoris has the unique distinction of earning five-star safety ratings from both Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP. It might not be the most exciting car to drive, but it offers a great balance of features, performance, and value for money. It’s too soon to tell whether the Victoris can dethrone the Hyundai Creta, but with our 2026 Compact SUV TOTM, it’s in a great position to take on the Tata Sierra, the just-refreshed Kia Seltos, and several other rivals in this highly competitive segment.