Maruti Victoris LXi CNG First Drive Review

Thanks to Rana Motors in Gurgaon, I had the exclusive opportunity to take the Maruti Victoris LXI CNG out for a first drive.  Expectations were high because this is the first time I was genuinely excited by an Arena product, which up until now were mostly small cars and vans

The LXi CNG variant is bound to bet the bestseller in near future as it is the cheapest CNG Victoris you can buy

From the very first glance, the car stood out in its white paint finish contrasted by gloss black details. It was parked inside the showroom under white tubelights and looked quite pretty and sober. Maruti is never known for bad designs and Victoris is no exception. Its smooth and long front bonnet really works in its favor, and it's noticeably long compared to Creta and Grand Vitara. 

Also Read- Maruti Suzuki Victoris vs Hyundai Creta - Which One Should You Buy

The standard 17-inch wheels were another shocker as I was expecting 16 inches given its efficiency minded features. The silver wheel covers looked outright ugly but I guess most people will end up putting aftermarket alloys 

The black window trims, door handles contrast nicely against the white colorway and there is also a request sensor on each side of the front doors, another premium feature!

The contrast worked well and made the exterior look anything but plain. Walking around the car, I couldn’t help myself but wonder how Maruti was giving so much in something that starts at just 10.5 lakhs! Clearly Creta being number 2 in bestselling cars list isn’t sitting too well for the usually dominant Indo-Japanese giant

The additional third quarter window looked more like a design feature than a necessity but it. dos make things airier for rear seat passengers.  Inside the cabin, the dual tone white/black seats made it felt much posher than you would expect. This was unexpected in an LXI variant, where darker shades are normally the rule to cut costs and make maintenance easier. 

The lighter cabin lifted the sense of space and made it feel airy, though it will require more effort to keep clean in our dusty conditions. The dashboard design included a crisscross patterned finish that immediately drew attention which was extended to upper door cards. It is a subtle detail but breaks up flat plastics effectively. 

Maruti also seems to have invested a bit more in material quality here. The plastics, while not luxurious, felt sturdy and somewhat premium for the segment.

 In daily touch zones like door panels and the center console, the finish was acceptable and gave the impression of a car built to last. Technology in the LXI CNG was a mixed bag. The touchscreen infotainment system was present, which is something to be grateful for at this price, but the housing looked bulky and outdated, almost stone-age by modern SUV standards. 

A thinner frame would have looked more up to date, but at least the unit is there and functional. During my short drive, the touch response was decent and connectivity was smooth enough to satisfy everyday needs. Where Maruti did surprise me was in sound quality. The presence of front dual tweeters in an LXI CNG variant was a pleasant discovery. 

Audio clarity was significantly better than the muffled sound one expects in entry trims. The interior is spacious for both front and rear passengers, and headroom is generous, but headrest are too thin and tight. I am about 5 foot 7 and found no problem at all fitting into either of the 5 seats front and back.  You also get Auto AC as standard along with rear parking sensors

The rear bench offers acceptable leg space better than it is comfortable enough for family use. The true highlight is the boot. The Victoris has one of the biggest boots on an SUV we have seen. In fact, it just might be enough for an additional third row, which could happen in near future as rumors about an 8-seater Grand Vitara are only ramping up

The fact that this kind of pace is maintained even in the CNG variant is a huge plus, since most CNG conversions eat into usable boot areas.  Maruti has clearly worked on packaging to retain utility, but this seems like a double-edged sword.

The CNG tank has raised serious concerns in my mind. The tank sits externally, right under the car, in close proximity to the exhaust system. At first sight, it looked very dangerous and risky. Heat from the exhaust and exposure to debris or accidents feels counterintuitive to safety expectations. I stood staring for a while, wondering why Maruti chose this design. 

The dealership reassured me that the company has carried out rigorous testing and that the underbody tank is reinforced and certified safe. I have no reason to doubt their engineering standards, but the visual impression may unnerve first-time buyers. 

Even so, the packaging solution is clever because it preserves the massive boot space. It is a trade-off that will divide opinion. There were tons of people in a line to drive the Victoris so our time with it was rather limited. Driving the Victoris for about a couple of kilometers is hardly a measure of its capabilities but it was long enough for me to hang onto some strong first impressions.

Driving it around Gurgaon was a comfortable and quiet experience but not at all exciting. The long wheelbase helps a lot in muffling out bad roads and holes, which after the recent Monsoon hell were in spades. In CNG mode, performance is adequate for city runs. Acceleration is smooth and predictable, enough to keep up with traffic which during our time was quite heavy. 

Opening up a bit as we entered the old Delhi-Gurgaon Road quickly highlighted the limits of reliable tired K15C with just 87 hp on tap. Maruti should have give a turbo to make things a bit livelier, but I guess it's too much too ask at this price point. Th mileage was great though our dash indicated 17 kmpl in city !

The ride quality is well judged for Indian roads. The suspension feels firm but not harsh, handling potholes and speed breakers with composure. More testing is still required for an in depth conclusion. Steering is light at low speeds, making U-turns and parking simple, while at higher speeds it weighs up slightly though without much feedback. 

Safety remains a big talking point with this car. The Victoris has scored well in Bharat NCAP in higher trims and comes with ADAS and multiple airbags in top variants. 

The LXI CNG naturally skips advanced aids, but the structural strength is reassuring. Still, the visible position of the CNG tank is hard to ignore. Maruti insists on its safety, but customer perception will be key. To top that there is no spare wheel at all in any variant, has Maruti made puncture proof tires?

Pricing in Gurgaon makes this SUV a tempting option. The ex-showroom price of the Maruti Victoris LXI CNG is around ₹11.49 lakh, while the on-road price including registration, taxes and insurance touches nearly ₹12.87 lakh. A lakhs or so cheaper than the most affordable Grand Vitara Delta CNG

By the end of my drive, my impression of the Maruti Victoris LXI CNG was that it offers more than expected. The gloss black exterior contrasts made it look sharp. The dual tone interiors felt like a pleasant surprise. The plastics were decent, the crisscross dashboard pattern added flair, and the dual tweeters gave audio a quality lift. 

The infotainment system may look bulky, but it does the job. The boot is massive and family friendly. The only real drawback is the unnerving placement of the CNG tank, though Maruti’s reassurances about safety provide some comfort. 

One other thing I noticed is that there is still too little done to differentiate it over Grand Vitara aside from looks. I think it's a bit of a head scratch to understand the point of Victoris, its almost like all the Arena dealers got together and demanded an Arena equivalent of Vitara to keep things legit.

We will soon publish and in-depth review so stay tuned!

Disclaimer: While Rana Motors Gurgaon provided the exclusive opportunity to test drive the Maruti Victoris LXI CNG, this article reflects my independent impressions and observations. The dealership had no role in influencing the opinions, descriptions, or conclusions expressed here.