Rumors swirled about an Innova clone – or fighter – from the Suzuki stables last month. Today we get a glimpse of the Invicto, Suzuki’s new and upcoming challenger. Reservations are now open for the brand’s new 7-seater MPV, and while details are very scarce, we can base what it might have on the platform it’s based on.
And before anything else, allow us to remind you that sadly, the release is happening in India.
Not “Engage”; its name is the Suzuki Invicto
It previously alluded that the Innova “clone” would be named the “Engage”, but that’s been put to rest as Suzuki’s twin has been called the Invicto. It will still be based on Toyota’s popular MPV, though (taken on the name “Zenix” in the PH), and with that let’s look at what Suzuki might be carrying over into its own model.
Seeing that it’s a rebadge, the overall shape will be the same. Side-by-side, the image with the Suzuki silhouette is almost the same as that of the Innova/Zenix. If there’s one thing that’s noticeable, though, it’s the subtle sight of red along the D-Piller of the Invicto. Could this be a key exterior change that will make it distinct from its Toyota sibling? Suzuki’s MPVs – the Ertiga and XL7 – have vertical taillights, and if this cue is carried over, then we’d say that’s a good move to stay “unique” to the brand.
We won’t expect the front end to be the same, though, so it’s likely that the Invicto will also have a differently-designed grill, tweaks to the front and rear bumpers, likely different alloy wheelsets, and maybe different body cladding, too. We’d like to assume that it will go the sportier route like the XL7, and we hope that proves to be true when more details and photos come out.
There’s no word on what mill will sit under the hood of the Invicto, but with Toyota’s release of both a gas and hybrid option for the Innova/Zenix, we can’t help but wonder if Suzuki will go the same route. It has, after all, jumped onto the (mild) hybrid bandwagon, and to challenge a strong staple such as the Innova, it may be wise to pack the same power plant.
Rebadges between Suzuki and Toyota are not new. As a background, the Suzuki Baleno is rebadged as the Toyota Glanza, the Vitara Brezza as the Urban Cruiser, and the Grand Vitara as the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The tables have turned this time though, as Toyota will be “supplying” Suzuki instead of the other way around.
Can or has Suzuki come up with a worthy contender to the 7-seater MPV throne? Well, literally taking a page off the Innova/Zenix’s playbook is already a huge step forward, but as with all offerings, the price and its actual availability in the PH will be the only factors that will matter here. Regardless, we will still keep our hopes up. It might already be getting lonely at the top, so the Invicto may give a worthwhile challenge to the local MPV king, wouldn’t you think so?
I guess Suzuki will only offer the variants not offered by Toyota. These would be the hybrid 8-seaters (bench type second row seats) and probably the version with a sunroof.