Maruti Suzuki has officially introduced its latest SUV, the Victoris, as the flagship model under its Arena range. Positioned above the Brezza, the Victoris comes with a strong focus on safety, premium features, and multiple powertrain options, aiming to strengthen the automaker’s hold in the mid-size SUV segment.

Safety features with first-time ADAS in Maruti

The Victoris has achieved a 5-star BNCAP crash test rating, addressing long-standing concerns about Maruti Suzuki’s safety standards. It is equipped with six airbags as standard and, for the first time in India, the company has introduced Level-2 ADAS features. These include adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and high beam assist.

The SUV also features disc brakes on all four wheels and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold.

Design and colour options

The Victoris carries a modern yet clean design, inspired by the e-Vitara. It gets slender LED headlamps, a chrome strip on the grille, and slightly elevated fog lamps. The SUV rides on 17-inch aero-cut alloy wheels, while the rear design is highlighted by connected LED tail lamps with a unique glow pattern.

Dimensionally, it measures 4,360 mm in length, 1,655 mm in width, and 1,795 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm. Buyers can choose from 10 colour options—including new shades Mystic Green and Eternal Blue, with three dual-tone finishes.

Interiors and advanced features

Inside, the Victoris gets a dual-tone black and ivory cabin with soft-touch panels, piano black inserts, and textured upholstery. Boot practicality has been enhanced even in CNG variants, as the cylinder is now placed under the floor.

The SUV is feature-loaded with a 10.1-inch SmartPlay Pro-X touchscreen, 8-speaker Infinity system with Dolby Atmos, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 64-colour ambient lighting, and a PM2.5 air filter.

Other highlights include ventilated front seats, wireless charging, gesture-controlled powered tailgate, 8-way powered driver seat, 360-degree camera, TPMS, and front & rear parking sensors.

Engine, variants and mileage

The Victoris shares its powertrain lineup with the Grand Vitara, offering:

• 1.5L NA petrol engine: 103 Hp, 139 Nm, paired with 5-speed MT or 6-speed AT, with optional AWD and factory-fitted CNG kit.
• 1.5L strong-hybrid setup: 92.5 Hp, 122 Nm, paired with e-CVT gearbox.
  

Mileage claims:

• 21.18 km/l (manual petrol)
• 21.06 km/l (automatic petrol)
• 19.07 km/l (AWD petrol)
• 27.02 km/kg (CNG)
• 28.65 km/l (hybrid)

With these combinations, the Victoris is set to rival the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Toyota Hyryder in the growing mid-size SUV space.

Mahindra’s flagship SUV, the XUV700, has been spotted undergoing road tests under heavy camouflage, indicating that a mid-cycle facelift is in development. Although most of the body styling appears similar to the current model, several changes hint at a refreshed design philosophy and potential technological upgrades.

According to visuals captured during road testing, the test mule features redesigned projector headlamps accompanied by round-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs). These alterations suggest Mahindra is experimenting with improved headlight throw and a more modern appearance. Additionally, a new front grille featuring vertically slanted slats further differentiates this version from the current XUV700.

Cosmetic and tech upgrades on the horizon

The refreshed front fascia aligns with Mahindra’s attempt to maintain a stronghold in the competitive D-segment SUV space, which includes rivals offering advanced features. The camouflaged prototype hints at possible future enhancements, such as:

• Triple-screen infotainment and driver display setup
• A new dashboard design potentially inspired by Mahindra’s XUV.e9 concept
• Premium features like rear ottoman seats, digital key access, auto park assist
• Upgraded Harman sound system
  

These expected additions are part of Mahindra’s effort to keep the XUV700 technologically competitive.

Powertrain options and hybrid speculation

Under the hood, the facelifted XUV700 is likely to retain the current powertrain options, including:

• A 2.0L turbo petrol engine producing 197 BHP and 380 Nm of torque
• A 2.2L turbo diesel motor generating 182 BHP and 450 Nm of torque
  

However, speculation is rife that Mahindra might introduce a new hybrid variant or even a plug-in hybrid powertrain with the updated model, as part of its broader push toward sustainable mobility. No official confirmation has been provided, but such a move would align with evolving industry trends.

Competitive pressure drives evolution

Mahindra has consistently performed well in the D-segment with products like the Thar Roxx, Scorpio N, and Scorpio Classic. However, with competition intensifying, especially from newer entrants, this facelift of the XUV700 seems aimed at reinforcing Mahindra’s position in the premium SUV market.

China-based technology major Xiaomi has launched its latest electric vehicle (EV), the Xiaomi YU7, marking a bold step into the SUV segment. The new electric SUV is positioned as a direct competitor to the Tesla Model Y in the Chinese market. It stands out with its high-performance capabilities, luxury design, and next-generation technological features, strengthening Xiaomi’s foothold in the EV space following its earlier releases, the SU7 sedan and SU7 Ultra.

Powerful specs and high-range battery

At the heart of the Xiaomi YU7 is the Xiaomi Super Motor V6s Plus, capable of producing 690 PS and achieving a top speed of 253 kmph. It uses CTB integrated battery technology, allowing the entry-level Standard variant to claim a CLTC range of 835km with a 96.3kWh battery. The Pro and Max variants offer 760km and 770km ranges respectively.

Built on an 800V high-voltage platform with silicon carbide tech, the YU7 supports ultra-fast charging—10 to 80 percent in just 12 minutes, and 620km of range in 15 minutes.

Aerodynamic design and luxurious interiors

The YU7 carries forward the aesthetic of the SU7, featuring “waterdrop headlights” and an evolved front fascia. It achieves a drag coefficient of Cd 0.245, aided by 10 air channels and 19 vents, contributing to a 59km range enhancement. With dimensions of 4,999 x 1,996 x 1,600mm, it offers a 3,000mm wheelbase and a 2,405kg curb weight.

Its cabin mimics Ferrari Purosangue’s layout and is wrapped in Nappa leather with soft-touch surfaces. Front seats offer zero-gravity positioning, massage functions, and reclining features, while the rear seats are designed with 135-degree recliners.

Advanced infotainment and assisted driving features

The cabin hosts a Dual-Zone Surround Luxury Cabin philosophy and introduces the Xiaomi HyperVision Panoramic Display. This comprises a triple Mini LED setup that projects real-time driving and navigation data onto the windshield.

The system runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and an Nvidia Drive AGX Thor platform, delivering 700 TOPS of computing power for enhanced assisted driving. Integrated LiDAR, 4D millimeter-wave radar, and seven cameras support advanced safety and automation.

Practicality meets performance

With 1,970 litres of total storage capacity, including a 141-litre frunk, the YU7 meets practical needs. Suspension features include front double wishbone and rear five-link setups, air springs, and smart chassis controls, allowing five adjustable height levels and up to 222mm ground clearance.

Xiaomi claims the YU7 has undergone over 50 passive safety tests and meets all C-NCAP and C-IASI crash standards.

Availability and options

Sales of the Xiaomi YU7 will begin in July in China, though pricing is yet to be revealed. It will be offered in three variants—Standard, Pro, and Max—and in three exterior colors: Emerald Green, Titanium Silver, and Lava Orange, and three interior tones: Pine Gray, Coral Orange, and Twilight Blue.