Maruti Suzuki’s newly launched Victoris mid-SUV has received more than 30,000 bookings, with 38% opting for the underbody CNG variant—a first-in-segment technology that’s resonating strongly despite the vehicle not yet reaching most showrooms, Executive Director Partho Banerjee revealed.
“The underbody CNG which we have first time launched and it is the first in the segment, in the mid SUV segment, the response has been phenomenal,” Banerjee stated at the company’s financial results press conference. “The vehicles have just reached to our showrooms but still by only the brochures, we have got a response of almost 11,000 bookings for the underbody CNG.”
The strong CNG uptake in a premium segment vehicle—with the Victoris positioned as one of Maruti’s most feature-rich offerings—challenges the conventional assumption that buyers in higher price brackets prioritize performance and prestige over fuel economy. The 38% CNG booking share translates to approximately 11,000 units, demonstrating that fuel cost consciousness transcends segment boundaries in the Indian market.
The underbody CNG variant represents a technological advancement over traditional boot-mounted CNG systems. By integrating the gas cylinder beneath the vehicle rather than in the trunk, Maruti has addressed a key customer pain point: luggage space compromise. This design innovation appears to have eliminated a major barrier to CNG adoption in the SUV segment, where storage capacity is often a selling point.
“Any new technology which is coming, people are adapting for it,” Banerjee observed, noting that customers are making booking decisions based on brochure specifications before experiencing the vehicle firsthand. This pre-emptive embrace of the technology suggests strong confidence in both the CNG system and Maruti’s engineering capabilities.
The Victoris fuel variant breakdown reveals a diversified buyer base: petrol accounts for 53% of bookings, CNG for 38%, and the strong hybrid eCVT variants comprise the remainder. This distribution indicates that while petrol remains the single largest choice, alternative fuel technologies collectively represent nearly half of customer preferences.
The vehicle also features ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) in higher variants, with approximately 16% of bookings opting for the ADAS 2 variant. “The traction for the ADAS variant is pretty high,” Banerjee noted, calling it “a very positive sign” that customers are willing to pay a premium for safety technology.
The strong CNG response comes against the backdrop of persistent fuel price sensitivity in India. Despite rising incomes in certain segments, the total cost of ownership remains a critical consideration even for buyers who can afford premium vehicles. CNG typically offers operating costs 40-50% lower than petrol, creating compelling economics over a vehicle’s lifecycle.
Industry observers note that the Victoris CNG success may prompt competitors to accelerate their own alternative fuel strategies in the mid-SUV segment. Until now, CNG has been largely confined to entry-level hatchbacks and sedans, with manufacturers assuming that SUV buyers wouldn’t accept the technology. The Victoris bookings data challenges that assumption directly.
The waiting period for the Victoris is already building to “few weeks,” Banerjee indicated, as production ramps up to meet demand. The company’s manufacturing flexibility—which Chairman R C Bhargava highlighted as greatly improved—will be tested as it balances production across multiple fuel variants while maintaining quality standards.
The timing of the Victoris launch coincides with the broader small car revival following the GST reduction, though the vehicle itself falls outside the 18% GST category. This suggests that the automotive market uplift extends beyond the directly affected tax bracket, creating favorable sentiment across segments.
Maruti has historically dominated India’s CNG market, leveraging its extensive service network and customer familiarity with the technology. The company’s decision to extend CNG into the premium SUV space capitalizes on this legacy while addressing an underserved niche: buyers who want SUV versatility and features without petrol-equivalent running costs.
The Victoris also represents Maruti’s push into more premium territory as it works toward parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation’s stated goal of achieving 50% market share in India. While the company’s traditional strength lies in mass-market vehicles, success in higher segments is essential for balanced growth.
Banerjee emphasized that Maruti’s portfolio spans multiple categories: “Please don’t say that Maruti is only believing in hatchbacks. For the sake of repetition, I am saying even the SUVs are doing very well. FRONX is going to do an all-time great number.”
The CNG variant’s success also aligns with India’s broader push toward cleaner transportation fuels. While electric vehicles receive significant policy attention, CNG offers a more immediately viable alternative given the extensive gas distribution infrastructure already in place across Indian cities.
As vehicles reach showrooms and customers experience the underbody CNG system firsthand, Banerjee expects adoption rates to potentially increase further. “As the vehicle comes on the road, people will experience it. I am pretty sure, furthermore it will grow on them,” he predicted.
The Victoris CNG phenomenon demonstrates that Indian consumers remain highly pragmatic, willing to embrace new technologies that deliver tangible economic benefits. In a market where total cost of ownership often outweighs initial purchase considerations, the underbody CNG innovation may prove to be a more significant differentiator than premium features alone—reshaping how automakers approach product development for India’s increasingly sophisticated yet value-conscious car buyers.