Maruti Suzuki Dzire: India loves the Maruti Suzuki Dzire — It has been an absolute bestseller in the compact sedan space every month, and when the total is counted the under our noses and over our heads as well!
Now in its third generation, you cannot call the bit under 4-meter ‘sedan’ a ‘Swift with a boot’ anymore as it has graduated to be its own car in the Indian automotive world.
Design Evolution
The new Dzire evolves from the basic design philosophy of older generations to a more upmarket language.
Up front, the car gets a hexagonal grille with a chrome outline that gives it a premium look and the swept-back headlamps with LED DRLs make the vehicle look contemporary.
The profile is well balanced and does a good job of masking the sub-four-metre limitations and busy design lines that introduce subtle tension without making the car appear overstyled.
Many of its competitors look downright awkward thanks to the regulation-induced crooked proportions, but the Dzire has a good thing going on in terms of visual harmony between the hood, cabin and boot.
Around back the design is capped by wraparound taillights and a hint of chrome trim that suggests an upmarket aspirations rather than being slapped with gobs chrome everywhere.
Cabin Refinement
Open the door, and the Dzire makes an immediate impression with a cabin that oozes quality far above its segment.
The two-tone beige coloured and black themed interior lends the cabin an airy feel, while the flat-bottomed steering wheel provides a sporty touch that’s unexpected in a car of this segment.
The ergonomics of the dashboard design are clear, with well-placed controls and a 7-inch touchscreen at just the right height to avoid taking the driver’s eyes from the road.
Front seat comfort is excellent for the class, comfortable cushioning and average bolstering. Back passengers are surprisingly comfortable given the M3’s small footprint, although three adults will have to scuffle for shoulder room.
The 378-litre boot is not the best in its segment, but provides good versatility for weekend getaways and everyday use.
Powertrain Efficiency
Under the bonnet sits Maruti’s 1.2-litre K-series DualJet petrol motor that generates 89bhp and 113Nm of torque.
This N/A motor is all about refinement and drivability rather than out-and-out performance, which suits a Dzire buyer to a T.
Adding to the kerb appeal, and even better fuel efficiency, is the presence of idle start-stop technology and Maruti says the Celerio will clock 24.12 km/l and 24.07 km/l for the 5-speed manual and AMT, respectively.
The smooth nature of the engine is ample while burrowing through city traffic, but for highway passing you’ll want to think ahead.
With the 5-speed manual delivering crisp gearshifts with a feather-light clutch action that is well suited to city duties – the AMT offering convenience over shift smoothness is a fair compromise, especially for those dealing with daily gridlock.
Driving Dynamics
The Dzire’s road behaviour shows its nature to be focussed more on urban utility rather than driver appeal.
The suspension itself is tuned more for comfort, dealing well with bumps but retaining enough body control for everyday use.
Light and easy power steering is ideal for slipping through traffic, although there’s not much in the way of driver feedback.
High-speed stability is reassuring for a car of this size and makes it easy to trust during highway drives.
It is not sporty, yet the Dzire has mild handling characteristics that put the emphasis on predictability and ease of use – a bit of an enigma for its target audience.
Pros and Cons
Advantages
Unprecedented fuel efficiency through DualJet technology
An optimum design that breaks free from sub-4m limitations
Spectacular rear passenger space given its smallish footprint
Wide reach of Maruti service network also means that the maintenance is pocket friendly
Strong reliability and resale value
Top-spec higher versions will get features such as touchscreen, push-button start
Twin airbags & ABS as standard across all variants
Limitations
AMT gearbox has quite a bit of shift lag
Could do with better noise insulation at higher speeds.
Only a small range of engine options with no diesel alternative
Base_models_feel_spartan_despite_recent_upgrades.
No modern amenities found in newer cars like ventilated seats, sunroof and etc.
Lower cabin plastic quality seems a bit budget-minded
Ride a little truck like a mild undulations.It is there, Day well n truly good.
Maruti Dzire: Market Positioning
The Dzire continues to be the boss in a dying compact sedan segment which has been trumped by similar priced compact SUVs.
Its sustained success is based on M’s deep understanding of the Indian consumer’s 4 fundamental components of selecting a car – affordability, efficiency, reliability & practicality – poured into a package that’s even increasingly becoming emotional to many, beyond just offering mobility.
For these who want most usefulness without compromises in the form of hatchback proportions, Dzire is an irresistible proposition and the constant sale of nabob despite shifting market trends is a testimony to the same.
It is still the yardstick on which compact sedans are gauged and is indicative of the fact that the team at Maruti Suzuki understands the Indian car formula like no other.
