Maruti Suzuki Dzire

The Maruti Dzire sports a refreshing and quite appealing design in its current avatar. There is a taller hexagonal grille with the number plate integrated into the same. The fog lamps get matte black finishes with chrome brackets. The car has a completely different look, especially with its nose. The bumper and grille are brand new and there are LED projector headlights, dual-tone alloy wheels, and LED combination tail lamps as well. The new Dzire is one of the most attractive vehicles in its segment.

The Dzire gets a four-cylinder 1.2 litre K12N petrol DualJet engine that dishes out 90 hp and 113 Nm of maximum torque. The engine does not come with the SHVS mild-hybrid setup this time, although there is an idle stop-startssystem for optimizing fuel efficiency. The diesel engine option is absent with the Dzire now.

There are 5-speed manual and AMT choices for buyers, with the latter being available with this engine for the very first time with this car. The Dzire offers ARAI-rated fuel economy of 23.26 kmpl (manual) and 24.12 kmpl (AMT) as well, making it one of the go-to options for those looking for lower running costs. The manual version is better to drive although congested city driving may necessitate the AMT option ultimately. The DualJet engine is more vibration-less this time with a smoother feel. The engine also offers more responsiveness and there is good acceleration. Performance is thus smooth and better than before. This engine can go faster as well, touching 100 kmph in 12 seconds.

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire offers a smoother and more refined driving experience, with lower vibrations overall. However, the suspension feels slightly stiffer as compared to the previous version. The car remains planted and stable at high speeds although the steering wheel could have done with a little more feedback. The overall driving experience is good enough, although not as responsive as one would have otherwise hoped for.

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire offers comfortable seats in front and also at the back, along with a long wheelbase, meaning plenty of legroom. Headroom levels are also good while the back seat has a good reclining angle and ample support. There is a rear vent for more comfort. There are several other convenience features including the color MID, cruise control, SmartPlay Studio infotainment unit, and more. The flat-bottom steering wheel is a neat touch, along with the faux wood and leather inserts, stylish dials, and wood trims for the dashboard as well. There could have been better-quality plastics used for the car although it misses out on a few features like wireless charging.

The Dzire comes with a standard touch screen infotainment unit of 7 inches which also gets MirrorLink, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. It also has satellite navigation, Bluetooth, USB, AUX, device charging, analogue audio connectivity, and more. There is also FM/AM along with a couple of 12V power sockets. There are steering-mounted controls along with the start/stop button, parking sensor switch, and more technology features.

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire comes with several safety features including dual airbags, ABS with EBD, front seat belt pre-tensioner, rear parking sensors, and brake assist. The car also gets seat belt warnings, speed sensing door locks, child seat anchorages, central locking, and the anti-theft engine immobilizer.

The Dzire LXi variant comes with dual airbags, brake assist, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts, rear parking sensors, manual air conditioning, MID, 14-inch steel wheels, and a front power outlet. This is a basic version and you can stretch out a little more for the VXi. This gets power windows, speed-sending door locks, central locking, the 2-DIN audio setup with connectivity features, steering-mounted controls, Bluetooth, height-adjustable driver’s seat, hill hold assist, and a lot more. The ZXi comes with the SmartPlay Studio 7-inch infotainment setup with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, electrically foldable ORVMs, automatic climate control, keyless entry and go, rear defogger, and some more. This presents even more value since it is not as costly as the VXi.

The ZXi gets all the bells and whistles including the LED DRLs, automatic headlamps, cruise control, color MID, rear parking camera, and diamond-cut 15-inch alloy wheels. However, it is quite costly compared to the ZXi variant. The latter offers the best value with good features. Those without budget constraints should consider the ZXi+ variants.

The Dzire takes on the Hyundai Aura, Ford Aspire, and the Tata Tigor in the segment, along with the Honda Amaze. The Dzire is the widest in the category and the second-lowest in terms of height after the Amaze. The boot space is smaller than the Aura, Amaze, and Tigor. The Dzire does not have any diesel engine option although its petrol engine offers the highest fuel efficiency. It is more powerful as compared to the Aura and Tigor as well. It also matches the Amaze, although the Aspire has a turbo-petrol engine that outstrips it. However, despite having the costliest top-end variant, the Dzire still manages to be the car to beat in the segment, offering great features and oodles of space and legroom, along with an attractive design for company.

The Dzire offers value for money even today, with its refined engine, power and performance, interior space, legroom, comfort, good features, and a competitive price point. It may not be a fun driver’s car anymore, although it still has plenty to take on the competition successfully. The Dzire will certainly continue being successful in the compact sedan market, mostly for the total package, which is quite compelling, to say the least. Yes, the top-end trims are costly now, there is no diesel engine option and ground clearance could have been better. Still, Dzire successfully manages to hold its own against its rivals in the segment.