Maruti Dzire

The outgoing Maruti Dzire is almost a perfect sedan. It's got good features, is very comfortable, offers a tonne of space and practicality and the mileage is amazing. And to top it all off, it is fun to drive as well. No doubt, it has become the favourite sedan of the taxi market. But there was one big flaw in that car. It had no desire. There was no wow factor - neither in the features nor in its looks. 

And that is exactly what is being changed in the new Dzire with better looks and features. It is an all-new car which has little to do with the Swift. So let's see if this all new Dzire is more desirable. And to get this desirability, did this Dzire have to lose something? 

• I like that the Drize does not share design with the Swift. This has given much better road presence.

• It sits on 15-inch alloy wheels which have a dual-tone finish and interesting-looking number “7” shaped design elements. The lower variants come with 14-inch steel wheels.

• Maruti Suzuki could have offered wider tyres with the Dzire, which would have looked better.

• The sleek LED daytime running lamps and Audi-like headlamps, and the Y-shaped tail lamps, add a sense of sophistication.

• The Dzire’s cabin has a light beige theme with subtle wood-like inserts which does make the cabin look upmarket. But in my experience, this colour tends to get dirty very quickly and needs proper care.

• The quality here is above average but the fit and finish is great. While there is a lack of soft touch materials, everything in the cabin feels sturdy and well executed.

• There are ample storage options in the cabin like the cupholders in the centre console and 1-litre bottle holders in all door pockets. The only thing missing is a seat back pocket behind the driver seat.

• In the driver seat, I can sit comfortably and have good side support. There is no reach adjustment in the steering wheel so finding my driving position did take some time.

• The rear seats offer good legroom and knee room along with adequate underthigh support. But headroom will be an issue for people over 5’10”.

• Seating three people in the rear seat isn’t recommended for longer journeys.

Features

Here are some of the main features of the Dzire:

Which Variant Of The Maruti Dzire Is The Most Value For Money?

• Go for the one-above-base VXi variant if you’re on a budget. It offers a good blend of basic features and good looks, along with the option of an  automated manual transmission (AMT). 

• Pick the one-below-top ZXi variant as it offers a good feature list and along with premium looks. It is also the top-spec CNG variant if you’re looking for a lower running cost. Pick the top-spec ZXi+ variant for the full package.

• Only Maruti car to have a 5-star crash test safety rating. 

• Gets 6 standard airbags along with features like electronic stability program (ESP), hill hold assist, ISOFIX child seat anchors, rear defogger, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and a 360-degree camera.

• The Dzire’s 382-litre boot has enough space for an entire suitcase set (large, medium, and small), and one small bagpack. For a better use of this space, use smaller suitcases, preferably cabin-sized.

• For any extra luggage, the Dzire gets a 60:40 split in the rear seat.

1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol

• The new 3-cylinder engine brings in some vibrations. I found the older engine to be much more refined and silent.

• On the upside, it delivers power smoothly and offers a relaxed driving experience.

• In the city, you can stay in second gear throughout and not change gears frequently. There is enough power for quick overtakes too.

• However, on the highways, the Dzire feels dull. During my drives I felt like I was pushing the engine too much for too little result, and occasionally had to downshift if I needed to overtake.

• The fuel efficiency, on the other hand, is a positive trait of this engine. In the city I get between 15-17kmpl, and on the highways it crosses 20kmpl easily. 

• This sedan manages to keep you comfortable in almost all conditions. Over small potholes and speed breakers, the cabin’s movement is well controlled, which results in less side to side passenger movement.

• On the highways, the Dzire remains stable and handles uneven patches and expansion joints well. 

• While it isn’t sporty, the responsive and quick steering makes it quite fun to drive around corners.

Maruti Dzire’s package is a neat blend of premiumness and usefulness. It offers a good looking design that stands out and makes sure you get a good fuel efficiency and great comfort on every single drive. There is no shortage of features, and it is a brilliant option for those looking for a family car on a budget.

It would have been an even better option if its highway drives weren't dull. But still, it proves itself to be a safe option which comes with little to no compromise.

Other Options To Consider

Tata Tigor

Reasons To Consider

• Better infotainment package

Reasons To Ignore

• Feels outdated compared to rivals

• Not as fuel efficient as the Dzire

Honda Amaze

Reasons To Consider

• Offers Level-1 ADAS

• Comes with a proper automatic transmission

Reasons To Ignone

• Most expensive in the segment

• No CNG option

Hyundai Aura

Reasons To Consider

• Affordable top-spec variant

• Premium interiors

Reasons To Ignore

• Less features compared to Dzire