Maruti Celerio 2014-2017 VDi

Celerio 2014-2017 VDi Review

Our country’s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Limited has finally launched the diesel version of its much talked vehicle, Celerio in the Indian car market. This hatchback has finally made its entry into the automobile market with a 793cc, twin cylinder based engine under its hood. This power plant has the ability of churning out a maximum power of 47bhp and 125Nm of power and torque outputs respectively. The company has introduced it with four diesel trims and all are with a manual transmission gear box. It allows the car to produce an impressive mileage of about 27.62 Kmpl, when driven under standard conditions. Among them, Maruti Celerio VDi is the mid range variant, which is available with almost all features that are necessary for a safe and comfortable journey. This vehicle is placed in the economy hatchback segment and will compete with the likes of Hyundai Grand i10, Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat and the upcoming hatchback Tata Kite. This latest hatch comes with a stylish body structure equipped with trendy cosmetics, which gives it a decent look. It is designed with a chrome radiator grille, body colored bumpers, a set of steel wheels with full wheel covers and so on. This variant is being sold in quite a few sparkling exterior paint options for the buyers to choose from. The list includes Glistening Grey, Cave Black, Sunshine Ray, Blazing Red, Cerulean Blue, Pearl Arctic White and a Silky Silver metallic finish. The company has managed to give a futuristic look to its front facade with some trendy styling. Coming to its internal section, it is designed in dual tone color scheme. The insides come with a decent cabin space and comfortable seating arrangement along with a futuristic design. Its two tone dashboard gives it a fresh new look to the cabin. Despite being a mid level variant in this model series, this particular trim comes with features including co-driver vanity mirror, manually adjustable outside mirrors, power windows and many other important functions. On the other hand, its braking and suspension mechanism are quite proficient. It keeps the vehicle well balanced and gives a comfortable driving experience. This hatchback is being sold with a standard warranty of twenty four months or 40000 Kilometers, whichever comes first. At the same time, this period can be extended for one or two year under its extended warranty plans by paying some extra cost to authorized dealer.

Exteriors:

The company has given this hatchback a trendy body structure and stylish cosmetics as compared to its predecessors. To start with the frontage, it is designed with a wide radiator grille, which is fitted with horizontally positioned chrome strips. This grille is further embossed with the company's insignia in the center. It is surrounded by wraparound headlamp cluster that comes incorporated with powerful halogen lamps and side turn indicators. Just below this, it has a body colored bumper that has a contemporary design with a wide air intake section for cooling the engine. The windscreen is quite large and gives better visibility to the driver ahead. It is made of green tinted glass and is accompanied by a pair of intermittent wipers as well. There is an antenna on the roof for better reception of FM radio and it gives a full fledged look to the front. The slanting forward bonnet has a couple of visible character lines, which gives it a decent appearance. Coming to its side profile, it looks a bit large, thanks to the tall boy stance and wider doors. There are two expressive lines that pass along the doors that enhance the bold characteristics of its side profile. The newly designed outside rear view mirrors are internally adjustable and come in black color. Furthermore, its doors have been equipped with black colored pull type door handles, which makes it look decent. The neatly crafted wheel arches are fitted with a set of conventional 14-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers. These rims are further covered with high performance tubeless radial tyres of size 165/70 R14. At the rear, this four wheeler has a trendy design with a lot of aspects. It is fitted with a clear lens taillight cluster that has chrome inserts inside. It is powered by halogen based reverse and brake lights along with turn indicator. This vehicle sports a large windscreen that is integrated with a rear spoiler with high mounted bright brake light, which adds to the safety quotient. The body colored bumper houses a pair of bright reflectors along with a courtesy lamp.

Interiors:

The manufacturer has used a lot of good quality plastic material inside the cabin, but the dual tone color scheme gives it a plush ambiance. The front cabin is fitted with a two layered dashboard with upper part painted in black and the lower part with beige color scheme. It is equipped with a few features like AC vents, a large glove box for keeping a few things at hand, an advanced instrument panel with several functions and a three spoke steering wheel. The central console of this dash comes equipped with aspects like a manual AC unit with heater, gear box console and several other control switches for the ease of driver. The urethane based steering wheel has three spokes and it is elegantly decorated with the company logo in the center. The advanced instrument panel is equipped with several functions like a low fuel warning light, digital clock, driver seat belt reminder notification, key in reminder with buzzer, individual door open display and many other warning and notifications. The cabin is incorporated with ergonomically designed seats, which are covered with premium upholstery and gives a plus feel while traveling. These seats provide ample leg space and head room for all occupants and are integrated with adjustable head restraints that adds to the comfort level. The rear seat comes with split foldable function, which helps in increasing the boot volume of car. The company has given it a spacious boot compartment, which is accompanied by rear parcel shelf for easy access. The cabin is incorporated with some utility based aspects like vanity mirror in the sun visor for the front co-passenger, driver side sun visor with ticket holder, interior rear view mirror, assist grips, floor carpets, bottle and cup holders, glove box and several other aspects.  

Engine and Performance:

This newly launched trim is powered by a 0.8-litre diesel engine, which comes with a displacement capacity of 793cc. It has been designed with two cylinders that has eight valves and comes incorporated with an advanced fuel injection system that enables it to produce 47bhp of peak power at 3500rpm, while yielding a maximum 125Nm of peak torque at 2000rpm. This torque output is transmitted to the front wheels via an advanced five speed manual transmission gearbox. The car maker claims that this newest hatchback has the ability to produce an impressive mileage figure of 27.62 Kmpl, when driven under standard conditions. At the same time, it can accelerate from zero to 100 Kmph in close to 15 seconds from a standstill and can attain a maximum speed of 140 Kmph approximately.  

Braking and Handling:

The car maker has equipped this small car with vacuum assisted independent hydraulic brakes, which performs quite well in every condition. The front wheels are fitted with a set of ventilated disc brakes, while the rear wheels are fixed with drum brakes. When it comes to the suspension, a McPherson strut with coil spring to the front axle, whereas the rear axle is accompanied by coupled torsion beam axle along with the similar coil springs. This will provide the vehicle with firmer grip over all kinds of roads and also offers the driver to have better control over the drive. On the other hand, its cabin is incorporated with a responsive electric power steering system, which is based on rack and pinion. It is tilt adjustable and makes it easy to maneuver in small city roads.

Comfort Features: 

The lavish internal cabin is bestowed with a number of refined aspects, which gives the occupants an enjoyable driving experience. It is being offered with a set of top rated comfort features that makes it competitive in its class. It is equipped with a manually operated air conditioning system along with a heater that regulates the air temperature inside. It also has reverse parking sensors that provides good assistance to the driver, while parking. It has a 12V power outlet in center console for charging mobiles and other electronic devices. It also has utility based features like front sun visors with passenger side vanity mirror, day/night inside rear view mirror, three assist grips, rear luggage shelf, five drink holders and 60:40 rear split seats. In addition to these, the car maker has also installed an advanced instrument panel, glove box lid, digital clock and numerous other such aspects.

Safety Features: 

The company has given this mid range variant a number of protective aspects that ensured maximum protection to its occupants. The list includes 2-point rear center seat belt, headlight leveler, a high mounted third brake light, front ventilated disc brake, front wiper with intermittent setting and washer. It has an advanced engine immobilizer for preventing the vehicle from any unauthorized entry. The company has also given a full size spare wheel, which is affixed in the boot compartment with all other tools required for changing a flat tyre.

Pros: 

1. Affordable price tag is a big plus point. 
2. Engine performance and fuel economy is quite decent. 

Cons: 

1. Not so attractive comfort features. 
2. Cabin space can be made better.