Celerio diesel ZDi Road Test Review

 Yes, I am impressed by this diesel engine. You cannot expect a two-cylinder engine to sound like a V8. It’s an impossible task. It’s like asking all the well-fed obese Editors of all auto magazines to run the 100 metres in less than 1 minute! After the race there would be a spate of obituaries!

The sound of the diesel engine may be a bit harsh for those standing outside but once you are inside in the confines of the air-conditioned Celerio, you don’t hear a thing and all you do is to enjoy the drive to your hilt. I got the top end version of the car for a drive (ZDi) and since it’s a loaded car with more than a handful of features, you cannot be complaining at all. In terms of comfort and other practical offerings that this car has, the company has got it just right.

Maruti Suzuki is claiming that this car offers 27.62 kmpl in certain test conditions, which makes it India’s most fuel efficient car. As for the engine, the moment the Celerio diesel car was launched, it marked the global launch of DDiS 125. The Celerio petrol, one must remember was launched early 2014 and since then has sold almost 1 lakh units. A good proportion of these are cars fitted with Auto Gear Shift. The company also informs that Maruti Suzuki and its suppliers have together invested over Rs 900 crore towards development of DDiS 125 and it comes with over 97 per cent localisation.

So what is this diesel engine all about? The DDiS 125 is compact and light weight and the cylinder block is all aluminium. DDiS 125 comes with a compact fuel distribution system and a turbocharger suited to a 2-cylinder engine. The company claims that by decreasing compression ratio and installing a large intercooler it has combined high torque in low RPM and fuel efficiency. Minimising friction, improving thermal efficiency, adopting low viscosity lubricants have also helped enhance the fuel efficiency in DDiS 125, the company explains.

It is this compact turbocharger with intercooler that delivers a quick acceleration and smooth drive. The hydraulic clutch system only makes it easy for you when you shift gears.

On the looks front, well it’s the same old beautiful Celerio, with the right curves at the right places. The company calls its styling design CICO Styling – 'Curve in Curve Out' styling. It’s meant to make the car appealing to the young.

The cabin space is very adequate and again it has been designed so well that it can accommodate a small family along with loads of luggage. It also has an option of 60:40 split flexibility in the rear seats to increase luggage capacity. The small hatch also comes with features that enable you you to shuffle music tracks, adjust volume levels, answer and make calls without taking your hands off the wheel. That’s quite a bit of luxury packed into a small car. There is easy access to all controls with features like integrated audio with Bluetooth connectivity and steering mounted audio controls. The multi-info panel displays information such as instantaneous fuel efficiency, average fuel efficiency, range, etc. I guess with all that you have got to be content with the Celerio diesel ZDi. It’s lasting fun with this car!