Most Indians wake up to a world of chaos and anarchy every day. We follow a daily grind and leave the comfort of our homes to battle our way to work. But what if the battle were to be made easier? What if comfort and convenience can make the daily commute a more pleasurable experience? Maruti Suzuki recently launched their most popular sedan the Swift Dzire with their Auto Gear Shift technology. The automatic transmission of the car promises to bring in a more pleasurable driving experience. We put it to the Motown Test to find out how good this AMT version really is.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Engine
1248cc, 16V, 4 Cylinder, DDiS Diesel
Transmission
5-speed Automatic
Power
74bhp@4000rpm
Torque
190Nm@2000rpm
Fuel
Diesel
Suspension
Front: McPherson Strut
Rear: Torsion Beam
Brakes
Front: Ventilated Discs
Rear: Drum
Tyres
185/65 R15
Fuel Tank Capacity
42 Litres
Boot Space
320 Litres
Top Speed/ 0-100kmph
169kmph/ 13.8seconds
Price
Rs. 8,39,743(ex showroom Delhi)
The Dzire AMT comes with the same 1248cc diesel mill which the other versions of the car have. The engine produces 74bhp@4000rpm and 190Nm of torque at 2000rpm. There are no doubts that this diesel mill is one of the peppiest engines in the segment but what happens when you mate it with an automatic transmission manufactured by Magnetti Marelli? Well to be honest it makes driving in city traffic a hell’uva lot easier. The petrol version of the car was already available with an automatic gearbox but that was a 4-speed box. The Dzire diesel ZDI gets a brand new 5-speed gearbox which we found to be more than capable.
When the gear is in Drive mode the transmission shifts automatically depending on your throttle inputs. If demanded of it the gearbox will rev all the way up to 4500rpm. But unlike a petrol motor the turbo lag is quite prominent on the diesel powered cars. The turbo kicks in just about 2100rpm after which a surge of power gives you enough momentum to pull ahead of traffic. In Drive mode we felt that while the car was up-shifting it did feel a little rocky, like a boat over troubled waters. There was a definite lag before the turbo kicked in and every time the transmission up-shifted we would have to wait for 2-3 seconds after which the turbo kicked in. If you don’t mind that swaying motion then this is probably the best automatic sedan to buy in the segment.
If we stick the gear into manual however it’s a different game altogether. The gearbox will let you redline and go beyond if required. You can let the engine rev all the way up to 5200rpm and the shifts feel smoother. The turbo lag also does not feel so obvious and the drive is more enjoyable with all 74 horses at your disposal. The 60kmph mark comes at just a few seconds over 5.3 seconds and by no means do you feel left wanting for power while overtaking city traffic. The AMT version of the Dzire is a tad bit expensive when compared to the manual ZDI version. But if it is comfort and convenience that you want along with a great mix of build quality, technology and features, then Rs. 8.39 lakh is just a number.
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