Maruti Suzuki Dzire Road Test Review

Exterior Design and Features of the new 2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire

This sedan's facade sports angular projector headlamps and chrome surrounded four slat polygonal grille. The front is bold and instantly makes a statement. An arched hood adds a touch of macho appeal while a curvy belt line running out of the headlamps toward the B-Pillar builds on a dapper character. The headlamps also get LED DRLs which at first glance look a bit plain but blend in well with the overall design scheme.

The roof line and belt line on the new DZire lend the side profile a very refreshing look. While most modern design schemes boast of bold and straight belt lines, the Dzire gets a very striking one. It emerges from the headlamps in an upward arch running across the A-Pillar. Seamlessly the belt line fuses with the body before the B-Pillar and resurfaces after the B-Pillar running across the C-Pillar in an arched manner. The belt line builds a muscular look over the sculpted wheel arches making the side profile butch and beefy.

Moving over to the rear section of the Dzire, we find broad and prominent lines aide a definite character. A solid chrome bar accentuates the mid section of the boot lid and LED tail lamps sprinkle a dash of contemporary flavour. The Dzire also gets eight dual fin 15 inch alloys housed in 185/65 tubeless tyres. The alloys have an elegant design, blending well with the overall scheme of things.

Internal Design and Features of the new 2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire

While the exterior design boasts of elegance, the interiors resonate sophistication. A dual tone beige and black format sets the tone right for a very crisp and symmetrical layout all around the cabin. The infotainment setup is partially biased toward the driver and found to be ergonomically fit. Maruti Suzuki has ensured exceptional levels of build quality making the Dzire feel quite solid and well bolted. The front section of the cabin also sports Burl Wood ornamentation on the dash as well as door trims giving this sedan a never like before up-market feel.

In terms of technology the Dzire has on offer infotainment system enabled with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror Link which has connectivity options for Bluetooth, AUX and USB. The Dzire has also been loaded with features like rear parking sensors and camera, automatic headlamps, push button start/stop, keyless entry, automatic climate control, rear AC vents, electronically adjustable and retractable ORVMs, 12V power sockets in the front and rear along with many more features.

In terms of comfort and convenience, the Dzire speaks volumes about progress. Ample features have added to convenience of day to day functions and the in cabin ergonomics is quite commendable. The seats are more than comfortable and Maruti Suzuki has ensured even more space within the cabin. There is more headroom, shoulder room and leg room for occupants. I found myself pleasantly comfortable in the driver seat which provides adequate bolstering. The Dzire can easily seat five average Indian adults. However, the hunch on the floor may prove to be a bother for some. The rear AC vents are a boon for those sitting at the back.

Engine and Performance of the new 2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire        

The 3rd generation Dzire has been built on Suzuki's HEARTECT platform which is lighter and gets a slightly rigid chassis. The Dzire is powered by the same engines which were available on the previous version. On offer is a 1.2L, 4 cylinder, VVT petrol engine and a 1.3L, 4 cylinder, DDiS Diesel engine. The powerplants have been offered with options of a 5-speed AMT and a 5-speed manual.

I found the 1.2L petrol engine mated to the 5-speed manual transmission the most impressive amongst the lot. This petrol motor is good for 81.8bhp which comes in at 6000 rpm and churns out 113Nm of torque at 4200rpm. The rev happy nature of this engine proves to be quite thrilling on short sprints. On highways you can really stretch the gears out and the Dzire redlines quite easily. What makes things a little more entertaining is the smooth operation of gear shifts and a light clutch. The same engine when mated to the 5-speed AMT still proves to be quite a spirited drive. While ambling around in traffic I did not feel disconcerted with the gearshifts but if you step down on the accelerator pedal you will surely notice them.

The gear shift response on the AMT is reasonably quick but a scope for improvement is always there. Even in Manual mode, gear shifts are quick and you can redline a little beyond 6000rpm with the transmission holding the gear. While on inclines the gear box is quick to downshift to the right gear and you get enough torque to power you up the slope. The petrol motor feels light and fleet footed to drive around in the city and on highways. The buildup of revs and matching power outputs are all in a linear fashion.

The 1.3L, 4 cylinder, turbocharged diesel on the other hand is punchy in its mannerisms. This was instantly noticeable on the previous generations of the Dzire but the turbo spool now is a little more subtle and the power delivery feels smoother. Nonetheless, the diesel is fun to drive and quite thrilling on highways as well. The sedan is quick through the first two gears with the 3rd, 4th and 5th having longer legs. The diesel mill belts out 73.7bhp at 4000rpm and bruises the road with 190Nm of torque at 2000rpm.

Peak power comes a little high in the band with the engine redlining at 5000rpm. The 5-speed AMT mated to this diesel engine performs admirably well. Shifts come in quick and the sedan gathers speed quite easily. Even on the diesel, while ambling around in city traffic gear shifts are rather smooth and barely noticeable. The same cannot be said if you are flooring it. The 1.3L diesel caters to a very lively drive and feels much smoother than before. While the diesel returns close to 28.4kms to a litre the 1.2L petrol returns almost 22kmpl. Both mileage figures are arguably the best in segment.   

The suspension setup on the new Dzire is slightly on the softer side and the vehicle rolls over bad roads rather easily. Most undulations and bumps are soaked in quite well by the suspension. Maruti has dropped the ground clearance to 163mm but that does not really affect the vehicles performance as we did not find one instance of it bottoming out, be it over breakers or bad roads. The slightly stiffer chassis and suspension setup cater to a stable ride with a display of good control even at high speeds. Braking is facilitated via discs in the front and drum brakes in the rear. The Dzire's braking is progressive and inspires confidence. Overall, there has definitely been an improvement in how the new Dzire handles and drives, in many ways better than its current competition. A few niggles I have with the sedan are the lack of a telescopic steering, wind noise at higher speeds and the need for more boot space.  Maruti has also offered ABS, EBD, dual front airbags and ISOFIX mounts as standard. 

Verdict

The new Maruti Suzuki Dzire is a wholesome and well rounded package offering just the right features and performance for an entry level sedan. The car rather feels much more premium, as though it’s in a league of its own. Premier League? Without a doubt, yes!