First Drive: The All-New Maruti Dzire Is a Family Car

 Pune: Maruti Suzuki, India’s biggest car maker, has launched the all-new fourth generation Maruti Dzire, a compact sedan that has been redesigned from the ground up.

The new Dzire gets an all-new look, new features, a new engine and a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating. This is the first time a Maruti car has received the full 5 stars.

This car has dominated the sub-4-meter sedan segment in India, selling more than 27 lakh units since its debut in 2008. It is India's fourth highest-selling car of all time and the highest-selling sedan. Currently, it has been selling over 14,000 units every month.

We took it for a spin on highways and city roads to check out what it promises.

The Exterior

One look, and the new Dzire looks very different and stylish than the Swift. The restyled front and rear give the car a premium and aggressive look than earlier generations. It has got new LED crystal vision headlamps with LED DRLs, black radiator grille, LED fog lamps, auto-folding ORVMs, 3D Trinity LED tail-lamps, sharkfin antenna, boot lip spoiler and 15-inch precision cut two-tone alloy wheels. On the side, the curves on the doors look similar to the model before, but with the reshaped front and rear fenders, the new car does stand apart. The car is sold in 7 single-tone colour options. Its boot has an added lip spoiler, and the lower edge of the bumper has a sporty-looking chamfered strip moulded into it which helps widen the car visually and gives it a sporty touch.

The Interior

The interior of the Dzire is attractive with its new dashboard and pleasant layout. The dashboard, centre console, steering wheel, and instrument panel have a different colour scheme that uses beige on the dash, door pads and seats, and wood trim across the dash. It looks smart and neat. Like most new cars, the Dzire too now gets a tablet-like touchscreen head-unit, which is easy to use. While the front seats are comfortable with soft cushioning with adequate space, the headroom could have been better as you feel the roof close to the head. The rear seats are well cushioned and good with rear armrest, twin AC vents, and two USB ports for rear passengers. Boot space is good enough at 382-litres which is not the best in the segment.

Maruti has surprised customers by providing a sunroof and a 360-degree camera to the Dzire offering a clear view with a 3D display and dynamic rear parking lines. It also has a 9-inch touchscreen unit with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, connected car tech, and cruise control. What it misses though is the premium audio hardware, cooled seats, and ambient lighting. Maruti also has taken care to provide six airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all occupants, ISO-FIX child seat mounts, ABS, ESP, and hill hold assist.

The Drive Experience

The new Dzire is powered by the new Z series 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder Z12E petrol engine, which is mated either to a five-speed manual transmission or an AMT and puts out 82 HP and 112 Nm of torque. The Dzire comes with an idle start/stop system and will continue to get a factory-fitted CNG option.

As you drive the car, you feel some vibrations at low rpms, but these disappear as you drive on. The engine is quite audible, but at low and mid speeds, it has a likeable audio note with it, only sounding strained at the top end. The throttle response is good and power delivery is linear. It is very smooth to drive around the city. On the highway too, the Dzire did a brisk performance. Potholes and broken roads are not a problem when driving responsibly. Otherwise, at high speeds over sharp-edged potholes, you might hear the suspension crash and send a thud in the cabin. This can be avoided as the brakes have a slight progression and bite, and when used efficiently shave off speed for a hassle-free experience and comfortable ride. Overall, the new Dzire provides a dynamic driving experience.

Should I buy one?

With its pleasant look, appeal, 5-star safety, enhanced mileage, features, space, and the new Dzire has not only become more desirable but a comfortable family sedan. With a compelling package, the Rs 6.79 lakh–10.14 lakh new Dzire will undoubtedly continue to attract buyers and continue to give rivals such as Honda Amaze, Tata Tigor, Hyundai Aura and others, a run for their money.