Maruti Dzire

Powering the Dzire are the familiar 1.2L petrol and 1.3L diesel engines from the Swift, Ignis and the Baleno. The petrol engine makes 83bhp and 113Nm torque and is a smooth performer. It is a willing performer and coupled to the 860kg weight, makes the car so sprightly. It comes with the option of an AMT (Automated Manual) gearbox too. The presence of the fourth cylinder in the 1.2 block makes the power delivery much more balanced than, say in a Celerio. This makes the AMT shift up and down lesser, giving you a smoother driving experience than what we have seen in those 3 cylinder applications. On top of that, Maruti engineers have been busy perfecting the AMT technology and their hard-work shows. Their latest boxes work much better in terms of clutch engagement, shifting algorithm and holding you on a slope.

The 75bhp Fiat-derived 1.3litre diesel comes with an AMT option too, combining the convenience of an automatic with the economy of a diesel. It develops 190Nm torque along with great midrange power and is great on the highway. The slight delay in gear changes of an AMT, coupled with the inherent turbo lag of that diesel engine means you might resort to shifting gears manually for quick overtaking moves. Other than that, there is nothing to complain about the diesel automatic version.

I could put the Dzire through its paces on a winding bit of road. Despite the suspension so tuned for comfort, there was adequate grip and balance on offer. Sure, there was somebody roll and you’d wish if the steering provided a bit more weight and feedback; but overall handling impresses. The lower kerb weight also helps it in the corners. If the Dzire is this good, I can’t wait to see the upcoming Swift. Ride quality is greatly improved over the older car, with only the sharpest of bumps upsetting the composure on broken roads. Brakes felt good too with the top spec cars wearing 185/65R15 tyres.

It takes a lot of hard-work to replace the second largest selling car in India- one that sells more than all its competitors put together, but Maruti sure has done it. The Dzire is not only bigger, lighter and faster than the old car, it is also better in every possible way. It comes loaded with features, has ample space, a decent boot and a pair of competent engines. It rides beautifully over bad roads and the handling is still entertaining. What’s more, ABS and airbag as standard across the range and not limited to just the top end trim. With prices ranging from Rs.5.45 to Rs.9.41 (Ex. showroom Delhi), they sure are to run out of order forms for this one.

VIVEK VENUGOPAL

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