After much anticipation and a fair amount of blood and sweat, Maruti Suzuki is ready with the new Swift Dzire - their first stab at the sub-four metre saloon category. This, coupled with the engine size allows the new Dzire to fall under sub-four metre norm that attracts less excise duty on cars, thus bringing down the overall cost. The 2nd generation Dzire is completely different from the car it replaces; its 25mm shorter, 5mm wider and with a wheelbase that is 40mm longer than the current Dzire. The good news here is that the new car looks a million times better than it did when it was first launched a few years ago. The current design looks totally out of place from just about every angle. The front end and back end of the current Dzire look like they were styled by two different design teams that were mad at each other. However, gone are the ungainly curves and bulges, the tail-section now has been well matched with the rest of the car which basically is the Swift hatchback. The added mass of the boot is quite short, which makes the new Dzire look more like a notchback than a proper saloon car.
It’s the same story inside when it comes to interior design; the cabin is straight off the new Swift hatch, the design of the dashboard as well as the seats is from the hatchback. The only difference is, in the Dzire, beige plastics and materials have been used in places. Chauffeur driven owners will appreciate the fact that there’s more space in the back seat compared to the current Dzire. Boot space on the other hand, at 316 litres, is a whole size down on the outgoing model. Moreover, this new model carries a long equipment list; Dual SRS airbags, ABS, EBD wit brake assist, climate control, steering-mounted audio controls – to name a few. Under the hood, the new Dzire is powered by K12M VVT 1.2-litre petrol engine which puts out 85bhp @6000 rpm and 11.6kgm of torque at 4000 rpm. The other option is the 1.3 litre DDiS diesel motor producing 74bhp @4000 rpm with 19.37kgm of torque @2000 rpm. Maruti will also offer a 4-speed automatic gearbox though it will be available only with the petrol-powered version in VXI trim. Maruti Suzuki will reveal the prices on February 1, at the time of actual launch but we expect it to cost just about the same as the current Swift Dzire (Rs 5.5-7.5 Lakh bracket).
All in all, the new Swift Dzire is one car that's hard to fault. It looks way better than its predecessor, the interior design has a nice, airy feel to it with good plastics all-around and the new Dzire is slightly roomier as well. The engine options provide sufficient grunt for some spirited driving and what's more; being a Maruti, its owners will also be at peace with respect to ease of maintenance and low cost of ownership.
-Look forward to more updates on MAG Cube by visiting our official Facebook Page