Maruti launches all-new DZire compact sedan at ₹5.45 lac

Maruti launches all-new DZire compact sedan at ₹5.45 lac

Like the company’s hatchbacks, there’s a variant for every taste and budget

They didn’t invent the genre, but they certainly set the standard. Maruti-Suzuki’s new DZire drops the ‘Swift’ prefix and brings in a fresh, swoopy design ala the Baleno. This is the third generation of Maruti’s compact sedan in India, and has proved popular with private users and fleet operators alike. Maruti claims to have sold 1.38 million DZires since 2008, when it was first launched.

The new DZire has a very Japanese — almost kei-car-like — retro vibe, particularly with the horizontal grille. And yet, the numbers betray a larger vehicle. The new car is 40mm wider than the outgoing model, allowing 20mm more shoulder room up front, 30mm for rear passengers, 55mm more leg room in the second row and 62 more litres of boot space. All this, while remaining under the magic four metre figure.

Maruti is highlighting the DZire’s “body-to-glass” ratio, and indeed, the new DZire does strike a nice stance. It’s got hints of that sculpting and airiness that you might remember from European designs in the 60s. The shoulder line rises slightly going rearward, but doesn’t obstruct the rear passengers’ view outside the windows as much as some cars recently.

Naturally, this close to the October 2017 deadline for India’s new vehicle assessment program, Maruti has included a host of safety features as standard across all 14 variants of the DZire. Dual airbags are standard, as are pre-tensioner force limiter seat belts. ABS with EBD is also present across the range along with an ISOFIX child seat restraint system.

The interior gets a large infotainment display with Apple Carplay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink support, ensuring that every smartphone is catered to. Engine options remain the staple Maruti 1.2-litre petrol (81hp/113Nm, 22kmpl) and 1.3-litre turbo-diesel (74hp/190Nm, 28.4kmpl). Thankfully, six variants across petrol and diesel models are available as AGS (Auto Gear Shift) models — Maruti’s moniker for automated manual transmissions. This should be a boon to urban commuters.

Prices start at Rs 5.45 lac and go all the way up to Rs 9.41 lac, ex-showroom, Delhi. These are introductory prices, and knowing the popularity of Maruti cars, you’d be advised to book ASAP if you expect to have your car this year.

Prices (introductory, ex-showroom, Delhi)

Petrol

Lxi ₹545,000
Vxi ₹629,000
Zxi ₹705,000
Zxi+ ₹794,000
Vxi AGS ₹676,000
Zxi AGS ₹752,000
Zxi+ AGS ₹841,000

Diesel

Ldi ₹645,000
Vdi ₹729,000
Zdi ₹805,000
Zdi+ ₹894,000
Vdi AGS ₹776,000
Zdi AGS ₹852,000
Zdi+ AGS ₹941,000