2017 Maruti Dzire Test Drive Review

2017 Maruti Dzire Review

Car Tested: 2017 Maruti Dzire; Road Test No. 824 ; Test Location: Goa

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 6.54 – 11.56 lakhs

India’s favourite compact sedan now becomes a highly improved package

There is no denying the fact that the Maruti Dzire has shaken the compact sedan segment in India by selling in such huge volumes which no other rival has been able to come close to. The Dzire is also one of the highest selling cars here and hence there is a lot of anticipation around the new generation. The looks have changed, the interiors have evolved and the driving dynamics are better. Let’s check out everything in detail.

Motor Quest: The Maruti Dzire is a top-selling car and it has always set the sales charts on fire. There have been times when its waiting period used to cross 8-9 months and with the arrival of this model, we expect the waiting period as well as sales figures to shoot up significantly.

Exteriors – The exterior styling has evolved by a huge extent and a lot of design elements have been borrowed from the new generation Swift. However, instead of just sticking a boot to the hatchback, Maruti has made some deep changes, which include tweaks to the A-pillar. The body has a lot of curves now but the design looks much more proportionate compared to the previous generation. There’s a lot more chrome than before, and you get chrome trims on the grille, front bumper, boot lid, etc. The LED tail lamps look cool while you also get projectors and LED DRLs. The top Z variants come with chunky tyres while the lower L and V variants get skinny wheels which make the car look under-tyred.

Interiors – Coming to the interiors, here’s where a lot of major revisions lie. The dashboard gets an all-new design and even though some elements are derived from the new Swift, Maruti has again made a lot of changes to things like the instrument cluster, AC vents, steering wheel, inlays on the dashboard, etc. There is a dual tone black and beige colour theme and the top variants come with wood inserts on the dashboard and steering wheel. The wooden inserts are provided with an intent of making the car feel premium but honestly, it could have been done in a better way and the quality also feels a bit inferior. However, the overall fit and finish of the insides feel much better than the second generation Dzire.

The new Dzire is a very comfortable sedan, gets a lot of goodies too

Due to the rear doors being wider, ingress and egress have become easier. The seats are large and comfortable and the cushioning is also soft but under thigh support felt a bit lacking. The driver’s seat gets height adjustment while the steering gets tilt adjustment and hence you can find yourself a good driving position with decent visibility all around. Space at the rear is decent but at the front, the footwell eats into space slightly. The roofline limits the headroom at the rear a bit. The boot is nicely shaped and has good cargo carrying capacity, it is larger by 60-litres now.

The third generation Maruti Dzire gets a good equipment list. You get automatic climate control and the cooling performance from the AC is very good and the rear AC vents are a big plus. The ORVMs are electrically adjustable and folding. The audio system is the same one that is also offered on the Baleno. The 7-inch touchscreen has a good response and it gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too. Connectivity is seamless and the sound quality from the speakers is very good. Apart from that, the Dzire also gets keyless go with push button start and unlock sensors on the door.

Performance – The Maruti Dzire continues to come with the same set of engines. The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre K-series unit churning out 82 horses at 6000 RPM and 113 Nm at 4200 RPM and it is offered with a 5-speed manual or AMT gearbox. The engine is smooth and refined and power delivery is decent for a car of this size. The engine likes to be revved and there is plenty of action even near the redline. The clutch is light and the petrol engine can churn out an efficiency of 13-4 km/l in the city and around 16-17 km/l on the highway in real world conditions. The AMT gearbox is a tad jerky but overall response is good and the petrol mill is definitely the more fun motor of the two.

Both powerplants offer good performance and high fuel efficiency

Talking about the diesel engine, it is the famous 1.3-litre DDiS mill that is offered in the 74 HP tune (at 4000 RPM) with 190 Nm of torque at 2000 RM. The powerplant is again offered with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or an AMT unit. The oil burner has quite a lot of clatter and sounds noisy at high RPMs. Turbo lag is present but power delivery in the mid-range is punchy and the Maruti Dzire has good performance to boot. In terms of efficiency, the claimed figure for the diesel engine is 28.40 km/l and in real-world conditions, you can expect 16-17 km/l in the city and 19-21 km/l on the highway. The clutch is light here too while the gearbox feels smooth. The AMT will be a good pick for those who want convenience and efficiency but it isn’t meant for enthusiastic drivers.

Driving Dynamics – The suspension gets a softer setup and hence the ride feels much better than the previous generation Maruti Dzire. The body control has also improved and the car feels composed even over bad patches. Talking about steering feel, the diesel variant gets a heavier steering and has decent feel while the petrol variant gets a lighter steering which lacks feel. Just like other newer Maruti cars, the steering doesn’t self-centre and feels dead at times. Handling is good and the Dzire is fun to drive. The ground clearance isn’t the best but the vehicle didn’t really scrape anywhere. Braking performance has improved and the stopping power is really good.

Safety and After Sales Service – The 2017 Maruti Dzire now comes with dual front airbags, ABS and ISOFIX mounts on all variants which is a very positive move. The car is lighter than before since it is based on the new HEARTACT platform. Talking about service, Maruti Suzuki has the best sales and after-sales network in India and the Dzire can be serviced in any nook and corner of the country since the company has a service centre almost everywhere.

Verdict – We won’t be surprised if the Maruti Dzire goes on to become the largest selling car by overtaking the Alto. Maruti Suzuki has taken a good package and made it even better with the new generation and the Dzire comes across as a well-rounded compact sedan that excels at a lot of things. What really impressed us is how the company has moved ahead in its quality standards and how the car is loaded with so many features. The driving characteristics are also very good and both the engines are efficient too. The Maruti Dzire is an excellent buy for someone looking for a not-so-big sedan that offers a competitive package.

What’s Cool

* The styling feels more proportionate and complete
* The insides are loaded with a lot of equipment
* Both the engines are very efficient
* Ride quality is wonderful

What’s Not So Cool

* Pricing is a bit high for the AMT variants

Alternatives: Hyundai Xcent, Tata Tigor, Honda Amaze, Ford Aspire, Volkswagen Ameo

2017 Maruti Dzire Specifications

* Engine: 1197cc, DOHC, 4-cyl | 1248, DOHC, 4-cyl
* Power: 82 HP @ 6000 RPM | 74 HP @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 113 Nm @ 4200 RPM | 190 Nm @ 2000 RPM
* Transmission: 5-Speed MT, 5-Speed AMT
* 0-100 km/hr: 11.91 seconds (D MT)
* Fuel Consumption: 22 km/l | 28.40 km/l (ARAI-claimed)
* Fuel Type: Petrol | Diesel
* Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front), Torsion Beam (Rear)
* Tyres: 165/80/14 (L & V trims), 185/65/18 (Z Trim)
* Brakes: Disc (Front) & Drum (Rear), ABS
* Safety: 2 airbags, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX

2017 Maruti Dzire Dimensions

* Overall length x width x height: 3995 mm X 1735 mm X 1515 mm
* Wheelbase: 2450 mm
* Ground Clearance: 163 mm
* Boot Space: 378-litres
* Turning Radius: 4.8-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 37-litres
* Kerb Weight: 860 – 895 kgs | 950 – 995 kgs

Further Reading –

Maruti Dzire Video Review