Maruti Dzire Facelift: Maruti Suzuki Dzire has always been one of India’s best-selling cars – population of multiple generations of humans have grown up with the facade and even Shah Rukh Khan has channeled his Raees vibes through it.
This compact sedan’s latest facelift epitomises Maruti’s approach on product evolution – more of good in what is already a great formula, rather than radical change.
In doing so, this considered update adds significant enhancements to the design, technology, performance and efficiency of this premium hatch, all without compromising the qualities that have defined the car’s dominant market position.
Maruti Dzire Facelift: Design Evolution-
The updated Dzire adopts a more grown-up look, though its still familiar looking profile elegantly packages in space for four adults along with their luggage with an important sub-four-meter length that continues to define its segment.
Most significant changes are up front, where a wider hexagonal grille with subtle chrome treatments looks to add a touch of width.
This unique grille fits perfectly with revised headlamp clusters fitted with LED projector units on higher trims – a luxury feature which till now was very rare in this segment.
You will also find redesigned front and rear bumpers replaced with bolder, yet not over the top, sculpted lines to appeal more, visually.
The hood uses understated character lines to give nice light play without over complicating tooling. These little details all add up to a more premium look, and yet you retain the car’s friendly personality.
In profile, new 15-inch dual-tone machine-cut alloy wheels (on higher grades) ups the suaveness further, while power-folding mirrors featuring turn indicators offer a cosmetic as well as a functional advantage.
The back side retains the balanced proportions of the previous generation but also boasts LED light signature lighting that will be identifiable after dark.
Colour choices increase to a total of eight, including three new options of Premium Silver, Oxford Blue and Magma Grey, alongside existing choices.
These finishes feature a new generation of Suzuki’s advanced finish.vironmental grime or dirt-which is important for the outdoorsy active types who may leave their vehicle outside in harsh weather conditions.
Cabin refinements: Focusing on the human side
The revised interior of the Dzire makes some significant leaps in terms of material quality, technology and general feelgood factor, yet without alienating its customer base and the “what you see is what you get” simplicity that is a part of its charm.
The horizontal theme of the dashboard remains but was upgraded on the top-of-the-line versions with wood-finish inserts with satin chrome accents, increasing the perception of quality ad the warm feeling of the interior.
The seat upholstery is constructed using fabric which comes with better wear and tear resistance on the mainstream models and during summer months the top trims come with synthetic leather with contrast stitching that also reduces the heat accumulating on the seat – a vital factor in a tropical, sweaty environment such as ours.
Included here is that the steering wheel is now covered with leather across a greater range of models than before, creating an instant tactile upgrade to the most often touched part of the car.
Features on the inside are led by a 7-inch SmartPlay Studio infotainment system with wireless smartphone connectivity (including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Planted at the center of the dash, this interface employs a more intuitive menu structure and functions quicker than before, with superior graphics and less driver distraction.
It makes one optimistic about voice recognition from an Indian point of view, with greater recognition for Indian accents and speech style in the region.
Cooling controls, too, stick to physical buttons and rotating knobs instead of moving to touch interfaces, acknowledging the pragmatic reality that tactile controls are easier to use in Indian driving conditions that are congested and require attention to be predominantly focused on driving in and around traffic.
The updated gauge layout integrates analog speedometer and tachometer dials with a full-color 4.2-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) multi-information display, for at-a-glance readings of the odometer, trip meters and license-plate information, trip computer, shift-position indicator, TPMS, fuel consumption, and various warning messages.
Rear seat comfort – an important factor in the chauffeur-driven orientated more conservative customer base – is addressed by a higher cushion density as well as additional legroom (65mm) courtesy in part to re-sculpted front seatbacks. Standard on all but the base version are rear air conditioning vents – a must-have feature for India’s climate.
Drivertrain Refinement :
Moving the ditzy Dzire is the tried and tested Suzuki 1.2-litre K-series DualJet naturally aspirated petrol engine.
The elevation of its polished four-cylinder creates 90 horses and 113 Nm of torque -enough to deliver a good blending of performance and economy whether in the city or on a long trip.
The system delivers the ultimate combustion control while effectively being able to manage air-fuel mixture that result in exceptional claimed fuel efficiency surpassing 23km/L in all manual transmission models.
The already top-of-the-range stop start technology has now extended mid-range models have the function included (even more fuel saving for those long city red lights).
The engine management system is remapped to sharpen throttle response in the key 2,000-3,000 RPM rev range, significantly enhancing the V8’s driveability around town without any compromise in efficiency.
The car is available with two transmissions, a slick 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) with a different name (Auto Gear Shift).
It’s paired well with the manual which has nice, but not super notchy shifts that are accurate and has good gates that prevent the driver from accidentally going for the wrong gear.
The AMT is updated with revised actuator mapping which has smoothened out the shifts and made the ratios transit seamlessly giving a better experience of driving and upshifts/downshifts especially when cruising from a crawl – something that was seriously criticised in its older days.
The CNG model is remaining a significant portion of the lineup with fuel prices high and gas infrastructure growing. The factory-fitted CNG kit is retrofitted in the boot, in a way that does not take up significant boot space, once the cylinder has been installed and runs up to almost 32 km/kg in ideal conditions.
Technology Integration: By Design, To Drive Connected Convenience
Key integration of the technology package is Suzuki Connect – a telematics control unit developed and installed in partnership with Airtech based in Italy.
It offers geofencing alerts, vehicle status reports, driving style analysis and service reminders –functions that even technology-friendly customers are beginning to take as standard.
The system’s data benefits both convenience and security, enabling owners to monitor their vehicles’ location and to receive tampering alerts when out of sight of the vehicle owners.
Standard safety features in the GO include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and rear parking sensors to meet both the regulatory requirements as well as customer expectations.
It also gets a reverse camera with guidelines, electronic stability control and hill hold assist (for the AMT). The body and chassis combine high-tensile steel in selected areas, providing excellent crash protection without the weight penalty that can harm a vehicle’s performance.
Maruti Dzire Facelift: Positioning in the market and importance
The Dzire facelift plays a vital role in Maruti Suzuki’s line-up being not just a volume pusher but also a brand ambassador that helps to get new buyers in its fold.
Its positioning is a fine line between aspirational value and rational value – offering sufficiently premium feature content to satisfy status concern while holding the rational ownership proposition that is the key to Maruti’s market leadership.
In a market segment dominated by the likes of Honda Amaze, Hyundai Aura and even Tata Tigor, the Dzire stands as the level-setting product in terms of offering a perfect blend of performance, efficiency and dependability.
Yes, Dzire may not have one or the other feature which some rivals have, or may just trail behind on a spec, but as a car and with an unmatched dealer network, the total identify of Dzire really appeals to the practical Indian car buyer.
Such an incremental – and evolutionary – approach to products has worked well for Maruti though its India innings.
With a combination of responding to customer feedback, and competitive pressures – while retaining the essentials that led the car to its initial success, the refreshed Dzire appears to be set well for retaining its position in the segment despite much higher-quality competition than before.