Being a niche sub-segment, which was born out of the urge to take advantage of a local tax regulation, the development of every compact entry sedan was always going to be a bit of jugaad engineering. In a way, it is a reflection of the collective Indian mindset considering our penchant for tax avoidance and our irrational acceptance of the sedan as an ‘aspirational’ body style.
Almost every compact sedan currently in the market has seemed uncomfortable in its skin. The outgoing Maruti Suzuki Dzire has been a prime example. The Swift was already not the best package in terms of the exterior dimensions to interior space leverage. And the shared hatchback design was too overpowering even in the second-gen Dzire sedan. But both these facets will change with the introduction of the new 2017 model.
Design and build
Forget purists, even the most design-illiterate would have cringed a bit at the original Dzire’s gawky looks - the over-raised stance, the slapped on boot at the rear, the near upright A-pillar with its out-of-place black out sticker and the unconcealed association with the Swift’s design. The assumption back then seems to have been to use the Swift and its raging popularity to pull in the buyers for the Dzire. But, the compact sedan has, over the nine years since launch, grown into its own and is currently the biggest seller in the segment. So, it was time to break away and give the Dzire its own unique character and appeal. In fact, that is the reason why Maruti has dropped the co-branding with Swift and launched the Dzire before the new generation of the Swift makes it to our shores early next year. So for the 2017 Dzire, designers and engineers at Maruti Suzuki decided to begin with a new platform for a start. The fifth generation Suzuki B-Platform and its stiffer, but lighter, Heartect chassis forms the base on which the new Dzire is built (shared with the Baleno). The new Dzire is almost 85 kg lighter with increased use of ultra and high tensile steel. This has helped improve the fuel efficiency and ride quality; more on that later. But, the new platform has also helped create a fresh face for the Dzire. Most importantly, it has enabled this compact car to look much more like a real sedan. One of the key changes is lowering the height and stance of the car. The overall height of the car is now 40 mm lower, the roof is lower and the ground clearance is now 163 mm instead of the earlier 170 mm. The design includes a gradually raked and sloping A-pillar and C-pillar making the new Dzire look so much more like a sedan from the side profile. The only spoiler in that new mix is the boot, which is still stubby.
But, the Dzire’s design is now much less upright and much less like a cab-forward hatch. The lines and curves around the car are now softer and smoother. Given the increased width — up by 40 mm; and the wider track, the new car’s proportions seem much more sedan-like. The shoulder line is also lower, gelling with the design language and enabling a larger greenhouse (glass area). The front of the Dzire now gets a dominating new grille with four horizontal slats and thick chrome lipping with subtle curves highlighting the bonnet width. Large headlamps that merge with creases on the front fender are framed by chrome fins below the fog lamps, and offer a fresh new face to the Dzire. Auto LED projector lamps and daytime running lights (DRLs) are offered in the top trim ZXi and ZXi+ variants only. At the rear, the tail-lamps also get LED lights and sport a completely new wraparound form and combination. With a raised, spoiler-like edge for the boot lid and a chunky chrome strip connecting the two tail-lamps, the rear now looks wider and proportionate. However, it is still stubby and the sub-four-metre connection is still most evident here.
Cabin
The 2017 Dzire’s exterior design is now more modern and appealing, but the new cabin manages to take it a couple of notches higher. Step in and settle behind the wheel, and the first impression is very good. The dual tone beige-black colour theme for the dashboard, the flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in leather and sporting faux burl wood inserts, and the matt chrome trim come together to elevate the quality of the Dzire’s cabin. There is still a lot of plastic all around and there are panels with hard plastics, which still lead to windscreen glare, but there is a definite air of quality, and good fit and finish. I was driving the top end ZXi+ variant and the centre stack featured the same touchscreen infotainment system we have already seen in the Ciaz, Baleno and Ignis. Together with the auto aircon system, the centre stack is another example of a welcome change in perception for the Dzire. The centre stack is now tilted just that bit to make it more driver focused and the shiny plastic panel housing doesn’t look cheap. Similarly, the gear-stick lever on the centre console is elegantly finished and fits nicely in your hand when being used.
While the improved perceived quality is one aspect of the new cabin, the other is the increase in space. Compared to the outgoing Dzire, the new model’s design liberates a considerable amount of room inside the car. The longer wheelbase and width enables an increase in rear leg room of 55 mm, there is a 20 mm increase in front shoulder room and a 30 mm increase at the rear. The available boot space is also up by 62 litres at 378 litres. Seats are comfortable with softer squabs and finding a good driving position should be possible with the adjustments offered, including tilt-steering. The extra room in the cabin is evident from the time you step in, but the sloping roof line at the rear could be an issue for tall passengers. A few of the additions to this third generation Dzire may be small, but really boost the brand’s appeal. These include auto headlamps, auto (up & down) driver’s side power window, rear aircon vents, etc. Many of these features are however, available only in the top two trim variants.
Performance
The new Dzire carries over the same two powertrains from the previous generation. So, it is the same 1,197 cc VVT petrol engine and the 1,248 cc DDiS diesel engine with their five-speed manual gearboxes. The powertrains get changes to their calibration and the automated manual transmission (AMT) makes an appearance in the Dzire. The AMT, which we have seen in smaller Marutis is still the same basic tech involving sensors and hydraulic shifters mounted on top of the manual gearbox. The AMT’s relatively unrefined shifting characteristic is also, unfortunately, a carry-over. Unlike a torque converter or continuously variable (CVT) auto transmissions, AMTs tend to have prominent shift shocks during heavy acceleration. But, the head nodding pull during up-shifts eases up during cruising speeds. Kick-downs to lower gears when I stomp the throttle for an overtake manoeuvre also tend to be less urgent, but at slower speeds there is a double shift down from overdrive gears. With a lot of low-end torque being available, the diesel AMT was easier to use overall. The petrol engine in the Dzire produces peak power of 61 kW at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 113 Nm at 4,200 rpm. This is a quiet, refined engine with its performance being an ideal combination for all types of driving cycles. My personal preference would be the manual transmission for both the petrol and diesel engines, but with more and more buyers preferring AMTs, Maruti is now offering three trim variants each with the automated gearbox. The Dzire’s diesel engine delivers 55 kW of power and 190 Nm of torque. Peak torque is available from 2,000 rpm. This common rail direct injection engine’s familiar character means that driving it in a Maruti is somehow always more pleasurable than in any other brand’s cars with the same engine. It does get a bit raucous at high revs, but if you are a driver that loves to be connected with the car, this engine will keep you amply engaged.
I test drove the new Dzire in Goa, a location that throws up an ideal combination of narrow city streets and short highway stretches. The Bridgestone Ecopia 185/65 tyres that my test mule came with were shod on 15-inch dual tone alloys. While these tyres helped keep road rush to a minimum in the cabin, their relatively thin contact patch on the road meant lesser confidence while taking fast corners. However, straight line stability has improved dramatically and the Dzire now cruises confidently even at speeds of upto 160 kmph.
The new Dzire sees a big jump in handling quality. The suspension is now firmer, but not rigid. Driving through some of the biggest potholes in some sections of Old Goa was still a breeze. The same kind of praise can’t be heaped on the over-assisted steering. With an obvious bias towards easy manoeuvrability in tight city traffic, it becomes quickly clear that the setting can feel quite vague at higher speeds on the highway. Steering wheel return assistance during u-turns is also lower than I expected. But, the flat-bottom wheel design does help during city driving cycles.
Bottomline
The new Dzire is a definite step up from the previous generation. A lot of the new features are loaded only into the top two trim variants. But, thankfully safety features like two airbags and ABS are being offered as standard across all the variants. It is also future-proofed for new pedestrian safety and impact regulations. One of the features that I would have liked in the new Dzire is an additional ‘sport’ drive mode in the AMT versions. Prices for the new 2017 Dzire start from Rs. 5.45 lakh for the petrol LXi and range up to Rs. 9.41 lakh for the diesel ZDi+ AGS.
With the new Dzire, Maruti is now the trendsetter in the compact sedan segment and the competition is going to find it a tough act to follow.