2018 Suzuki Dzire : First impression

There is no mistake in the headline. The car you know as the Suzuki Swift Dzire is now in its third generation and bears no resemblance to the outgoing version. It has also shunned the Swift moniker to chart out its own separate path. That being said, the Suzuki Dzire, except for the nameplate, is an all-new car. Of course, it is based on the mighty Swift, which is in its third generation too. As is the case, the Swift was revealed to the audience much before the Dzire. Obviously, because the sedan isn’t a global model which the hatch indeed is. Here is a quick look at the new Suzuki Dzire which is built in India and imported to the Philippines.

Looks

The Suzuki Dzire looks very good. In fact, better than its predecessors which looked like there was a boot strapped onto an unsuspecting hatchback. It measures 3,995 mm in length, 1,735 mm in width and 1,515 mm in height. The wheelbase is 2,450 mm whereas the tread is 1,515 mm in the front and 1,520 mm in the back. Suzuki has kept the ground clearance at 145 mm whereas the turning radius is 4.8 m.

The front of the car resembles that of the Swift but the bumpers are different. While internationally the Suzuki Dzire gets LED headlamps, we have to make do with halogens here. There is a chrome strip right next to the fog lights too. The 15-inch alloys are also down on the 16-inch available globally. However, these look nice too. The rear uses a combination of a LED strip that masquerades the tail light. This time around, the boot is very nicely integrated.

Interior

The cabin of the new Suzuki Dzire too has been revised and the forward set dashboard adds a lot of room. The meters are all-new and feature all the vital information one could ask for. Suzuki has kept the steering as a flat bottom unit across the range, perhaps to signal the car’s sporty intentions. The steering too has all the important audio and Bluetooth telephony controls on it. It feels nice to hold as well. The seats are also soft and accommodating. There is a 7-inch touchscreen system that houses Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with an SD card based navigation. The screen itself has a nice touch to it.

Move over to the rear seat and you will find AC vents, a very nice touch. Atop it sits a USB port with a slot to fit in a phone. Very nice and thoughtful! We liked the rear seat space too. It has improved by around 20 mm and that's a good sign. There is enough legroom for our 6 ft tester as well. The headroom too is adequate and so is the shoulder room for three. Suzuki has added a centre armrest as well. The boot space stands at 354 litres and has a large aperture and a low loading lip.

Everything in here seems very well put together and shouldn't develop squeaks or rattles.

Engine and transmission

Suzuki Philippines had asked Maruti Suzuki India for its Auto Gear Shift or AGS technology for the Dzire. The AGS simulates a manual transmission but doesn’t have a clutch. It has pre-defined shift points. The engine of choice here remains the dependable 1.2-litre naturally aspirated motor that makes 84 PS of power and 113 Nm of torque. The 5-speed AGS paired with it is said to give the same efficiency as the manual (5-speed). The top speed is expected to be 160 kmph while the fuel efficiency is 21.2 kmpl.

This Suzuki engine is known for its driveability and refinement. Suzuki claims to have increased the compression ratio in a bid to eke out more efficiency. We wish, like in India, Suzuki Philippines could bring in the acclaimed 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine that promises oodles of torque and is said to be a hoot to drive. 

Ride and handling

Suzuki’s new Dzire is based on the HEARTECT platform, which is known for its lightweight configuration. This new Dzire is lighter than the older one by a whopping 100 kg. This should mean scintillating performance. We have always known the Dzire to be just an extension of the Swift - this means very good handling and decent ride quality. The new Dzire, by virtue of being on the same platform, should ride and handle well than the others in its class.

Safety

Suzuki is giving in two airbags and ABS with EBD as standard on the GL (manual) and GL+ AGS trims. There are also height adjustable seatbelts, day-night mirror, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. Two reverse sensors are provided for on the AGS trim.

Conclusion

Suzuki has launched the new Dzire with a Php 638,000 tag for the GL and Php 698,000 for the GL+ AGS. The lovable compact sedan has now become even more value for money and in the process desirable as well.