[RavenAvi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EmbWbu2b3Q

India comes home in a Maruti Suzuki.

As did we.

The need for a new beater car was felt since last year, more so after our family's 2011 DZire started giving us some serious problems. It had been driven quite rashly by my cousin brothers during it's tenure in our extended family. After flying over a huge boulder at high speeds which resulted in a broken alloy wheel and permanent issues with it's steering column rod and front axle, it was never back to normal again. It had started to spend more hours in the workshop than at home, and we traded it in for the 2023 Grand i10 Nios facelift in January last year.

Now, we decided that it was time to move ahead and get another daily beater for our increasing in-city trips.

We sat down to list our priorities for the new steed:-

- Must be a fuel-efficient petrol automatic, considering the elderly & the ladies of the family will be primarily driving it.
- Small 4m footprint for ease of driving and parking in tight places.
- Will be used almost extensively inside the city for commuting and daily tasks. Might not see any highway running, since we have other cars (my XUV700, a Crysta, a Harrier, a Slavia, etc.) for that.
- Should seat 4-5 in relative comfort.
- Easy on maintenance and ownership expenses. No compromise here.
- Relatively safe body, considering the type of unruly traffic which infests our roads these days. Should keep the occupant(s) safe even if the car's totaled.
- Budget was fixed at the 11-12 lakh OTR range.
- No EVs since the tech isn't future-proof yet, plus the charging infra in our semi-rural city and adjoining areas didn't allow that freedom to us.
- The complexities of a petrol hybrid were best avoided. They are also eye-wateringly expensive.

And so, the hunt began.

Alternatives considered:- (all automatic variants)

1) Kia Sonet HTK/HTX - cute little packages with premium interiors. But the build quality, specially the doors, felt thin and unsafe. Plus iMTs were never our forte. ATs were available in only the turbo-petrols. Also, the nearest Kia service center is 300 kms away.

2) Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2/MX3 - strong contenders because of the overall package and my ownership of the XUV7OO. But the very powerful engine under the hood meant 2 things - bad FE and overqualified credentials for the intended usage.

3) Maruti Baleno Alpha - Better engine & cabin space. Top variant has most of the bells and whistles. But a bit long in the tooth. Short-listed.

4) Maruti Fronx Delta+/Delta+ (O) - Baleno's costlier cousin. Missing many features in the mid-variants. Still, shortlisted for it's contemporary styling, Maruti-Suzuki badge & spaciousness.

5) Maruti Brezza VXi/ZXi - Never liked it for some reason, and the dislike was unanimous across all family members. Same goes for the Hyundai Venue & the Hyundai Exter.

6) Tata Curvv Pure Plus - Basically a Nexon with a boot. Base variant could be covered if our budgets were stretched. Very impressive exteriors, but the (in)famously bad Tata experiences we have had with my short ownership stints of the Nano, the Tiago, the Nexon & the Altroz didn't inspire much confidence for us to go the Tata way again. Hence avoided. The Punch was never considered either.

7) Honda Amaze VX - Well within our budgets and a nice overall package. We were willing to wait for the 2024 iteration but the local Honda dealership had packed their bags quite a while back and servicing the car would be an issue now, with the nearest Honda A.S.S. 300+ kms away.

8) Hyundai Aura SX+ - We already own the Grand i10 Nios so another Nios with a boot didn't make sense.

9) Hyundai i20 Sportz (O) - Nice enough package with plenty of feel-good features. But the new i20's horrendous front + rear looks made us skip it.


We decided that if we are to keep fuel efficiency a priority and look away from EVs & hybrids, then Maruti-Suzuki was the only way to go. Trimming the above list by way of elimination ended up being a final shootout between the Baleno & the Fronx. We had good Navratri/Diwali offers for both cars, and one of them was almost destined to come home - 75% of our family were in favour of the Fronx Delta+ because it was more contemporary, while 25% sided with the Baleno Alpha only because the top variant was in our initial budget.

Then, news came in that the 2024 DZire was getting ready to be launched after the festive season. The spyshots everywhere showed that it was going to be loaded with features and was a looker from the front. We already had the old DZire in our family and most of us were of the opinion that the new DZire would be an inferior package compared to the 2011 DZire, build-wise and comfort-wise (light build, fragile moving parts, etc.). On that note, we stopped considering it and went back to tossing between the Fronx and the Baleno.

Then came the twist in the tale - one fine day, social media was flooded with reports of the new DZire's very surprising 5-star GNCAP safety rating, a first for any Maruti car. This made us reconsider the 2024 DZire. We were always impressed by the spacious, no-nonsense utility value that the sedan brought to the table. With a 5-star rating in tow and a host of new ground-breaking features inside, it suddenly became a strong contender again. The flimsy build of the Baleno added to the speculation of the Fronx sharing similar body shell traits, and our family now wanted to consider this lateral upgrade back to a new DZire over the other two Marutis.

I was given the task of checking out the new 2024 DZire as soon as it was made available. I contacted the local Maruti-Suzuki dealership on 14th November and was informed that 2 demo cars were unloaded the day before - one AMT (Blue) and one manual (Red). I was welcome to check them out. With my little Princess in tow, I went to check out the 2024 DZire in person. (details)

The experience turned out to be a very impressive one, with the new DZire showing off plenty of segment-first feel-good features which would appeal to the young and old alike in our family. Spacious cabin, superbly smooth and nicely tuned automatic box, easy to drive, all-round visibility, and a plethora of advanced user-friendly features. It ticked most of the boxes for our intended usage, and so after reporting back to my family with all details, we immediately decided to make a booking for a DZire ZXI+ AMT (AGS in Suzuki slang).

Although the ZXI variant had enough to keep us happy but we decided to go for the top variant this time. Main reason being that we had been content with mostly mid/second-top variants for our cars till now and also because we were informed that ZXI variants would be unloading only by December! Colour chosen was Splendid Silver because one was in transit from the factory and was due to land on either Monday or Tuesday, and it was free from allocation. Initially I wanted White for ease of maintenance but that would have taken at least 10 more days to deliver. At the request of my Arena Sales support Deepak, I checked out a Swift in the same Silver colour shade in the dealership yard and came back happy. The car had a bluish tinge on the silver coat which made it uniquely stand out from the rest of the cars standing around it.

One final discussion at home followed regarding the practicality and convenience of a big hatchback (Baleno) or a pseudo-crossover (Fronx) with proper & proven 4-cylinder engines, versus the newness, looks, now-certified 5 star safety and features of the compact sedan (DZire) with an (unknown) 3-pot mill. This night time debate was dominated and ultimately won by our family elders who have been ardent fans of sedans since the days of the Premier Padmini/118NE, HM Ambassador, Maruti 1000/Esteem, first-gen Honda City, the Lancer, the Cielo, the Ikon, our previous DZire, our Fiesta Classic, our current Slavia, etc. In the end, we youngins ceded and the decision was completely in favour of the 2024 DZire. The ladies were quite happy as well, since they have always opined that the "SUV" crossovers are actually made for men not women!

I was told that Maruti-Suzuki was planning a simultaneous launch on Saturday, 15th November. Delays in preparation times made the local Sky Arena dealership conduct it on the following Monday. I was invited to be the Chief Guest at the unveiling ceremony and amidst thunderous applause & celebrations, the 2024 DZire made it's bow. (details)

Never imagined a DZire to take styling cues from an Audi/VW!


Our silver DZire was the centre of all attention during the launch event.


Our silver steed had been unloaded in the morning on the same day and the dealership made us feel extremely special by positioning her under the main spotlights of the showroom floor during the event. It was under wraps as well. My little one was asked to unveil it together after the red car was officially launched. To my surprise, our silver DZire gathered more attention from the audience and the media present than the official red car. The unanimous opinion was that it looked quite premium in the Splendid Silver shade and was from a segment above!

I went back the next day to do the PDI using our Team-BHP PDI checklist and checked all paperwork, including the Form 22s. It was a late September 2024 make with 16 kms on the ODO with most parts such as the headlamps, seats and tyres made in the same month. The car had been dispatched from the factory in early November but had seen a delay in transit when the delivery truck got stuck in Nagpur. Nevertheless, all was well that ended well.





The car passed all the PDI formalities with flying colours. Very minor smudges on the car and it's windows from launch night were cleaned off efficiently. Satisfied, I gave a thumbs up to my bank to release the payment the next day. I went back on the afternoon of Wednesday, 19th November, to take delivery. Overall, it was a very special experience. The entire staff of the Sky Arena showroom, including the Service Manager, came over to unveil our car and there was a special congratulatory cake for me to cut amidst applause all around. I distributed sweets to the staff and gifted a smartwatch to my Sales Support, Deepak, who had quickly and efficiently completed all paperwork and formalities and had also finalised my choice number in a jiffy. By 5 PM in the evening, our ribbon-clad, glisteningly beautiful 2024 DZire in it's striking silver shade, rolled into our home. An amusing incident - at the petrol pump where I filled her up for the first time, the attendants had a hard time believing that it was a Maruti car, more so a DZire! Our car was the center of attention for the time it was there, with various people coming over to check it out from all sides.

My little Princess has christened it "Selene" - after the mythological Greek goddess of the Moon. Our entire family gathered at my home in the night and we welcomed our new member with a cake, confetti guns, chocolates and a long family dinner.



The dealership team from Sky Arena, including the Manager Shri Dhananjay, paid a surprise visit to our home the next day to present the key of the car + chocolates to my wife. They also met and honoured my Dad with a bouquet for his continued patronage and support to Maruti-Suzuki. Dad chatted with them for a long time, bringing up fond memories of his Esteem, my 800, our DZire, his Ritz & his Swift. One of those rare moments these days when my old man had a sparkle in his eyes while he reminisced fondly.

Full marks to Sky Arena, Jagdalpur, for going the extra mile and to make us feel super special as the first owners of the 2024 Maruti-Suzuki DZire in the entire Bastar region. A very heartwarming gesture by them.



Final breakup of onroad pricing of our 1.2L Maruti-Suzuki DZire ZXI+ AGS:-

10,14,000 - Ex-showroom
xx,10,140 - TCS
x1,04,400 - RTO Charges (10% + 3K processing fees)
xx,29,551 - Maruti-New India Insurance (IDV = 9,63,300, 1+3 years, cashless with Zero Dep & Return to Invoice addons)
xx,18,459 - Extended Warranty (3+3 years or 1,60,000 kms)
xx,x4,909 - Customer Convenience Service Package (Platinum Fuel 2 yrs/40,000 kms)
xx,xx,885 - Maruti Rewards Program
xx,xx,500 - Fastag
xx,x3,500 - MGA Underbody Anti-Rust (2 years)
xx,x5,000 - Choice number
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11,91,434 - Grand Total
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We received the new cabin mats & mudflaps for free.


Likes:-

- Finally the DZire looks "dzirable"! Looks premium from all sides.
- First Maruti-Suzuki to boast of a full 5-star GNCAP rating!
- Comprehensive list of very-useful features on offer which add to the feel-good ownership experience.
- Kerb weight has gone up by 40 kgs and the DZire no longer feels like a typical tinny Maruti "tin can". Body panels sound solid all around.
- Dual-tone interiors with faux-wood inserts give a rich feel to the occupants, aided by the spacious airiness provided by the sunroof.
- Very user-friendly ergonomics all around.
- Neatly laid out Head Unit widgets providing tons of info with excellent haptic feedback.
- Apple CarPlay & Android Auto work seamlessly.
- Wireless smartphone charging pad is a lifesaver for us.
- Sound quality from the 6-speaker setup is decent for an average listener.
- A notable feel-good feature is the (customisable) greeting when one enters the car. It changes according to the time of the day - morning, afternoon & evening.
- Generous space for the left leg to rest, since it's an AMT.
- Rear seat comfort is ample for people of medium build.
- Plenty of storage spaces provided (doors, central console, rear armrest, cubbyholes etc.)
- The AMT box is much better tuned than it's predecessors.
- Steering weighs up sufficiently from 15-20 kmph speeds with enough feedback.
- Excellent mileage for the size of the car.
- All-round visibility from the driver's seat is top notch.
- Very easy to drive within the city which makes it ideal for the elderly and the ladies alike.
- Small stature helps in easy parking anyplace, anywhere.
- Engine is surprisingly refined for a 3-pot unit. NVH levels are outstanding on the move and on idling.
- The road manners are quite sorted and the car behaves very predictably.
- Ground clearance is ample. The DZire doesn't scrape anywhere.
- Suspension works silently and most road undulations are flattened out.
- Boot space is good. On paper, 384L might seem small compared to the competition but the usable space on offer is a big thumbs up.
- Night time driving is excellent, aided in no part by the super-bright LED headlamps and LED foglamps.
- The Suzuki Connect smartphone app works very smoothly in link with the car and gives a lot of useful information, notifications and alerts.
- Extended warranty stretches to 6 years/1,60,000 kms. Good initiative by Maruti-Suzuki.

Dislikes:-

- Being a low-slung sedan, ingress and egress takes a little effort. Will be an issue for those with bad knees or leg problems.
- Build quality, although improved than previous Marutis, still feels a bit iffy (doors & boot).
- Button setup on the driver door console is ancient - our 2014 Swift had these!
- Exposed wires & bad finishing inside the boot section looks ugly!
- Sunroof feels smaller than standard-sized ones.
- Doubtful if the all-beige seats could withstand the wear and tear of daily use. Side-airbag compatible seat covers are a must.
- Effectiveness of the LED foglamps in rains or foggy conditions is yet to be checked. Yellow bulbs perform so much better (saying this from experience).
- 185-section tyres on 15-inch rims make the car seem undertyred.
- OEM Ceat tyres are strictly average.
- Steering wheel could have been a wee bit thicker.
- Those with longer legs (like me) might feel the driver footwell a bit cramped for the right leg. Only option is to rest it on the driver side console while driving.
- Missing niceties all around (driver armrest, 3rd rear headrest, full backlit buttons, non-illuminated glovebox, auto-dimming IRVM, etc) doesn't suit a car costing 12 big ones.
- Automatic Climate Control doesn't have a Max Cool feature. Starts from 18°C.
- Headroom at the rear is minimal for tall passengers.
- Fixed rear seat does not fold forward, not even in a 60:40 ratio.
- Head/body nods are prominently felt during the first 2-3 gearshifts specially if one is driving with a hard foot.
- NVH levels at cranking up could be annoying for those who are not accustomed to 3-potter mills under the hood.
- Thin windows can't hide the outside sounds fully. Some noise filters into the cabin at all times.
- Steering feedback could feel heavy to those used to the ultra-light/toyish steerings in most modern day cars.
- The auto start-stop function is not suited for sudden take offs.
- Night driving could be painful to those used to driving SUVs or crossovers, due to the lights of the incoming traffic.
- Tail light design is best suited for hatchbacks such as the Nios. Has no place on a sedan which has been perciviably taken upmarket.
- Spare wheel is a lower 165/80/R14 steel unit. Maruti should have given a full-sized one.


My friends and relatives have remarked more than once that she resembles the Audi A4 to the T, while my little one likened it to the iconic 007 Aston Martin DB5 in silver shade. The DZire doesn't look disproportionate at all in it's 2024 avatar, a far removal from the "Swift (boot-pasted) DZire" designs of yore. Also, no questions on occupant safety now with the DZire boasting of a 5-star GNCAP crash test rating with enhanced safety features such as 6 airbags, ISOFIX mounts, 3-point seatbelts for all, Electronic Stability Program, Hill Hold Assist and ABS with EBD built-in. Overall build quality is decent for the segment and the DZire doesn't feel like a compromised product anymore.

Fit and finish is par for the course, with the silver shade's paint finish adding it's own persona on the contours of the car. Panel gaps are for the most part consistent, except for the ends of the bonnet above the headlamps and the boot lid. Surprisingly, the 2024 DZire's engine section comes with an engine guard, which was missing previously. Good of Maruti-Suzuki to add this. The underside of the bonnet is equipped with an insulation pad which keeps the NVH levels down. You forget that it's a 3-pot under the hood once the Z-series engine settles down into a very low thrum. Wheel wells are equipped with insulation pads all around to keep the NVH levels further in check.

Some very premium and first-in-segment features such as 360-degree cameras, 6-LED auto headlamp setup with LED DRLs & LED foglamps, smart trunk opening, a 9" Smartplay Pro+ HU system, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging pad, Suzuki Connect tech, 6 airbags, ESP & Hill Hold Assist, TPMS, automatic climate control, cruise control, rear AC vents, a sunroof - all of these add to the feeling of driving an upmarket, premium offering compared to the previous-gens.

The user-friendliness is evident by the HU subtly curved towards the driver, a multi-information displaywhich shows tons of useful info, easily legible twin dials with a temperature gauge, central console buttons & gear lever which are placed within reach, and a steering wheel which is just the right size to hold and maneuver. It's a spacious 4+1 seater with good legroom and shoulder room all around. Also, headroom & legroom for the front occupants is plentiful. The first thing you experience when you start the car is the personalised greeting depending upon the time of day - good morning (before 12 PM)/good afternoon (after 12 PM) or good evening (after 6 PM) together with your name (can be customised from the HU settings).

On the flip side, the doors and the boot lid are still pretty thin. Same goes for the window glasses. Even though it's feature-loaded, the 2024 DZire misses out on an auto-dimming IRVM, a front armrest, a 3rd (center) headrest for the rear seat, padding for the trunk lid and auto map lights. Maruti-Suzuki should have provided some of these. The rear look doesn't match the sleekness of the front and the sides, with the rear tail light sections sticking out. The design motif is borrowed from the JK tyres logo and various other cars' rear light setting such as the Nios, the XUV700 and some Tata cars (Punch, Nexon anyone?), with the original inspiration from the Lamborghinis of 2 decades back. A horizontally stacked lighting setup such as the one on the previous-gen Verna/i20 would have done wonders and would have added to that overall Audi-esque look.

On the inside, the seat fabric doesn't seem like it can withstand rough use. The quality of the hard plastics used is semi-decent, although there are places such as the dash portion in front which seems too busy with plenty of design elements coming together (faux wood, silver brush, black section, beige section & blacked top) in a non-cohesive manner. Doorpads have only the driver door window button lit up ("Auto"). The 9-inch head unit is covered by thick bezels on all sides which makes it look bigger than it actually is. One more observation of note - the map lights don't come with an auto-lighting feature when the doors are opened. Only the rear reading lights get the theater-dimming & shut off feature when the car is locked, and lighting back up when the car is unlocked. Good thing here is that with the map lights on, you cannot lock your car from the outside. It refuses to lock and reminds the user with a long beep that the map lights need to be shut out.

Our official Team-BHP review has already covered the main points of the 2024 DZire. This close look is just a humble effort from an user to highlight a few good & bad observations and aspects of the ZXI+ AGS variant:-


Maruti-Audi, anyone? Shut lines are, for the most part, consistent.
6-LED headlamp setup is a segment-first!


Front camera just below the Suzuki logo.
Twin horns behind the top part of the front grille.


Design lines flow into the rear tail lamp sections.
Doors feel typical Maruti but close with soft thuds.


Comparing side by side with our Nios.
For once, a Maruti seems to be winning the looks race over a Hyundai!


Precision-cut dual tone alloys are looking fab, IMO.
185/65/R15 Ceat SecuraDrives - better rubber highly recommended.


Wheel well has adequate insulation inside.


A stand-out feature is the 360-degree cameras all around!


The "Aero" boot lid spoiler adds a sporty character to the rear.
No badging anywhere on the car except the "DZIRE" on the left.


3D "Trinity" LED tail lamps look out of place on a sedan, IMO.
Needed flatter, longer units similar to the previous-gen Verna/i20.


The tri-motif rear lights which we have come to associate with so many modern cars & SUVs.


Regularly-sized sunroof is useful. Keeps the cabin feeling airy and bright.


Wiper jets are neatly hidden behind the bonnet line.


Boot is spacious but could have benefitted from shorter wheel-well intrusions. Rear seat is bolted tight!


Trunk lid is typical Maruti - thin and doesn't seem sturdy at all.
Exposed wires running all around!


Upper part inside the boot area has a boot light.
Maruti-Suzuki should have done better with the finish!


Right side of the boot has a partial covering with an exposed wire stretching out of it!


Same area on the left side is covered better.


A peek at the underbody. The torsion beam suspension works silently and the car hasn't bottomed out anywhere yet.


Bonnet is covered with an insulation cover which does it's job very well.


Engine bay looks cluttered at first glance. An engine cover is missed.
Firewall insulation is adequate and covers the entire width of the bay.


Smaller 38Ah battery provided. Hope it takes the load for the long run.


A single large fan keeps things cool inside the bay.


A pleasant surprise - underbody engine guard provided by Maruti!

[RavenAvi]

The addition of white side beams on both sides of the engine bay here, just above & behind the headlamp sections, have enhanced structural strength and aid in absorbing frontal impact.


The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts, like the saying goes.










Driver door houses a tweeter and a speaker. Space for a 1 liter bottle is provided.


Driver door controls are ancient by today's standards!


Driver side dashboard has the Start/Stop button on the outside. Fouls with the knees of taller drivers on ingress.
Auto Start/Stop is best kept OFF.


Dead pedal is usable and there's plenty of space for the left leg to freely take a vacation.


No middle setting for the map lights (auto on/off on engine shutdown/startup or door open/close).
Sunroof controls need to be kept pressed for opening/closing.


Manual day-night IRVM's view is hindered by it's compact size and the tall headrests.


Excellent 9-inch multi-information Head Unit gives out plenty of information. (more detailed look below)
Trapezoidal AC vents are very effective.


Automatic Climate Control works flawlessly. "LO" is at 18 degrees.
Switches feel sturdy and seem like they will last the distance.


Lower part of the central console has an USB slot, a 12V socket and a Qi branded wireless smartphone charging pad.
Two cupholders add to the in-cabin storage space just behind it.


The AGS unit - as smooth as an AMT can ever be.


Rear AC vents console has twin fast-charging USB ports on top - one is Type-A while other is Type-C.


Passenger side sunvisor houses a vanity mirror. No lights, nor an extender provided.
Driver side sunvisor gets a parking ticket strip.


Mish-mash of 5 different black-beige-silver-faux wood design elements make the dash look unnecessarily busy.


Glovebox is fairly sized but is neither illuminated nor cooled.


A sunroof keeps the cabin bright and airy during the day. Comes with a manual lid.


Tall headrests in front seats provide excellent support.


Front headrests have 4 grooves for height adjustment.


Curtain airbags (on the pillars) and side airbags (on the seats) flank the non-adjustable front seatbelts.


Rear seat sadly misses out on a 3rd headrest for the middle passenger, although it comes with an armrest with 2 cupholders & ISOFIX mounts.


For a tall guy (6'0") like me, headroom at the rear is minimal.
Plenty of legroom and shoulder room on offer.


Seat fabric doesn't seem like it will last long. Seat covers are a must for the DZire!


6-way manually adjustable driver's seat. Lacks lumbar support.


Steering wheel with thumb contours. Needs better grip.
Left side has the media & telephony controls, while the right houses the cruise control buttons.


Auto headlamp option provided on the right stalk. Left side has the wiper controls.

[RavenAvi]

Analogue meters when lit up blossom into their old school charm.
Another reminder of the bygone era - those ugly speedometer stalks on either side!


Default MID screens which can be accessed by pressing the right stalk once repeatedly.


Keep the right stalk pressed for 3-4 seconds to access the hidden Settings menu in the MID.


You can change various settings for Door Locking/Unlocking, Lighting, AntiTheft Shock Sensors, Auto Start/Stop ACC, TPMS, Parking Sensor Modes, Distance/Temperature/Calendar & Fuel Economy Settings, Animation, System Languages, in-cabin ambience according to exterior colour shades & system sounds.


Cabin at night. Buttons are backlit in light red hue.


Ambience lighting is bright and satisfactory.


Central console lit up at night.


Wireless Apple CarPlay in action.


Default Head Unit infotainment screen and it's widgets.


Dashboard widget shows mileage details.


Details of individual trips with mileage.


TPMS - readings come on quickly as soon as the car starts moving.


Alerts & Warnings section.


Media playback screen. The HU had no problems reading quickly from my 32GB USB drive, unlike the AdrenoX system in my XUV700.


Media playback settings.


Comes with 3 Surround Sense presets.


Equalizer presets on offer.


Pairing your smartphones is a cinch.


360-degree camera display has plenty of red in the foreground/background! Noticed this in the demo car too.
Not sure of the reason behind this overdose of red - need to get it checked.


Suzuki Connect smartphone app comes with a 3 year subscription.


For those constantly on the move, there's plenty of notifications to run through.


The front lights - just DRLs and foglamps.


The throw.


Low beam (outer 4 LEDs) on.


Close look.


Throw from the lows + foglamps + DRLs. Excellent.


High beam (outer 4 + inner 2 LEDs) on.


Closer look.


Throw from the highs + lows + foglamps + DRLs. Fantastic!


LED tail lamps lit up.



We have driven over 200 kms till now, with our DZire performing daily city commuting duties admirably. Not sure what Maruti-Suzuki has changed in the tuning of this AGS unit but the response has improved a lot and is now comparable to the Hyundai AMTs. If one can live with slight head/body nods during the first 2-3 shifts, it is actually quite decent. The DZire rolls at 5 kmph speeds in D mode once the brake pedal is released, without any throttle input. It picks up speed smoothly, the gentle body nods reminding you that a CVT or a TC would have done wonders to seamless acceleration. You are reminded of the steering's heavy response at 40ish speeds, which is markedly different from my XUV700's & our Nios's steering responses which are super-light in comparison. Steering feedback feels artificial, though you have a good idea of the kind of surfaces your tyres are going over.

In daily usage, we are constantly ticking over 15kmpl inside the city, be it short runs or longer. The Z-series is inherently tuned for fuel efficiency but has a touch of sportiness when revved hard. I have driven at 80ish speeds and the car is completely stable without losing it's poise. Also, you will be hard-pressed to figure out from inside the cabin whether the engine is running or not after a trip is completed. It's a perfect point A to point B commuter and does it's job in a relaxed manner.

Frontal and side visibility is good from the driver's seat. Rear visibility is hampered by the tall headrests and the limited vision shown by the IRVM, though the ORVMs do their job. At nights, the throw from the LED headlights is good for both low-beam (outer 4 LEDs) and high-beam (inner 2) and the DZire doesn't disappoint in this regard. Night drivers might be troubled from incoming nuisance traffic who drive in high beam on undivided roads because the DZire sits low and one's eyes are on the same level as that of an incoming SUV's high beam. The rearward visibility from a distance is also good, due to very good all-round LED lighting. Braking is excellent and the DZire sheds speeds and stops predictably without any nasty surprises. The dual horn setup is quite shrill and does it's job when weaving through traffic.

The OEM Ceat tyres thud when going over sharp breakers as if they are over-inflated, even when the TPMS clarifies it's at 29PSI. Tyre noise is also prominently felt when driving with the windows down. Grip is average. The perfect upgrade for the OEM tyres would be 195-section R16 Michelins or Yokohamas which would make the overall ride quality more sorted, pliant and silent. The steering wheel is thinner than usual and has slipped between my fingers more than once when making a C-turn or an U-turn. I am thinking of getting a steering cover fitted over the leather, just so the thickness (and grip) can improve.

And, a word about the auto-start stop feature - the engine takes a moment to start back up and the car starts moving another moment later, which could cause annoyance to the traffic behind you when the lights turn green from red. This feature is best kept disabled before you start driving.

On smooth tarmac, the feel of driving a sedan is something which every driving enthusiast will love. In the Indian automotive market today where every other car is a jacked-up SUV/crossover wannabe, the 2024 DZire brings back the euphoric nostalgia and love of driving from the good old days. This feeling cannot be experienced or replicated in any contemporary SUV/crossover of any size, shape or make. Don't get me wrong - I love my XUV700 to bits, but there's something about the 2024 DZire which will make you pick up her keys first thing in the morning and have a short roundabout before you hop into your favourite SUV/crossover and go about the rest of your daily routine.

Maruti-Suzuki has finally made the DZire "dzirable" (pun intended). Finally a car from their stable which makes you look back at her with some admiration when you step out and walk away. Combine this with the highest safety badge ever earned by a Maruti, excellent mileage, very friendly user ergonomics, sorted road manners, good ride quality and above all, Maruti's nationwide service network and you have pretty much an unbeatable option in the 9-10 lakh range.

As for us, we are glad we have come home in a Maruti-Suzuki.

Again.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[fhdowntheline]

I would echo a lot of the feedback from @RavenAvi in my Swift AT which is 3600km old now.
1) The AMT is well tuned for economy and "decent" performance.
2) The steering is (oddly) heavy at parking and city speed compared to say, my Verna , and is adequately weighted up at highway speeds. The car feels quite well planted in the 80-100 kph regime.
3) The 3 pot motor is not as intrusive as feared by many during steady speeds and it has a raspy, sporty note during in-gear acceleration.

I think overall, MSIL has a great winner duo on its hands, hatch or sedan, take your pick.

[Maverick Avi]

Thanks for such a detailed review!! I have owned a Dzire in 2010 and had tears in my eyes when it was exchanged.

I have nothing to complain about my 2019 Wagon R 1.2 AMT and hearing that the current AMT version in Dzire is even better comes as a great surprise. AMT is usually abhorred by people who are used to traditional autoboxes. Otherwise it's a great convenience which far outweighs the negatives.

NVH being mentioned as outstanding is another big plus. Was not expecting Maruti to focus on it much but seems like they have really did their homework this time. Overall a great facelift that should help the volumes go up atleast initially. Personally I don't think this segment is going to do well as pseudo SUVs are available at same price and people are definitely biased towards them. I haven't seen a single new Dzire yet in Delhi which is an indicator that up north this segment is not generating much interest.

Hope you enjoy your new aquisition and keep on updating this thread with new findings as you keep clocking miles!

[Carma2017]

This is how I would want every Official Car review to sound. It takes me back to the T-BHP reviews of yore for which I used to wait. The T-BHP reviews would inevitably be the last ones but would be personalised in its tone and detailed in its presentation. Super, super Job @RavenAvi. I wish Mods would take notice and take pointers from the above for the official reviews. Today's reviews feel too mechanical and have a pre-formatted Assembly line feeling.

Coming back to the Car, I heard that Suzuki is working on ADAS versions as well. I believe that ala TATA, they will also come up with CNG+AMT versions as well.

[peddagunda]

Congratulations on the purchase. I wish you many kilometres in it—a few questions from my side.

How is the AMT tuned? (Does it hold the gears in high rpms or does it shift at the 1st chance it gets)
What happens when you floor the accelerator? (WagonR AMT downshifts from 4th to 2nd and that gives passengers some scare due to engine sound)

[SithDefender]

Originally Posted by RavenAvi

The dealership team from Sky Arena, including the Manager Shri Dhananjay, paid a surprise visit to our home the next day to present the key of the car + chocolates to my wife. They also met and honoured my Dad with a bouquet for his continued patronage and support to Maruti-Suzuki.

Little things like this ensures customer loyalty and goes a long way. Exemplary behavior from Maruti; other brands should take notes on this.

Congrats on your purchase - "Selene" the Maruti Audi looks sweet indeed !

[SR5471]

Excellent detailed review. Congratulations. May you have many safe and happy drives.

[VNair]

Brilliant report. I was a anti-Maruti all through my life except for few of my favorites (old 800, Old Zen, Esteem etc.) to a point that any MSIL manufactured car wouldn't even be considered when I am shopping out for a new road partner.

After Fronx and the new D-zire, my opinion is changing for good. They are finally serious about the customers as a whole and not just concentrating on the 'Kitna deti hai' club.

Very happy to see that they have pumped up the game and are now serious about the safety, features, 'feel-good-factor' etc.

Still, why so skinny tyres?

[RaghuVis]

Congratulations, Avinash Sir. Your unbiased yet informative report will become the go-to page for anyone looking to buy the new 2024 Dzire -- And there will be a lot of them for sure. It is very typical in team-bhp that MSIL reviews are often not viewed or commented on much (except S-cross and Jimny). I feel this review is going to change that trend for a mass car.

Coming to the car, I think MSIL has hit it out of the park this time. With your feedback on Improved AMT performance, even putting in the same league as Hyundai AMT is a huge improvement that will convert even more people into Dzire. It is a blockbuster written all over it. I hope they replicate this in Swift, Baleno and Fronx soon.

[RavenAvi]

Thank you so much, guys.

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

The steering is (oddly) heavy at parking and city speed compared to say, my Verna , and is adequately weighted up at highway speeds. The car feels quite well planted in the 80-100 kph regime.

Yes, it's heavy but I felt it's weighed up artificially. Returning to center action is prompt. Some feedback is given to the driver, unlike most Hyundais or Mahindras.

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

The 3 pot motor is not as intrusive as feared by many during steady speeds and it has a raspy, sporty note during in-gear acceleration.

The startup note of the Z-series reminded me of the Zest 1.2 Revotron. For those who are not into technical details, they will be hard-pressed to make out if it's a 3-cylinder mill or a 4-cylinder. Smoothness at idling is exemplary.

Originally Posted by Maverick Avi

I have nothing to complain about my 2019 Wagon R 1.2 AMT and hearing that the current AMT version in Dzire is even better comes as a great surprise. AMT is usually abhorred by people who are used to traditional autoboxes. Otherwise it's a great convenience which far outweighs the negatives.

+1. The simple convenience of the AMT will be appreciated by the masses, which is the target market of the DZire. I would still say that a CVT would have benefitted it more. Maruti-Suzuki has a CVT in it's arsenal which was offered in the previous-gen Baleno. Buttery smooth in operation, reasonably fuel-efficient and with a Sport mode too. Not sure why they have scratched it out of their present lineups.

Originally Posted by Maverick Avi

Personally I don't think this segment is going to do well as pseudo SUVs are available at same price and people are definitely biased towards them. I haven't seen a single new Dzire yet in Delhi which is an indicator that up north this segment is not generating much interest.

Between pseudo-"SUV" crossovers and sub-mini compact SUVs, this compact sedan segment is single-handedly powered by the DZire. It's a pity that the "SUV" craze has grown so much in our country that people are willing to overlook more competent, VFM offerings for overpriced "SUVs". The sedans are still the best riding cars on the roads, IMO, in terms of comfort and ride quality.

Originally Posted by peddagunda

How is the AMT tuned? (Does it hold the gears in high rpms or does it shift at the 1st chance it gets)
What happens when you floor the accelerator? (WagonR AMT downshifts from 4th to 2nd and that gives passengers some scare due to engine sound)

It holds the 2nd gear for a bit before moving into 3rd. Will get back with the exact RPM reading. Rest is smooth shifting.

Have floored it once and the downshift happened from 4th to 3rd. It wasn't a huge RPM jump and engine sounded pleasant enough, without any extra load.

Originally Posted by VNair

Still, why so skinny tyres?

Beats me. The DZire basically demands tyres from a size above - a set of 16 inchers. Any enthusiast or car lover will immediately upgrade to 195/16 sections as soon as they take delivery. I am contemplating the same, too.


Some more finds:-

Modes for the 360-degree camera system - Settings, Display, Playback 360-degree view and Internal view.
Slot into "R" or press the camera button on the driver side, beside the Start/Stop button, without starting the car.


All settings can be accessed from touching the first icon on the screen above.


Maruti-Suzuki's version of the "sidewatch" camera shows the obstacle and a guideline showing the distance from it (in this case, our boundary wall).
No "lanewatch" behind view for this left ORVM mounted camera ala the 2024 Honda Amaze, unfortunately. Maybe a future update?


Both ORVM side cameras in tandem for dual sidewatching!


Customisable "Favourite" icon options.



Voice commands are for 6 menus - Phone, Radio, Media, Vehicle Control, Smartphone Connectivity & Settings.


Voice commands for the Settings menu.






Software version. Has an option for..


..Over-the-air (OTA) updation!

[Aditya]

Exceptional, unbiased & detailed ownership reviews of cars have started going to our homepage reviews box. It's the ultimate stamp of trust from Team-BHP (as a platform) because lakhs of visitors every month check out reviews from there & make purchase decisions.

Your review has also gone here. Thank you so much for sharing .

[NPV]

@Ravenavi - Congratulations on the new acquisition and thanks for sharing a wonderful review with the customary Raven’s eye for detail that we’re now accustomed to and expect every single time!

Wishing you endless miles with the 5 star Dzire with lots of smiles

Brings back lot of nostalgic memories for me having owned a Dzire VXI from Jan 2009 up until June 2023, just 6 months short of 15 years. That car didn’t have the 5 star rating (not sure it would have even achieved a 3 star if tested!) but we just loved it and it took us to so many places safely and helped creat so many wonderful memories to cherish, covering almost 1.25 Lakh Km till we sold it.

Glad that Maruti Suzuki finally built a 5 star crash rated car.