DZire-benchmark for Diesel entry level Sedans

Exterior: Most people cringe at the first sight of the Dzire, but there is more to the car than meets the eye. Once you show them the humongous boot, the acceptance is better. From the rear 3-quarters. it is not a bad looking car at all.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Get inside the drivers seat and one will be at once comfortable with the seat position, the view, the gearshift etc. The interior fit and finish is generally blemish-free. The rear seat is very comfortable for 2 adults, but 3 medium sized people is not a big squeeze. The various controls are easy to reach, although electric mirror adjustment would help. Airconditioning and audio system are quite adequate for daily needs. The boot is massive and can (if filled intelligently) swallow lot of space. In fact, a well filled trunk also contributes to the stability on long journeys, as I discovered recently.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox The engine is very well refined for a diesel, and first-timers are often hardpressed to confirm if it is petrol or a diesel. The gearshift is very precise, except that the reverse gear sometimes doesnt 'slot-in' perfectly. 2200rpm to 3000 rpm is the golden band for the car, and it feels like a jet on a take off run.One actually needs to be careful not to rev the car too quickly because it can shoot past 80kph in fourth gear, and the turbo can be very addictive-so need to be careful in the city areas. Fuel economy is around19 to 20 kmpl.

Ride Quality & Handling The car is best driven sedately, and the steering gives a rather instantaneous feedback, which may not be ideal at high speeds. This is not very well supported by the 165/80 tyres on the L& V versions. The car has a tendency to oscillate upon sudden braking . This tendency reduces considerably if it is well occupied with luggage.

 Braking is quite sharp.

Final Words

May not be the best looking car, but is the most practical, VFM entry level sedan. There is no compromise on performance, space is adequate for a family of 4 (or Parents+Grandparents+1 kid), Boot is , well designed for the Indian family. In other words, the perfect family sedan.

 

Areas of improvement  

 Tyres could be upsized

 

Performance, fuel economy,boot space, driving comfort, troublefreerear oscillations at high speed, grip levels at cornering