The Dzire Pit Stop

Looks : A lot has already been said about it’s ugly looks. I stand by it. If swift looked ugly, the Dzie takes the game further up ahead. It’s hideous. The front is typical swift, with the change in the grill design. I liked the rear though. IMO, the saving grace is the rear. The lesser said about the side view, the better. For a guy like me, where function rules over form, it doesn’t matter. VFM matters to me, looks come secondary.

Interior : The dash looks pretty bland. Cost cutting is evident though not in-your-face. Inconsistent panel gaps though present is missed by the casual eye, though a keen observer can make out in an instant. Glove box is pretty small and can hold only minimal things. The storage below the AC controls is adequate. No storage space at the driver’s end, no provision to hold sun glasses/ spectacles. The sun visor has two degrees of freedom, they can open downwards and side wards- a very useful provision. The driver side visor has provision to hold tickets. Handle bars for support at top are spring loaded, they retract as you let go. The front lights are push-to- activate, different from switch types- a welcome change from the convectional style. Rear lights are convectional though. Cigarette lighter is very useful. The front doors do have provision to hold items though a coin holder is sorely missed. I keep the coins in the ash tray or the cup holders, more convenient to reach. Rear doors have only bottle holders. Front seats are comfortable and provide good support for the body. The rear can seat three lean adults comfortably. With hefty people, only two adults and a 6-7 year old is best fit. The absence of rear bottle holder (behind the hand brake is a boon, present only in ZDI.), Leg room is decent, though nothing to write home about. With the driver seat pushed back completely, its tad difficult for me to sit ( I am 5’9 ft). Centre arm rest has no cup holders. Rear visibility at best is poor. Stereo system is decent ( I am no audio buff), no plans to upgrade. Outside rear view mirror’s view is good, it is difficult to judge/gauge using left ORVM though. Noise insulation is good though not excellent. With all the windows rolled up, you still can hear the Fiat MJD grunt. Horn is heard very loudly inside. Is there any way I can reduce this?
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Ride Comfort : Since I have not driven any car ( this being my first), I won’t be able compare the ride quality with its competitors. All the view I present are in regard to this car only.

Most of the driving is done by my uncle and I am handed over the wheels only at isolated/ minimal traffic areas. Of the 400 odd km run ( as on 07/02/2010) I have driven around 60 kms. I have enjoyed every bit of it. Power steering is a boon, maneuvering is effortless. Gear box is butter smooth, engaging reverse gear is tad difficult, firm push is required. Body roll is evident, though not very much. Overtaking is a breeze, thanks to the turbo. Within seconds, the vehicle parallel to you is now getting tiny in your RVM. The first time I was handed the steering, everyone were screaming, mom and aunt asking me to reduce speed, uncle pointing to the tachometer and me after experiencing the turbo surge. I make it a point to drive at 2000 rpm to get the turbo kick. There is remarkable difference in the ride quality in front and rear seats. The front is really comfy whereas the rear gets bumpier. A higher tire pressure makes it horrible at the rear.

Cheers :

No prizes for guessing, the turbo of course.
Acclaimed fuel efficient Fiat MJD.
Torque.
Boot- its humongous, it can eat lots of luggage. Enough for a three week trip.
Neatly placed controls. Easily accessible.
Easy to read console. Also the pale white light for the console is pleasing to view at night, doesn’t irritate your eyes.
Fantastic ergonomics at the driver’s seat. My uncle drove for 3 hours straight and said it’s super comfortable.
Maruti’s famed A.S.S.
Diesel Economy.

Sneers :

Overall fit and finish is average.
Lousy stock tires.
Average music system.
Plain and boring dash.
Limited rear visibility.
Poor man’s sedan image. (For god’s sake, I have paid INR 7 lakh, provide me a decent looking car)
Waiting period of 3 months is a turn off.
The interiors leave a lot to be desired.

VFM, Fiat MJD, Diesel Economy, Maruti A.S.SLooks, long waiting period