Maruti Suzuki’s much anticipated Dzire compact sedan is set to enter into its third generation in India. The country’s favorite compact sedan sells more than 15,000 units per month on an average, which shows how important the new Dzire is for the carmaker and the masses alike. Now the new generation Dzire is set to be launched in India on the 16th of May in India and has been officially revealed in the capital city.
The all-new Dzire is based on the fifth-generation B-platform called Heartect that also underpins the new-generation Swift, which will debut in India only next year. This platform is lighter because of the use of high tensile steel.
Upfront the fascia resembles the new-gen Swift. The only changes here are the reworked bumper and grille which now houses horizontal slats with dash of chrome, instead of mesh grille. The difference from the hatchback becomes evident beyond the A-pillar.
The compact sedan measures 3995mm in length, 1515mm height and 1735mm wide. The roofline is now more ‘sedan-like’ and so is the boot. The rear doors are larger, but the overall profile of the new Dzire looks quite well proportioned.
The redesigned headlamps now feature LED projector units and DRLs. The taillights have LED element in them. The large chrome garnish on the boot and the spoiler are reminiscent of the current car but the rear bumper is all new.
The wheelbase is increased by 20mm, thus freeing up extra legroom. The boot space has been increased to a whopping 376 litres from the earlier 316-litre capacity. The newly designed 15-inch alloy wheels complement the new car very well.
Step inside and the fresh cabin is done in beige upholstery with highlights in wood. The instrument cluster gets a multi-information display, and the steering wheel is almost flat-bottomed and has wooden inserts on it as well.
The dashboard is dominated by a touchscreen infotainment system and comes with Smartphone Linkage Display Audio (SLDA). The gear knob is more upmarket, while the rear AC vents along with a 12V power supply are a welcome addition.
The new 2017 Dzire will continue with the tried and tested powertrains of the current car. The two engine options are – the 83bhp 1.2-litre K-series petrol engine and the 74bhp 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine.
Both engines will be mated to a five-speed manual transmission or can be opted with AMT in both petrol and diesel. Safety wise, the dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX mounts will be a standard fitment across all variants of the car.
Though the Dzire is already a segment leader, it gets more upmarket now. The new generation Dzire strengthens its position against it adversaries like the Honda Amaze, Ford Aspire, Volkswagen Ameo and Hyundai Xcent.