Maruti Suzuki Dzire vs Maruti Suzuki Ciaz

In a bid to give our prospective Maruti Suzuki Dzire buyers a wider perspective of what’s in store for them within the Maruti portfolio, we decided to pit this compact saloon against the likes of the much larger Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. Now, the top-end Dzire ZDi Plus AMT variant that retails for Rs 9.4 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi) just inches past the price tag of the Ciaz Zeta diesel manual variant that costs Rs 8.96 lakh. Let’s compare these cars to give you a better idea of what you’re getting for your money. 

Let’s begin with the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. The Dzire ZDI Plus AMT gets features like dual front airbags with ABS and EBD, auto climate control, multi-information display, power windows with driver’s auto down, electric folding wing mirrors, rear AC vents and a height adjustable driver’s seat. You also get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, touchscreen infotainment screen with navigation, Android Auto and Apple Car Play, push-button start, rear defogger, front fog lamps, auto LED projector headlamps with DRLs, reverse parking sensors with camera and 15 inch precision-cut alloy wheels.

The Ciaz Zeta however, does not get the leather wrapped steering wheel and the touchscreen with navigation and voice command. However, it does get a regular audio system with CD, AUX, USB and Bluetooth compatibility. Moreover, there are a few features that are exclusive to the Ciaz Zeta, like the leather-fabric combo seat upholstery, a front centre arm-rest, rear sunshade, footwell lamps, a sunglass holder and auto-dimming IRVM with camera display. But these extras aren’t deal breakers. 

We shall now talk about the specs of both these cars. While the Dzire’s diesel 1.3-litre motor makes 74bhp and 190Nm of torque, the Ciaz’s motor is tuned to make a higher 89bhp and 200Nm of torque. As the Ciaz is a larger car and heavier by 190kg, the extra horses come handy in keeping this saloon as peppy as the Dzire, if not more. The real differentiator would be that the Dzire gets a five-speed AMT gearbox which makes for a lot more easier drive, in comparison to the Ciaz’s five-speeder manual. This brings us to the interior space of both the cars. Thanks to the extra length (495mm) and wheelbase (200mm) of the Ciaz, there’s substantially more legroom at both ends, and overall the Ciaz’s cabin feels decidedly more airy. Even the 510-litre boot space of the Ciaz dwarfs the Dzire’s 378-litres. 

Now let’s put two and two together. The Dzire ZDi Plus in question gets an AMT gearbox unlike the Ciaz and makes driving much easier. It also gets a leather-wrapped steering and a touchscreen infotainment system over the Ciaz. On the other hand, the Ciaz misses these two features but adds a few others. It also benefits from a more powerful engine and larger dimensions that make it more spacious for passengers. Also, don’t forget that the Ciaz Zeta diesel costs Rs 44,000 less than the Dzire ZDi Plus AMT. Now, unless you really want the Dzire’s AMT gearbox and touchscreen infotainment system, the Ciaz clearly has an upper hand and is definitely our pick of the two.