Maruti Suzuki has finally launched the 2018 Ciaz in India. It’s a major update for the sedan since its launch in 2014 and sees it get a new petrol engine, updated design and some new bits in the cabin. It’s the car that has finally brought stability to the Japanese automaker in this part of the market. Here then are the highs and lows of buying one.
What’s good about it?
The new Ciaz now gets a hybrid petrol engine that’s been fitted with a lithium-ion battery for better energy harvesting and usage. Call it, if you will, our first major step towards getting hybrid technology cars in India. This car now also gets a really comprehensive feature list across the range making it a good prospect no matter which variant you look at.
What’s not so good?
While other manufacturers have begun to offer six airbags on the top-of-the-line models, the Ciaz still only has dual front airbags across the range. There is also no diesel AT option whereas Hyundai, Volkswagen and Skoda offer them in their models. Honda is expected to join in soon as it too has introduced a diesel CVT option for the Amaze and this is expected to find its way to the City soon.
Best variant to buy?
Alpha across both petrol and diesel
Specifications
Petrol- 1.5-litre- 103bhp/138Nm- 5MT/4AT
Diesel- 1.3-litre- 90bhp/190Nm- 5MT
Did you know?
The Ciaz is also sold as the Suzuki Alivio in China albeit with a larger engine and some changes very specific to the Chinese market.
