Suzuki is on a roll with new product launches and this month it is the turn of their AB sedan segment marker leader, the Dzire, which is India’s best selling sedan.
After 11 years on our market we are getting a new body, new engine, new platform – the new Dzire sub-compact from Suzuki is geared up to obliterate the opposition. Not only is the pricing really sharp, but specification on the GL+ is excellent and in addition rear leg room is good and the boot is big, for the AB segment of the market.
For the launch we drove a long loop from Rosebank south of Johannesburg and back to the Digital Dome at Wits going via the old women’s prison at Constitution Hill for lunch. A good mix of city traffic and open road. Undoubtedly the Dzire will make an excellent small company car, as the boot just gives one more security for bags and other high value articles.
This new Dzire is very good looking from all angles, even a little sporty – especially at the back.
The interior has been upgraded and offers all the essential items, even power points and a vent for the rear. Two things which I don’t like much is the 7” touchscreen in a housing big enough for a 9” screen and the light upholstery, but both highly subjective. Still, a pleasant cabin with comfortable seats and a feeling of space. The GL+ varient has cruise control, reverse camera and a digital airconditioner.
The boot is in fact 100L bigger than that of the Swift.
This little sedan has the same Z12E three-cylinder turbo mill and gearboxes as the Swift. Suzuki claims a fuel consumption of 4.4L/100km but I think 5 or just above 5 is more realistic. I would say there is adequate power but performance is not that sprightly.
The only issues I found were the very light cream interior upholstery and at altitude the engine is working hard, requiring a lot of gear changing. At the coast this is not an issue.
The Dzire is built in India for the sub-continent and surrounding markets, which means that their tastes in upholstery and specification is not always 100% the same as ours. Unfortunately, we are such a small market that it is not always possible to supply us with our first choice and as a result we have the very light upholstery for the moment. If sales justify it, they will supply a more suitable colour for our market. In the showroom the light interior gives an impression of lightness and space so it might just appeal to private buyers. The specification of our version differs quite a bit from the Indian home market. Styling is more restrained with less use of chrome for our cars. We get a CVT instead of their AMT, we lose the leather steering wheel, sunroof, 360 camera, wireless charging and get a more basic infotainment system. We still get all the basics with cruise control, automatic climate control with rear AC vents, and a multi-info display. Crucially, six airbags, ESC, rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX mounts are standard across the range.
The new Dzire enjoys a five-star adult and four-star child occupant protection Indian Ncap rating. It indeed has all the safety kit one would expect.
The direct competition is the Honda Amaze, Hyundai Grand i10 and Kia Pegas, but all are more expensive, being R25 000 to R50 000 more. VW’s Polo sedan is a R100 000 more.
The base GA 5MT is R224 900, the GL+ 5MT R246 900 and the CVT version R266 900. I would recommend the CVT model.
Dzire has a 5-year/200,000km promotional warranty and includes a 4-year/60,000km service plan.
At the Constitution Hill museum.
The Dzire fits right in, in the suburbs too.
