Maruti Swift Dzire: In India’s dearer automobile market the Maruti Swift Dzire has so far proven its mettle to be a winner in small sedan category.
Based on Swift hatchback but with extra boot space and premium tweaks, the Dzire has established itself as a reliable, family-friendly sedan.
It is appealing to people who want comfort, reliability, fuel economy and relatively low ownership costs, all in a well-composed package.
Design: Familiar Yet Upgraded
The Dzire doesn’t scream ‘look at me’, but it sports a neat and mature look. Its nose offers a large grille, elegant headlamps, and subtle applications of chrome for a premium appeal.
The form is soft rounded curvy rather than harsh edgy, and this makes the body appeal to a wider age range.
The side too is well-balanced with the prolonged boot, mixing well with the overall design. The higher trims come equipped with the alloy wheels and LED tail lamps to give you some sense of luxury.
The Dzire stands in good stead — it is compact for city traffic friendly and large enough to not be a genuine limousine.
Interior Comfort and Space
Climb into the Dzire and you can tell Maruti has worked hard to raise the ‘upscale feel’ inside the cabin.
Dual-tone beige-black interiors, simulated wood touches and chrome embellishments give an air of class, and door pads for the rear occupants match the front for continuity.
The flat-bottom steering wheel, well-organized center console and touchscreen infotainment system give the dashboard a modern appearance without being overly distracting.
Space is definitely one of the strong points of Dzire. The front seats provide a decent amount of under-thigh support and there’s enough room in the rear seats for two adults and a kid.
There is adequate headroom and legroom here, even for taller passengers.
The 378-litre boot is big enough for weekend bags or a shopping trip, and the car is a good size for small families.
Performance and Efficiency
Power-wise, the Swift Dzire’s heart of 1.2L DualJet petrol from Maruti seems perfect for the job. It develops 89 bhp and 113 Nm.
The car comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox and an AMT (automated manual transmission).
The power delivery is linear, and although the engine is not meant for spirited driving, it is a gem in urban and semi-urban riding.
Dzire continues to be one of its strongest selling points With Mileage. The gasoline version returns a commendable fuel economy of 22+ kmpl (ARAI certified) and is indeed one of the country’s most frugal sedans.
This along with Maruti’s wide spread service network, owning the Dzire is quite cost effective.
Technology and Features
Feature set-wise the Dzire is quite loaded, particularly on the top variants. That comprises of a 7-inch SmartPlay Studio touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control with rear AC vents, push-button start and cruise control.
Safety is taken care of by dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child seat mounts.
Maruti hasn’t tried to bring in those segment-first features, but should you complain about that?The Dzire is focused on what most users really need – user friendliness and long-term peace of mind.
Pros:
Great fuel mileage, even in city drive modes
Generous cabin and boot space for a small car
Engine is silky and smooth
Wide service network, smaller maintenance costs
Top notch features for ease of use and a reliable AMT option
Cons:
No diesel option, which certain users will still be hoping for
Mediocre at high speeds; ideal for city driving
Construction may seem a bit flimsy at speed
Not as feature-rich as more modern competitors
Maruti Swift Dzire: Conclusion
The Maruti Swift Dzire is still the emperor in the compact sedan segment for being what it is, simple, reliable and affordable.
It might not be the most thrilling thing to drive or the most feature-laden, but where it matters most — running costs, comfort, peace of mind — it doesn’t disappoint.
Daily commuter, first-time buyer, practical family man — if you fall into any of those categories, the Dzire ticks all the right boxes with the least amount of effort and the maximum value.