KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Dzire initially came in as a replacement to the Esteem.
- It has had multiple design changes since its inception.
- Available only with petrol and CNG options.
The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is among the few sedans that have managed to stay relevant in today's times when more and more people are moving towards compact SUVs. More recently, it shocked everyone with its five-star rating at the GNCAP. Today, we shall look at the old and new generations of the Dzire.
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Also read: 2024 Maruti Dzire Launched At Rs 6.79 Lakh, Gets New Design, Features, & New Engine
Maruti Suzuki Dzire: Old Vs New
First-Gen Swift Dzire
Earlier known as the Swift Dzire, Maruti Suzuki launched it in 2009 as a replacement to the Esteem, which honestly did not deserve facing the axe, but that's a story for another day. The first-gen Swift Dzire was a rather unique take on the sedan segment; with a nearly identical front-end, the 'bustleback' boot inspired by the old 7 Series, and the familiar Swift profile, many people had quite a lot of things to say about the design of the car.
The interiors of the first-gen Dzire were also similar to the Swift, featuring the same dashboard and similar set of features. However, the interiors of this car were more spacious and airy than the car it was based on, given the dual-tone upholstery.
Under the hood, the first-gen Swift Dzire received two powertrain options; a 1.3-litre petrol, and the famous 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine, also known as the DDiS engine. These powertrais could be paired to a 5-speed manual transmission.
Second-Gen Swift Dzire
With the second-gen Dzire, Maruti Suzuki took a rather interesting approach to things; it shortened the car to qualify for sub-4m tax benefits, similar to the Tata Indigo CS. The second-gen Dzire was famous for its squarish, chopped boot design, with a completely different rear-end. The front-end was similar to the second-gen Swift, with a few tweaks here and there.
The interiors of the second-gen Dzire also continued to be identical to the Swift, but with a dual-tone beige treatment. While the front seats were decent in terms of comfort, the same could not be said about the rear, with the small window-line making things feel rather cramped and tight.
The second-gen Dzire got the newer K-series 1.2-litre petrol engine, while also continuing with the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine. For the first time, the Dzire also got the option of a 5-speed AMT, along with the regular 5-speed manual transmission.
Also read: Kia India Confirms 'SYROS' Name For Its Upcoming Kia 2.0 SUV: Details
Third-Gen Dzire
The third-gen Dzire came out in 2017, and with that, Maruti Suzuki dropped the 'Swift' prefix from the Swift Dzire, thus renaming it the Dzire. This generation of the Dzire was underpinned by the all-new Heartect platform, and as always, it shared the 1.2-litre, four-cylinder K12M engine, producing 81bhp and 113Nm of torque, continuing with a 5-speed manual or an AMT.
In this generation, Maruti Suzuki reverted to a more conventional, proper three-box sedan design. Unlike previous generations, this Dzire had nearly no design links to the Swift. The wide grille and headlights, along with the proper boot at the rear, 15-inch alloy rims, and squarish tail-lamps gave it a more upmarket look, and an identity of its own.
This was also the last time the Dzire was offered with a diesel engine, with the 1.3-litre DDiS mill producing 75bhp and 190Nm, with the same set of transmissions.
This generation of the Dzire got a facelift in 2020, featuring main styling tweaks up front, the main change being a hexagonal grille instead of the wide, slatted unit, along with a revised front bumper. The rest of the car remained unchanged altogether.
The interiors of the third-gen Dzire continued to feature the dual-tone beige and black theme, along with conventional-looking A/C vents, and a twin-dial instrument cluster. It also got a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with cruise control, automatic climate control, rear A/C vents, hill-hold assist, and auto-fold ORVMs among other things.
Also read: New Honda Amaze Design Sketches Revealed, Coming Soon!
Current Fourth-Gen Dzire
The current-gen Dzire has finally been launched, and it shares the Z12E, three-cylinder powertrain from the current Swift, producing 80.8bhp and 111.7Nm of torque. It continues to be paired to either a 5-speed manual or an AMT.
In terms of looks, the new Dzire now gets a more squared-off treatment up front, along with a large grille treatment with horizontal slats. The headlights are also vertically-shaped, sleeker units. There is a chrome strip present in the middle connecting the headlamps.
The profile has also been revamped, while the rear receives squared-off tail lights which are smaller than before, with a Y-shaped element housed within. The tailgate and the rear bumper are completely new, and just like the front, the rear does not get a DRL strip either, instead receiving a chrome strip connecting the tail lights.
The interiors of the new Dzire are identical to the Swift, but with the same dual-tone beige and black treatment and faux wood inserts. The 9-inch touch screen infotainment system and the centre console is identical to most Maruti Suzuki cars. Some more features include a sunroof, a 360-degree camera, hill-assist, rear A/C vents, and cruise control among other things.
Check out our verdict on the new Dzire right here!
Verdict
The new Dzire has brought back some attention to the compact sedan segment, and there is going to be some more competition in this segment soon enough. The Dzire has become a more well-rounded car over the years, and in its latest guise, it is not only safer, but also more feature-rich.
