The engine doesn’t struggle at low revs and the car can keep up with the traffic without the driver having to shift down too often. This trait combined with a small footprint and light controls makes the Dzire very easy to drive around in the city.
Driving the Maruti Dzire 1.2L Petrol MT
1.2L, 3-cylinder Z-Series petrol engine makes 81 BHP @ 5,700 rpm and 112 Nm @ 4,300 rpm:
The fourth-gen Dzire is powered by a 1.2L, 3-cylinder petrol engine. This unit is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and puts out 81 BHP and 112 Nm. These numbers are lesser than the outgoing car (4-cylinder, 89 BHP & 113 Nm). With a kerb weight of 920 kg, the power-to-weight ratio & torque-to-weight ratio are 88 BHP/ton & 122 Nm/ton respectively. These are considerably lower than the outgoing car. This means that the new car is not as fast a performer as the previous generation car. It can be termed as brisk at best.
Start the engine by pressing the light clutch and hitting the engine start/stop button. Ease off the clutch and the Dzire moves off the line smoothly without any throttle input. Throttle response is good and power delivery is linear. Driving about at city speeds, the car feels smooth. Good driveability is the key here. The car can pull from as low as 500 rpm without any clutch input albeit with a judder. Even in second gear, we managed to start off without any accelerator input by gently releasing the clutch. The engine doesn’t struggle at low revs and the car can keep up with the traffic without the driver having to shift down too often. This trait combined with a small footprint and light controls makes the Dzire very easy to drive around in the city. The engine starts feeling comfortable at 1,500 rpm. The car is relaxed doing 60 km/h in 4th gear with the engine spinning at 1,750 rpm. It starts pulling well above 2,750 rpm.
On the open road, the Dzire can be described as a brisk performer. It is not as fast or exciting. The power delivery is linear and doesn’t feel urgent at all. Enthusiastic drivers won’t be very impressed by the performance. However, it’s not slow and with proper use of the gears, good progress can be made.
There is decent mid-range delivery, but in order to facilitate quick overtaking manoeuvres, it’s advisable to shift down to a lower gear. The engine revs up to 6,000 rpm, which is where the redline starts. The fuel starts cutting off a little earlier (~5,900 rpm), which can catch you out in the middle of an overtaking manoeuvre. This, coupled with the lack of power means that passing slower vehicles needs some careful planning. In terms of cruiseability, in 5th gear, 100 km/h is seen at 2,500 rpm while 120 km/h is achieved at 3,000 rpm.
One thing to note is that the engine sounds good at high revvs. While the typical 3-cylinder thrum is present, the sound is pleasing when revved.
The 5-speed manual transmission is an absolute joy to operate. The throws are short and the shift action is very smooth. With well-defined gates, the gearbox is sure-slotting and it’s very hard to miss a shift. The clutch is very light and the travel range is medium.
Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)
Straight off the bat, the 3-cylinder Z12E lacks the refinement of the K12 motor that we’ve been so used to. However, it is not bad by any means. There is a very slight shake of the body as the engine cranks and at idle, you will feel mild vibrations on the steering. But, there is no engine noise heard at all. If it were not for the vibrations, one would be hard-pressed to tell if the engine is running.
While driving around calmly, the engine sound doesn’t bother the cabin. However, as the revs climb, the engine makes itself heard a lot more in the cabin. While it’s a likeable sound for enthusiasts, other occupants might complain as things get louder at higher revs.
We didn’t experience any wind noise at 100 km/h. Road noise and tyre noise are average.
Mileage & Fuel Economy
Maruti claims that the fourth-gen Dzire is the most fuel-efficient sedan in India. The 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol has an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 24.79 km/l for the MT and 25.71 km/l for the AMT.
Maruti has equipped the Dzire with an idling start/stop function to improve fuel efficiency. This feature worked seamlessly on our test drive and was not intrusive. It can be turned off by pressing a button on the centre fascia.
The CNG version has an ARAI FE rating of 33.73 km/kg.
Bonnet gets insulation underneath and helps keep the noise levels low:
Sufficient insulation on the firewall:
Sticker on the inside of the fuel flap to indicate its dietary preferences. Yes, the Dzire is E20 compliant. A black plastic spill protector is provided below the fuel cap. Fuel tank capacity = 37 litres:
Suspension
Ride Comfort
The Dzire comes with a ubiquitous McPherson strut suspension setup at the front and a torsion beam setup at the rear. The overall urban ride quality is compliant. At lower speeds, a slight firmness is felt due to the 15″ wheels, yet it’s never uncomfortable. Small bumps on the road are absorbed quite well. There is no choppiness or bumpiness either. Even at the rear, bumps are not jarring for occupants. What is impressive is the way Maruti has managed to make the suspension function silently.
The Z variants ride on 15-inch wheels with 185/65 section tyres and the recommended tyre pressure is 29 PSI. Lower variants come with 14-inch rims fitted with 165/80 section rubber. These should provide a better ride.
On the open road, most bumps and undulations won’t bother you. However, large and sharp bumps make themselves felt. Go fast over these and the ride can suffer.
Torsion beam suspension at the rear:
Handling & Dynamics
Straight-line stability is very good for a car in this segment and occupants won’t even know that the car is cruising at triple-digit speeds. Expansion joints on the highway do not unsettle it.
On long curves, the car holds its line well. Push the car on twisty roads and you will experience some body roll, but it’s very well-controlled. The car changes direction without fuss and feels very sure-footed. Our test car came with 185/65 R15 Ceat SecuraDrive tyres, which will provide enough grip for most drivers. However, drive enthusiastically and they will squeal at the first opportunity.
The overall driving dynamics of the new Dzire can be termed as satisfactory.
Steering
The Dzire gets an electric power steering, which is very user-friendly. It’s light in the city and most owners will appreciate that. The compact dimensions of the car, light steering and a tight turning radius of 4.8 metres make it very easy to drive in the city. At higher speeds, the steering weighs up well. There’s no nervous feeling or twitchiness at all while cruising on the highways. On twisty roads, you will find that it is quick and precise. That being said, it doesn’t relay much feedback.
Just like in the Swift, steering has a stronger return to centre action than some of the Maruti cars we have driven. It’s a big improvement over the outgoing car.
Braking
The Dzire is equipped with disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. The performance is as expected and the car comes to a halt without much drama. Under hard braking too, the car doesn’t lose its composure.
The pedal feel is good too and there is a little bit of travel before the brakes bite.
Niggles & Problems
The Dzire is likely to be trouble-free like most offerings from Maruti. Our test car didn’t have any mechanical or electronic issues. However, the front passenger seat in our test car was creaking and the driver door required some effort to shut.
As is always the case, we strongly recommend extended warranty coverage.
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