So, you’re looking for your first new car. After realising that your dream wheels are way beyond your means and any attempt to pursue them would surely lead to financial ruin, you get realistic. The vehicle you’re searching for needs to be reliable and fuel efficient, offer enough space for the odd weekend away and priced at or below your Php 700,000 budget. It would help if it looks youthful and is fun to drive, too. Well, we might just have the car for you.
The Suzuki Dzire is quite attractive as far as compact sedans go but the car’s cabin is the real talking point. It not only looks premium by class standards but also offers more space than many pricier cars, and there’s reasonable boot space, too.
Exterior:
The previous Swift Dzire looked decidedly awkward from the rear, with the boot section appearing little more than an afterthought. This is not the case with the new sedan, which features a far more cohesive design that is far enough removed from the hatchback to justify its shedding of the Swift nameplate.
Based on the Japanese brand’s new Heartect platform that also underpins the likes of the Baleno and Ignis, the vehicle is actually slightly shorter (by 10 mm) than before, although its width has increased by 40 mm, resulting in a sportier stance and increased interior space. Still, the narrow wheels are a reminder that this car plays in the budget category as they don’t quite fill the arches.
Interior:
On the inside, fit and finish is on par with that of competitors, with virtually no soft plastics to be found. The touchscreen infotainment is still a pain to connect with your phone, no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto but once you’ve connected to bluetooth, the sound system is quite impressive. Whereas the Swift has a red and sporty theme, the Dzire has silver accents.
A new instrument cluster with a multi-information display is fitted and the Dzire GL derivative adds a tachometer, rear air vents, extra 12V socket, audio system with USB and Bluetooth support, steering wheel-mounted controls and electrically adjustable, colour-coded side mirrors. GL specification also includes a foldable rear armrest with integrated cup holders.
An advantage of the square glasshouse with its upright windscreen is that the interior feels spacious for a car in this segment. Rear legroom is more than adequate, even for a six-footer such as myself, and the boot has a claimed 378 litres (26% more than before) of luggage space that should be enough for the obligatory road trip. What's not so good about it? Well, for a car that's angled towards cargo and passengers, we find it strange that the rear bench's seatback does not fold down to increase utility space. It's a minor gripe, but it's a gripe nonetheless.
Engine and Performance:
The Suzuki Dzire is powered by the tried-and-tested 1.2-litre 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine. It produces 80 HP and 113 Nm, which doesn't sound like much, but when you combine those outputs with a low kerb weight (of under 900 kg) and the temperamental 5-speed AGS, the Japanese sedan's performance is not as pedestrian as many might assume. Plus, the real ace up the Dzire's sleeve is excellent fuel economy. But more on the fuel efficiency talk later.
What I really wanna talk about the AGS (Auto Gear Shift), basically it is an automated-manual transmission using actuators like in real manual transmissions that engage/disengage the clutch. With the AGS, it has sensors for the clutch and when you shift, it feels as though you’re driving a manual transmission car. Question is, WHY?! If Suzuki wanted to put an automatic transmission, why wouldn’t they put a conventional auto transmission?! It’s annoying on road and frankly, I hate the idea of selling an AUTOMATIC transmission with the feel of a MANUAL transmission.
Suspension though is quite soft as the Dzire soaks up most road imperfections with ease. The negative side of this soft suspension is that there is generally plenty of body roll in the bends and the nose quickly pushes wide when the driver is in a hurry. Still, this is to be expected in the budget segment and is not a problem during day-to-day motoring. If you want a sportier Suzuki, then you’ll have to go for the Swift.
Value For Money:
As we find ourselves forking out more and more for petrol and vehicle insurance, it's refreshing to see a commendable value-for-money offering, particularly at the bottom end of the segment. We've encountered mere shells of cars with precious little specification and space, and yet the Suzuki Swift and its new booted Dzire sibling offer a lot for around Php 648,000. Let's not forget about the brand's commendable after-sales support.
Verdict:
The Suzuki Dzire is a basic and simple way of getting from A to B. With its low price, generous space, and ease of use, the Dzire makes a great argument for simple motoring. Then there's Suzuki's great after-sales support and a long, comprehensive warranty thrown in to sweeten the deal. While it may lack top-end performance prowess, we can't fault the 1.2L engine performance in and around town, where it's likely to spend most of its time. For those who want to add another vehicle into an e-hailing/ridesharing fleet and can't afford a bigger sedan, then we think the Dzire could be a worthy investment. The exceptional fuel economy is the clincher!
Price:
Photos by: Glover Reselosa
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