08/03/2015
ALL NEW
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz- Reviews
worth reading!!
THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD IN THE ALL NEW CIAZ:
1. Featuring Maruti’s latest design philosophy. ·
2. Ciaz looks impressive from both the front and rear. ·
3.High on interior space especially in case of leg room, both front and rear passengers can be seated comfortably despite being six feet tall. ·
4. K14 VVT petrol engine on offer along with DDiS 200 diesel unit. ·5. Best in class claimed fuel economy figures of 20.73 kmpl in petrol while diesel stands at 26.21 kmpl.
Maruti have left no stone unturned with Ciaz considering that its outgoing sibling SX4 had over lived its shelf life and thus had lost its charm on the mind of the consumer. Launched back in the year 2007, Maruti SX4 bore a very aggressive exterior design plus had best ground clearance with its segment which attracted many enthusiasts and customers. Another USP of this sedan was its good ride and handling characteristics
Design EXTERIOR (FRONT)
Free flowing line rising all the way from the front to the rear brings forward the Ciaz’s side profile and so does elements such as chrome door handles, side view mirrors with indicator inserts along with a set of 16 inch alloys that only come on the top end variant Z+.
(SIDE)
Stepping aside for a minute, looking at just the side profile it might just strike that this sedan looks big in size. Well to mention, it has the longest wheel-base in its class amounting to 2650mm which is higher than rest of the competition within the segment. Its width stands at 1730 mm.
(REAR)
Coming around to the rear, at first glance it would remind one of the latest generation Honda City as the tail lamps look pretty similar, the wedged shaped boot lid does add character with chrome line running almost across just above the number place. Suzuki logo sits right in centre right on top with Maruti Suzuki badge on its left and Ciaz written towards the right. An interesting element to notice is the inclusion of two plastic inserts one on the right and the other one to the left which comprise of reflector inserts giving the lower part of the rear bumper somewhat of a different design. Having said this, at the back of the mind there is a possibility of getting reminded of Honda Mobilio which also happens to feature this sort of an element in its rear design.
(INSIDE) Design
The instrument cluster comprises of two big circular analog dials, one is a speedo and the other an RPM meter. They are further supported via a circular temperature gauge and fuel level indicator along with a small digital information display giving out essential information such as distance covered, fuel efficiency, range left for refueling to mention a few. The dash offers air vents with chrome surrounds which is pleasing to the eye, so is the inclusion of a wooden finished panel that adds to its appeal. The centre console in the top end variant (Z+) offers a ‘SmartPlay’ in-car infotainment system that comprises of features such as radio, media format via USB, Aux-in, iPod, SD card, Bluetooth compatibility for hands-free calling and audio streaming, navigation, voice recognition, integrated rear view camera for easy parking and smart phone connectivity. Enough leg room. Considering that its wheel base is best in class, the Ciaz offers excellent cabin space. Looking into various aspects such as head, shoulder and leg room both front and rear passengers can be seated comfortably. In fact a special reference to the rear cabin wherein a six foot tall individual has good amount of leg room despite the front seat being pulled all the way back. The inclusion of rear A/C vent and a sunscreen curtain help spruce up the interiors.
PERFORMANCE (3/5)
Maruti Ciaz is being offered in two engine variations – petrol and diesel. The petrol model features a 1372cc engine on board providing a maximum power output of 91bhp@6000 rpm with 130 Nm @4000 rpm of torque. Meanwhile the diesel caters to a 1248cc oil mill that churns out 89bhp@4000 rpm along with 200 Nm@1750 rpm of peak torque. Both models are matted to a 5 speed manual transmission that hand out decent shifts under different driving conditions. There is also a 4 speed automatic gearbox on offer specific to petrol.
Since diesel is the most preferred choice, the natural progression was to get behind the wheel and use its Start Stop feature to get started. With the press of a button, the DDiS model comes to life and one must say it is pretty silent for a diesel. Just to refresh one’s memory this is the same motor which can be found on the current generation Ertiga. In fact according to Maruti its ECU has been enhanced along with the throttle response which is evident from the manner it pulls away from an initial start. However there is a bit of a turbo lag especially lower down the rev’s which dampens the driving experience to certain limit but post that it is smooth sailing. One aspect that really took to our liking is the light clutch which is unlike any diesel and will be a boon for city users. For a top end performance there is still a bit more to be desired out of this oil mill.
The petrol on the other hand, is pretty quick courtesy its linear pick-up. There is a bit of engine noise that tends to creep into the cabin making it a bit discomforting for occupants. Performance wise, there is not much of a drastic change considering that it’s ECU has also been enhanced, therefore moving around traffic in the city and as well as on the highway is a swift affair the petrol Ciaz. On the whole this particular motor is pretty sorted keeping Indian driving conditions in mind.
Fuel Efficiency(4/5)
Since this is just an initial impression of the Ciaz, Maruti claims an efficiency figure of 20.73 kmpl on the petrol while the diesel stands at 26.21 kmpl. While the automatic favours to return 19.21.
PITSTOP Verdict (4/5 rating)
Like we said earlier, Maruti Ciaz is a welcome change which is bound to transform the C segment. It is a culmination of attractive exterior design, interior space thanks to its extended wheel base, level of comfort and the kind of features it has to offer on board. As for performance, the diesel model should be the preferred choice given its popularity not leaving out petrol, which too has a fair bit of grunt to itself.
Pros ·
1. A well rounded product that takes care of most concerns. · 2.Exterior design, interior space and comfort. ·
3.Touch screen ‘SmartPlay’ in-car infotainment system (only in Z+ Variant)
Cons ·
1.Some similarity of exterior design element such as the tail gate with competition within its class. ·
2.Noisy cabin. ·
3.Handling is not that pleasing as one would have expected it to be.
(Recommendation)
Attractive and best suited for city use, Maruti Ciaz makes for an exciting proposition.
Pricing for the Maruti Ciaz Prices. Variants ZDi Plus Rs. 10,37,423 ZDi. Rs. 9,75,395 AT Xi. Rs. 9,64,023 ZXi Plus. Rs. 9,08,197 AT VXi Plus. Rs. 8,92,690 VDi Plus. Rs. 8,90,622 ZXi Option. Rs. 8,86,487 ZXi. Rs. 8,50,304 VDi Rs. 8,30,008 VXi Plus. Rs. 7,78,971 VXi.
Reviews by- Sameer Awasthi
