Suzuki's more Dzire-able compact sedan

By Chad Lückhoff

Learning from the errors of the past, Suzuki has been through the new Dzire with a fine-tooth comb, ironing out many of the previous generation's flaws.

The little Suzuki Swift has proven to be a popular compact hatch for those looking for affordable, reliable motoring, with a touch of fun thrown in. Their excellent chassis, frugal power plants and attractive styling have attracted many customers to their showrooms and in the process, created quite the fan base.

The one gripe that most previous generation Swift owners had was the lack of boot space. Its limited storage space means that the Swift was nowhere as practical as it was exciting. To solve this problem, Suzuki offered the Dzire, a sedan variant of the Swift hatchback that gave it considerably more storage space and while this worked well on paper, in the real world, adding the space drained the Dzire of all of the Swift's appeal.

The Dzire was not a volume seller for any particular reason. It still drove well, was economical and reliable to run, it added practicality and was well-supported by the dealer network. The biggest drawback was undoubtedly its appearance. The proportions were out and from certain angles, the Dzire seemed ungainly.

Much of this has now been addressed with the latest version of the Suzuki Dzire, as illustrated by the Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GL Manual we tested. While the previous versions all carried the Swift nameplate – making them Swift Dzire – the new model has dropped the Swift bit and is now only known as the Dzire. While it still carries a lot of the Swift DNA, Suzuki is hoping that by creating the impression that it is its own, stand-alone model, that sales figures will improve.

All-new body design

They need not worry as the new Dzire is a considerably more handsome machine. The redesigned body is now more curvaceous and looks less like a Swift sedan, blending in the rear overhang better than in previous versions. The front end is more aerodynamic and accentuated by chrome garnishes around the large trapezoidal front grille and underlining the side air dams in the lower section of the front bumper around the fog lamps.

While I seriously doubt that it will walk away with any design awards, consumers are sure to find the redesign more appealing. It still suffers from a somewhat ill-proportioned design with the body shell appearing to ride far too high for the wheel and tyre combination. While this provides a generous amount of ground clearance, 145mm to be precise, it does little for the handling prowess of the Dzire.

The Dzire two-step

The ungainly ride height and narrow rubber mean that the Dzire is not as stable at highway speeds as some may want. While these traits contribute to the wayward nature at speeds over 100km/h, it is a common trait of Indian-built vehicles and is not unique to Suzuki. It's not to say that it is unstable, it merely has a tendency to track and wander a little, especially in a crosswind scenario.

Despite this one concern, the Dzire is remarkably easy to drive with light controls and a comfortable driving position. The seats do not offer as much lateral support as you will get in the new Swift, but this will provide you with a more comfortable seating solution on longer drives.

Fuel efficiency

One of the major draw cards of modern Suzuki offerings is their fuel economy. Very seldom will you be able to hit the figures that the manufacturer quotes in the brochure, but rest assured that in the Suzuki Dzire you will able to achieve the claims of 4.9-l/100km without even trying – it really is that frugal.

Power comes from a no-mess, no-fuss, 1.2-litre petrol engine without a turbocharger that produces 61kW and 113Nm of torque which is more than adequate to move the lightweight body around, in and out of traffic and all the way to highways speeds with ease. We tested the 5-speed manual version but the Dzire is available with an automated manual gearbox (AMT) that also sees five gears in use.

Improved Safety

If the Dzire is on your radar you will probably be concerned with the safety features made available to you and your family. The Dzire is fitted with two airbags, one for the driver and one for the passenger and ISOFIX anchor points are dotted around the rear for child seat anchorage. All Dzires have ABS braking with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) to ensure level and predictable braking performance. The new HEARTECT body construction also ensures that body rigidity is retained with crumple zones to further aid in passenger safety. This new shell design allows the Dzire to be lighter, stiffer and creates more space in the interior as well.

The redesigned interior is also fitted with electric windows, central locking, air conditioning, 12V outlets and a Bluetooth radio with steering mounted controls. While there are a few concerns about some of the finishes with some sharp edges present in a few places, it's a quiet and rather well-assembled interior that should hold up to the rigours of daily commuting for many years to come.

The Suzuki Dzire benefits from Suzuki's extensive 5-year / 200 000km warranty and is sold with a 2-year / 30 000km service plan.

Pricing

Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GA Manual                                            R161 900

Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GL Manual (model tested)            R177 900

Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GL AMT                                                  R191 900