A major section of the automobile industry has moved away from diesel engine cars in recent years. With soon to come BS-VI emission regulations small diesel based cars will for sure be out of the market. The move towards non-diesel vehicles also comes as a move to save the planet as Diesel pollutes way more than CNG or Petrol. However, Maruti has iron-fist domination and control over the Indian market. Them not having a vehicle in this segment can be troubling for them. Diesel vehicles command a strong percentage of Maruti’s business. They need to keep these customers engaged, especially since the competition in the automobile industry is exploding. SO even if the regulations are imposed and the prices go up north, the company has to keep the customers engaged. This brings us to the Suzuki Ciaz. Originally launched back in 2014, the car has had various versions. The newest in the family is the Facelift model. The first of this model is the New Ciaz which is the one we’ll be focusing on. The most interesting part of the car is the engine it is using. The company for a long time has been focusing on the1.5 liter K15 Petrol Engine. There were rumors that the engine has been shelved but it is finally making its debut. So let us take a closer look at both the car and its performance to check it the car was worth the wait.
A major section of the automobile industry has moved away from diesel engine cars in recent years. With soon to come BS-VI emission regulations small diesel based cars will for sure be out of the market. The move towards non-diesel vehicles also comes as a move to save the planet as Diesel pollutes way more than CNG or Petrol. However, Maruti has iron-fist domination and control over the Indian market. Them not having a vehicle in this segment can be troubling for them. Diesel vehicles command a strong percentage of Maruti’s business. They need to keep these customers engaged, especially since the competition in the automobile industry is exploding. SO even if the regulations are imposed and the prices go up north, the company has to keep the customers engaged. This brings us to the Suzuki Ciaz. Originally launched back in 2014, the car has had various versions. The newest in the family is the Facelift model. The first of this model is the New Ciaz which is the one we’ll be focusing on. The most interesting part of the car is the engine it is using. The company for a long time has been focusing on the1.5 liter K15 Petrol Engine. There were rumors that the engine has been shelved but it is finally making its debut. So let us take a closer look at both the car and its performance to check it the car was worth the wait.
Exterior
Ciaz is a big vehicle. Designing portion is something that Maruti didn’t focus on much before but this time around they have takes conscious effort to make sure the car looks premium. This version of the car looks richer and shows signs of leaning towards a rather liberal model. The front grille stretches between the two headlights and edges are outlined by chrome strips. The new Ciaz gets LED DRL, LED headlights and LED fog lights. The straight slates on the grille are now replaced by multi-segmented dashes with the 'S' logo placed in the center. The look more or less has remained the same. The only difference is, as stated earlier, is that everything has been done to make the car look richer. The changes made are simple but the car now looks way better than before. Your Ciaz is clearly acknowledging the changing trends of the audience towards going for better-looking cars. The car’s look goes great and is on par with the segment.
Interior
The first things that one notices when entering the Ciaz are its size. The car is big, most probably the biggest in the segment. At 4.5m long and 1.7m wide, the car offers an of room and makes sure the premium feel it earlier hinted with its looks is carried in the design is seen in the terms of space offered. It is the headroom which could have been better. The driver's seat at points feels way too high, even when set at its lowest. For drivers, it may affect the overall experience. A welcoming change in the car is the introduction of adjustable head restraints. It not being there in the last car did stand out. The storage is great. The boot at 510 liters can take up a lot of luggage. Unfortunately, the wheel wells take up a significant amount of space in the boot. The storage otherwise is the same as the last car. The dash gets a new birchwood trim that looks very classy and elegant, along with light silver accents around the cabin the overall look is just great. The steering wheel is the same unit as the last model of the cars but now features buttons on the right-hand side for the new cruise control system. There is a new instrument panel with a larger colored multi-information display at the center. This system gives you the details of the hybrid drive system. Maruti’s SmartPlay system covers the information and entertainment department.
Driving
As stated earlier what makes the car special is the new K15B (1.5-litre K Series) petrol engine. The 1,462cc car puts out more power and torque, making 105hp at 6,000rpm and 138Nm of torque at 4,400rpm, against the older 1.4-liter car's output of 92hp at 6,000rpm and 130Nm at 4,000rpm. The engine feels and acts smooth. It is clearly refined and better than the last car. It is powerful and responsive at lower 1,800 rpms but as you go up the efficiency starts going down. After around 6,200 rpm you really have to make the engine work. The gearbox and clutch are easy to work with. They don’t require much effort and work along. The four-speed torque converter auto 'box, however, isn’t the smoothest around and feels quite lazy and robs the engine of power. The steering feel is nice and light, which is great for parking, but not so much in the twisties; in any case, the car is set up more for comfort than handling. As with the earlier car, the ride quality is super and the Ciaz had no trouble ironing out potholes and ruts we came across on our drive. Speed breakers too are cleared easily. The car, per government guidelines, has introduced speed warning. At above 80 km/hour the car sends a warning every once 60 seconds. At speed above 120 km/hour, it goes off continuously. This decision comes after the increase in the number of accidents.
Should I buy One
The car is relying a lot on the new engine. It boasts that it is this engine which upgrades the car and its driving experience. It is true but not to the extent the company is hyping it up to. The car has ample space. It capitalizes on its large size very well and makes sure that the people in it have enough space to make the journey relaxing. The driving experience is also great. The engine does pay its dividends. The power is great and makes the car more reliable. Maruti sticks to its core of value for money. It is placed between 8.19lacks to 10 lacks and the car provides a lot. Good choice to go with.
