Maruti Suzuki Dzire 1.3 DDiS long term review

Down to the Wire!

If you had bothered to ask me what I thought would be the result of the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY), before the grand ceremony that was held in Delhi, I would have told you without hesitation that it would go down to the wire between the Hyundai Verna and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. As a matter of fact, it did go down to the wire with the Verna nudging ahead of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire by a single point in the final round of voting and only after the final vote had been cast by the final jury member. That finish, the closest in the history of ICOTY, was a proper nail biter. But what made me think that the Dzire was as worthy a contender as it turned out to be?

“What really stands out for me is the improvement in build quality.”

Maruti Suzuki Dzire: A robust new gen car

We all know about the Dzire’s new platform, enhanced performance and improved styling. Reams have been written about it and owners speak about such stuff daily. There is nothing new there. What really stands out for me is the improvement in build quality. The first generation Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire with the 1.3 DDiS under its bonnet was my long term car in another publication. I have used my brother’s second gen car (same engine again) each time I’ve gone home to Kolkata for vacation. None of them feel as solid as this new gen car. There’s none of the tinniness my ears used to pick up each time I shut the doors of the first gen Dzire that I had on long term. There’s none of the signs of fading plastic that I’ve noticed on my brother’s car. His car’s plastics had started fading by the end of a year of ownership. With the new gen car, there’s an impression of robustness that I’ve grown quite fond of over the past few months.

“After nearly ten and a half months of such hard wearing situations, I’m happy to say that the Dzire is hardly worn out.”

On the road!

And I’ve used this Maruti Suzuki Dzire extensively. Taken it to Goa. Done a countless runs to Mumbai, zigzagging between slow moving trucks on the expressway. Driven it over fabulous roads. I’ve even driven it over thoroughly broken roads and parked it in the rain and the sun. Yet, after nearly ten and a half months of such hard wearing situations, I’m happy to say that the Dzire is hardly worn out. Apart from the one occasional squeak that comes from the left rear of the car, there are no squeaks, rattles or any sound in the car that shouldn’t be there. And the plastics? They look just as fresh and as great as the day I got the car. Except for that layer of dust I can see. Time to clean things up. Ciao.

Read our previous Dzire long term reports here.