The Maruti Dzire has been a staple in the compact sedan segment. Known for its practicality and wide appeal, it’s by far the most successful sub-4-metre sedan this nation has known. With the 2024 model, Maruti Suzuki brings in the fourth generation. And with this, it’s clear that the best-selling carmaker has reimagined what the Dzire stands for. While its predecessors were instantly recognizable and unmistakably tied to the Swift’s design DNA, this new iteration takes a bold step in a new direction.
A New Identity
The 2024 Dzire moves away from its “Swift with a trunk” identity, carving out a look that’s distinctly its own. Although it still shares its platform with the Swift, you’d be hard-pressed to make the connection at first glance. The days of seeing a Swift’s face with a bolted-on boot are over. This time around, the Dzire brings a more cohesive design that bestows upon it a unique distinct identity. Well, the critics would be quick to draw parallels with everything ranging from the Honda Amaze to the Toyota Innova Crysta and the Audi A4, but one would be hard pressed to find traces of the latest Swift.
While the dimensions are largely in line with the outgoing model, the changes in design language give the 2024 Dzire a completely different personality. It now adopts a posher appearance, with a rather low-slung stance. Maruti’s decision to give the Dzire its own identity reflects a broader shift in the company’s design philosophy. What it started with the third generation has finally come to its logical conclusion with the fourth – a complete visual disconnect between the corresponding generations of the Swift and the Dzire.
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Step Inside
Once inside the Dzire, you might find the distinctiveness fading a bit if you’re familiar with the latest Swift. The layout is quite familiar, as the two cars share the dashboard design. However, the Dzire distinguishes itself with an arguably more upmarket two-tone black-light beige colour tone. Plus, the dashboard gets faux wood veneers and matte chrome accents. Overall, the beige-heavy interior theme gives the cabin a sense of airiness and some poshness.
To up its game, the Dzire also features an electrically operated sunroof—something you won’t find in its hatchback sibling, or even on any of the rivals. It’s also a clear sign of Maruti’s bid to position the Dzire as a more premium offering than the hatchback sibling. The top-spec ZXi+ variant even comes loaded with Maruti’s 9-inch Smart Play Pro+ infotainment system. The segment-largest unit supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This system is easy to use and delivers a seamless experience. Safety is well-covered too, with six airbags on the all the trims, while the top trim even gets a segment-first 360-degree camera.
Other modern conveniences include a 15W wireless charging pad, 6-speaker Arkamys audio unit, rear aircon vents, and keyless entry and go. The flat-bottom steering wheel mirrors what you find in the Swift. While the new sedan offers many segment-firsts, it misses out on a cooled glovebox, cooled seats and a front armrest. Ingress and egress is pretty easy, thanks to the wide-opening doors. The front seats are wide enough, and offer decent back support. However, the under-thigh support leaves more to be desired. The same is largely true even for the rear seat. But seating two adults with a child in the middle isn’t an issue. That said, while there are two adjustable headrests, the middle occupant misses out one. Another neat touch comes in the form of the easy access to the two charging ports located near the rear zircon vents.
Under the Hood and On the Tarmac
Even though there’s no longer a significant visual connection between the Dzire and the Swift, the two vehicles share most internals. Powering the sedan is the same 1.2-liter, three-cylinder Z-Series petrol engine. The motor belts out an identical 81 bhp and 112 Nm, and even the gear ratios have been untouched. True, those performance numbers are far from groundbreaking, but downsizing to three cylinders hasn’t had an adverse effect on the performance. The motor feels quite lively even at the low RPMs, which makes urban driving an effort-free affair. The playful character persists even at the mid RPMs, and it’s only the top-end performance that isn’t as strong as what the K-Series 4-cylinder unit offered. Obviously, the new motor doesn’t feel as refined either, but it’s still more refined than any other three-potter 1.2-litre unit in the business.
Akin to the third-gen model, you get the option of a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed AMT. The manual, with its gas-assisted clutch and precise shifter, offers a satisfying and rewarding drive. Meanwhile, the AMT has improved noticeably—it’s more refined now, though it still has a slight shift lag inherent of Automated Manual Transmission units. That said, this is easily the best AMT in business – smoother and less laggy than what the competition offers! The biggest advantage the Z-Series mill brings to the table is the stellar fuel efficiency. The ARAI-certified figures stand at a rather awe-inspiring 24.79 kmpl for the manual and 25.71 kmpl for the AMT. That makes the Dzire India’s most fuel-efficient sedan, and one of the most frugal cars available today.
The Dzire strikes a good balance between ride quality and outright handling. Maruti has done a commendable job tuning the suspension to give it a distinct personality compared to the Swift. While the Swift’s setup leans a bit towards stiffness for sharper handling, the Dzire takes a softer, more comfort-focused approach. This means it absorbs bumps and rough patches with ease, providing a smoother ride. Despite being tuned for comfort, the Dzire isn’t a slouch in the corners. Sure, it might not have the go-kart-like agility of the Swift, but it still holds its lines quite well. There’s little body-roll and the sedan feels stable and confident around the corners. The extra weight over the Swift doesn’t dampen its driving dynamics.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 Dzire strikes an impressive balance between comfort and engagement. Its refined engine, efficient transmissions, and well-calibrated suspension make it a versatile car for both city commutes and occasional highway runs. It may not match the Swift’s sporty edge, but it carves out its own space as a more practical offering for family use. Maruti Suzuki has clearly put a lot of thought into refining the Dzire to make it feel more premium. Mechanically, it borrows heavily from the Swift but the additional features and the distinct design gives it a distinct identity.
Oh and let’s not forget the 5-star rating at Global NCAP, a first for any Maruti Suzuki! Please note- the new Dzire scores better than even the VW Virtus/Skoda Slavia in Adult Occupant Protection category. The icing on the cake? The very attractive pricing, which starts at Rs 6.79 lakh (ex-showroom). All in all, the new Dzire makes for an excellent family car at its price point.
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