The Ciaz is more than just a new car for Maruti. It’s the company’s ticket to take its brand upscale.

With the Ciaz, Maruti is aiming to compete squarely against Honda, VW and Hyundai.

The first impression is that the Ciaz is big and sits in a segment higher than its rivals.

The Maruti Ciaz comes with 15-inch alloy wheels on the Z trim while the Z+ variant gets 16-inch wheels.

Though it's not as aggressive looking as the City, the Ciaz's well-planted stance and good proportions will make it attractive to many.

At the rear, the tail-lights bear more than a passing resemblance to the Honda City.

The 520-litre boot (which has an electrical release) is well shaped.

The Maruti Ciaz's nose gets a small, Suzuki-typical grille.

The Maruti Ciaz gets projector headlamps.

The Ciaz’s cabin feels more upmarket than any mid-size Suzuki till date.

Quality levels on the inside are on par with competitors like the Honda City.

There's acres of space on offer in the cabin, especially in the rear with plenty of knee room and head room.

The Maruti Ciaz comes with Maruti’s new SmartPlay infotainment system, available on the higher variants.

Rear AC vents and a 12V power socket are also on offer.

The Z+ trim gets a touchscreen on the centre console through which all infotainment functions can be controlled.

It also gets features such as automatic climate control and keyless entry.

The instrument cluster includes a multi-info display.

Two engines are on offer - a 91bhp 1.4-litre K10B petrol motor and a 89bhp 1.3-litre Fiat-sourced diesel.