Maruti Suzuki has just given its Dzire compact sedan a mid-cycle facelift, complete with revised exterior styling and more equipment. Another big change comes in the withdrawal of the diesel engine option.
We're interested to know what the new-for-2020 Dzire has to offer in the competitive compact sedan segment. Yes, the Dzire has been the bestseller for a long time but the new Hyundai Aura and updated and now-BS6-compliant Honda Amaze, Ford Aspire and Tata Tigor mean the Maruti is in for a fight.
Read on to know how these compact sedans compare on size, power and price.
Dimensions
In terms of dimensions, the Dzire facelift is identical to its predecessor – measuring 3,995mm in length, 1,735mm in width, 1,515mm in height with a 2,450mm-long wheelbase.
There’s little between the sub-four-metre sedans in length but there are differences in width and height. The Dzire is the widest of the lot, a full 58mm wider than Tigor, which is the narrowest car here. In terms of height, the Dzire is the second-shortest, behind the Honda Amaze. The Dzire, Aura and Tigor all have the same wheelbase length; but it’s the Ford Aspire that has the longest wheelbase in the comparison.
The Dzire’s boot space, at 378 litres, is relatively small when compared to the Amaze, Tigor and Aura. However, it still has more capacity than the Aspire’s 359-litre boot. In their top-spec trims, all of the Maruti’s competitors sit on 15-inch alloys.
| Dimensions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dzire | Aura | Amaze | Aspire | Tigor | |
| Length | 3995mm | 3995mm | 3995mm | 3995mm | 3992mm |
| Width | 1735mm | 1680mm | 1695mm | 1704mm | 1677mm |
| Height | 1515mm | 1520mm | 1498mm | 1525mm | 1537mm |
| Wheelbase | 2450mm | 2450mm | 2470mm | 2490mm | 2450mm |
| Boot space | 378 litres | 402 litres | 420 litres | 359 litres | 419 litres |
| Wheel Size | 15-inches | 15-inches | 15-inches | 15-inches | 15-inches |
Petrol engines
The biggest update for the Dzire facelift in under the bonnet. The Dzire now makes use of Maruti’s 1.2-litre, K12N DualJet petrol engine, which replaces the outgoing car’s 1.2-litre K12M motor. The BS6-compliant DualJet engine produces 90hp – a 7hp gain over the K12M engine – and 113Nm of torque. Gearbox options comprise a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT. Despite being more powerful than the old K12M engine, the new unit is also more fuel-efficient than the outgoing car. In fact, the new Dzire is now the most fuel-efficient petrol compact sedan on the market.
Comparing all the engines offered in the segment, the new DualJet motor is more powerful than the Tigor and Aura’s 1.2-litre units. The Dzire’s engine is a direct match for the Amaze’s engine; however, it trails behind the 96hp Ford Aspire and the Aura’s 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol mill.
In terms of gearboxes, all cars come with a 5-speed manual as standard. While the Dzire, Aura and Tigor get an AMT auto option, the Amaze offers CVT auto. The Aspire, meanwhile, misses an automatic gearbox altogether.
| Petrol engines | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dzire | Aura | Amaze | Aspire | Tigor | |
| Displacement | 1.2-litre | 1.2-litre/1.0-litre | 1.2-litre | 1.2-litre | 1.2-litre |
| Type | 4 cyls, NA | 4 cyls, NA/3 cyls, turbocharged | 4 cyls, NA | 3 cyls, NA | 3 cyls, NA |
| Power | 90hp | 83hp/100hp | 90hp | 96hp | 85hp |
| Torque | 113Nm | 114Nm/172Nm | 110Nm | 120Nm | 114Nm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed MT/AMT | 5-speed MT(both)/AMT (1.2 only) | 5-speed MT/7-step CVT | 5-speed MT | 5-speed MT/AMT |
| Fuel efficiency (ARAI) | 23.26kpl (MT)/24.12kpl (AMT) | 20.5kpl(MT)/20.1kpl (AMT) | 18.6kpl(MT)/18.3kpl(CVT) | 18.5kpl | 19kpl |
Diesel engines
Since Maruti Suzuki and Tata have not upgraded their small-capacity diesels to meet BS6 emission norms, the only diesel-powered options in the compact sedan segment are the Hyundai Aura, the Honda Amaze and the Ford Aspire.
The larger 1.5-litre engines of the Honda and Ford outdo the Hyundai’s 1.2-litre in terms of power output; but the Aura has its draw with segment-best fuel-efficiency figures. Furthermore, the Hyundai Aura and the Honda Amaze also offer the convenience of an automatic transmission with their diesel engines. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Hyundai Aura reigns supreme on this list.
| Diesel engines | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aura | Amaze | Aspire | |
| Displacement | 1.2-litre | 1.5-litre | 1.5-litre |
| Type | 4 cyls, turbocharged | 4 cyls, turbocharged | 4 cyls, turbocharged |
| Power | 75hp | 100hp(MT)/80hp(CVT) | 100hp |
| Torque | 190Nm | 200Nm(MT)/160Nm(CVT) | 215Nm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed MT/AMT auto | 5-speed MT/7-step CVT | 5-speed MT |
| Fuel efficiency (ARAI) | 25.35kpl(MT)/25.4kpl(AMT) | 24.7kpl(MT)/21kpl(CVT) | 24.4kpl |
Price
| Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dzire | Aura | Amaze | Aspire | Tigor* | |
| Petrol | Rs 5.89-8.80 lakh | Rs 5.80-8.55 lakh | Rs 6.10-8.76 lakh | Rs 5.99-7.44 lakh | Rs 5.75-7.49 lakh |
| Diesel | NA | Rs 7.74-9.23 lakh | Rs 7.56-9.96 lakh | Rs 7.49-8.34 lakh | NA |
*(ex-showroom, pan-India)
Owing to the cosmetic, mechanical and feature updates it receives, prices of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire have gone up by Rs 6,000-22,000, depending on the variant in question. The Dzire’s starting price remains in the middle of the pack; however, the top-spec Dzire ZXI+ AMT is now the most expensive car in this comparison. It’s worth noting that the Dzire facelift is the only model to get full LED headlamps, which is not on offer on any of the competitors.
Going purely on facts and figures, it's the Tigor and Aspire that are the value picks in this segment. The Aura 1.0 turbo could be the option for keen drivers looking for a punchy engine, while the Amaze promises the most refined automatic experience, courtesy it's CVT gearboxes. The Maruti Dzire, on the other hand, makes a mark with its class-leading cabin dimensions and efficiency figures. While it's hard to tell you which of these is best from an on-paper comparison, there's some comfort in knowing that there's a compact sedan for every need.
(All prices ex-showroom, Delhi)
Also see:
Maruti Suzuki domestic sales down 47.4 percent in March 2020
Maruti Suzuki Dzire facelift price, variants explained