Suzuki’s in-house 1.5-litre diesel engine has been a long time coming. The new four-cylinder engine has made its debut in the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, which is priced from Rs 9.97 lakh to Rs 11.37 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Coupled to an all-new 6-speed manual gearbox, the new motor replaces the older 1.3-litre diesel engine and brings it nearer to its diesel mid-sized sedan competition in terms of output. We’ve compiled all the facts and figures to tell you how the upgraded Ciaz fares against the outgoing Ciaz 1.3-litre, the Hyundai Verna, the Honda City, the Volkswagen Vento and the Skoda Rapid. The models compared are the respective top-spec variants.

Powertrain

The new 1.5-litre diesel motor from Maruti puts out 95hp and 225Nm of torque, which is a significant increase over the 1.3-litre’s 90hp and 200Nm of torque. However, the new Maruti Suzuki Ciaz diesel misses out on the mild-hybrid setup of the old model. In comparison, the Hyundai Verna has the largest displacement motor and also leads the charts in terms of power and torque output. The Honda City’s 1.5-litre unit does produce more power than the Ciaz’s 1.5-litre engine but has a lower torque figure. Both the Verna and the City are equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox, though the Hyundai gets the option of a 6-speed automatic, too. The Volkswagen Vento and Skoda Rapid share their engines and produce identical power and torque figures; both can be had with 5-speed manual and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission options. 

In terms of fuel efficiency, both Ciaz models reign supreme. The older 1.3-litre returns an ARAI-rated 28.09kpl while the new 1.5-litre is close behind, rated at 26.82kpl. The Skoda Rapid is the least frugal manual while the Verna is the least fuel-efficient automatic in this comparison.

Dimensions

In terms of dimensions, the Ciaz has the longest wheelbase, the most width, the largest boot and is the longest overall, as well. As a result, the Ciaz has class-leading interior space. The Honda City, meanwhile, is the tallest of the lot and has the same amount of boot space as the Ciaz. All sedans here run on 195/55-section 16-inch wheels apart from the City, which comes with 185/55-section tyres. 

Features

Standard safety kit for all sedans here include dual airbags and ABS. However, in their top-spec trims, the Rapid gets two additional airbags while the Verna and City both get four additional airbags. All cars get touchscreen infotainment systems – although the Ciaz, Verna and City each feature 7.0-inch units while the Rapid and Vento get smaller 6.5-inch units. Honda City aside, all cars also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Leather seats, rear AC vents and automatic headlamps are also common to all competitors while the City, Rapid and Vento go one further and offer automatic wipers, too. Buyers will also appreciate the sunroof that comes with the Verna and the City – a feature that the others miss out on.

Price

In terms of pricing, the new Ciaz 1.5 diesel is priced at Rs 9.97 lakh for the base Delta variant, Rs 11.08 lakh for the mid-spec Zeta trim and Rs 11.37 lakh for the top-spec Alpha variant.  Even at this higher price point in comparison to the outgoing Ciaz 1.3, the new 1.5-litre Ciaz still undercuts all its rivals. If you factor in the engine’s efficiency, the Ciaz is sure to remain the value-for-money option among the mid-size sedans.