Maruti Celerio EZ Drive automatic review, test drive

A new small car from Maruti is always big news. What makes it even more interesting is that the Indo-Japanese company has a habit of delivering blockbusters every now and then. And that's exactly what the Celerio looks like, a winning proposition, and here's why. 

 

One thing's for sure, it's clearly a Maruti; or should we say a Suzuki. Designed in Japan to appeal to a wide global audience, this clean but safe design is unlikely to polarise opinion. An updated version of the Suzuki grille and the wraparound headlights are clearly attractive, and the tall bumper adds some character as well; but otherwise the design seems quite plain. Still, on the whole, the Celerio’s inoffensive styling should find favour among all types of buyers in the small car segment. 

 

 

What new owners will also take kindly to is the cabin, which scores really well on roominess. The Celerio is a fairly tall hatchback and Suzuki engineers have used vertical space well to maximise head and legroom. The single-piece front seats offer far more support than their slender frame would have you expect; so clearly progress has been made in making these slim line seats comfy. There's more space at the rear than you'd expect as well, the Celerio feels as roomy in the back as the Brio. The seat is pretty comfortable, with good support for your back. But thigh support is poor and the rear seat base is a tad shorter than we’d have liked. The small, fixed headrests could also be ineffective in preventing whiplash injuries (the type incurred when your neck is snapped back) in the event of a collision. Also, the cabin isn’t very wide, so seating three in the back will prove to be quite a squeeze. It's no Indica Vista, that's for sure.