Maruti Suzuki Ciaz officially unveiled
Maruti’s new mid-size sedan has been in the offing, since the 2014 Auto Expo in Delhi, the wait is finally over with the production spec Ciaz being unveiled for the first time in India.
The replacement for the Maruti Suzuki SX4 looks more mature, elegant, and definitely sportier. The production-spec Ciaz unveiled today isn’t all that different from the one that was showcased at the Auto Expo. It has the same flowing lines, the tucked in projector headlamps, and the bold grille with the Suzuki logo up front. On the other hand, the fog lamp housing isn’t as radical as the one seen in the concept. The rear, especially the tail-lamps, however, resemble the recently launched Honda City enough that confusion could easily set in. The 16-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels are smart but lack the exotic feel of the ones showcased at the Auto Expo. The lower-spec trims will have 15-inch alloys. The twin exhausts of the concept are also given a miss.
As Maruti Suzuki is quite serious about its new mid-size offering, they have kitted the Ciaz with a while host of features like keyless entry, push-to-start, rearview mirror with a parking camera display, electric boot release, footwell lamps, rear sunshade, auto ORVMs, projector lamps, reading lights, leather upholstery, and a new SmartPlay infotainment system with steering mounted controls. The infotainment system comes with a touchscreen display and USB, AUX, SD card and Bluetooth connectivity. The system is also voice enabled so that navigation (for maps), your smartphone, and the system itself can be used hands-free.
On the inside, the Ciaz does a great job of looking premium though part sharing lessens the appeal slightly. The steering wheel, power window switches, various switch gear, and the dashboards’ layout are shared with the Swift in the interest of keeping costs low. With the obvious part sharing out of the way, the Ciaz certainly offers that upmarket mid-size segment feel with large and generously bolstered seats and a spacious cabin thanks to the 2650mm long wheelbase.
The Ciaz comes with the standard safety features found in most mid-size sedans like ABS with EBD and dual front airbags. In addition, the Ciaz adopts Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology (S-TECT) which uses light-weight, yet strong high grade tensile steel to improve structural integrity, improving occupant safety.
In the engine department, there is little to differentiate the Ciaz from the SX4 as Maruti’s newest entrant will be powered by the same 1.4-litre K-series petrol mill that develops 90bhp and 130Nm of peak torque, and the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel motor producing 89bhp and 200Nm of torque. The Fiat-sourced diesel engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission while the K-series petrol mill also comes with a four-speed automatic ‘box. Maurti Suzuki claims best-in-class fuel efficiency for both engines with the petrol one claimed to return 20.73kmpl, while the diesel motor can go an amazing 26.21kmon a single litre of fuel. With a kerb weight of 1010kg for the petrol and 1105kg for the diesel, the light-weight sedan won’t be a slouch though it may not be the fastest in the segment either as its rivals have larger capacity diesel engines and more powerful petrol ones.
The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz will be offered in four trims- V, V+, Z, and Z+, and will be available in seven colours- “pearl snow white”, “sangria red”, “dignity brown”, “clear beige”, “silky silver”, “glistening grey”, and “midnight black”.
The Ciaz will go up against rivals like the Honda City, VW Vento, Fiat Linea, and Hyundai’s Verna. The Japanese manufacturer hopes that the Ciaz will succeed where the SX4 failed and build on Maruti’s 39.5 per cent market share in the mid-size sedan segment. Stay tuned for the prices which should be announced by the middle of next month.
