Has Maruti finally got its premium sedan formula right?
The newly launched Maruti Ciaz started off with an impressive reception of 10,000 bookings on its day of launch. Mr. R S Kalsi, executive director, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL), has told Autocar Professional that the C-segment sedan has managed to garner over 17,000 bookings so far.
The Honda City rival went on sale in early October with an introductory price range of INR 6.99 lakhs to INR 8.59 lakhs for the petrol version and INR 8.04 to INR 9.80 lakhs for the diesel version (all prices, ex-showroom New Delhi).
The SX4 replacement gets all-new exterior and interior design, and is based on a new light weight platform. A spacious cabin is one of its strong selling points. Equipment wise, the car, which will be exported to the Middle East and Latin America, comes packed with standard features such as projector headlamps, electrically adjustable ORVM, audio system and keyless entry.
The top end Z(O) trim offers dual airbags, ABS with EBD, engine Start/Stop button, rear parking sensors with camera and SmartPlay infotainment system, leather upholstery, leather wrapped steering wheel and 16-inch alloy wheels.
The 1.4-litre K-series petrol engine is borrowed from the Ertiga. The motor produces 92.45 PS (91.14 bhp) and 130 Nm and comes mated either to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. Manual variants have an ARAI certified mileage of 20.73 km/l.
Read our tech-spec comparo of the Maruti Ciaz against its rivals
The familiar 1.3-litre DDiS diesel motor which pumps out 90 PS (88.7 bhp) and 200 Nm of torque, spins the wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. The diesel Ciaz emerges as the most fuel efficient car in India with an ARAI figure of 26.21 km/l, taking the crown from the City.
Currently the waiting period for the Ciaz is extends to about three months.
Competitors: Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid, VW Vento, Nissan Sunny
[Source: Autocar Professional]
