Review for Swift Dzire VDi
Purchase Date - Dec 2009| Km run: 1200 Km| Overall rating: 9/10
Average Fuel efficiency: 17(+) Km/ltr with AC(included 300 Km of highway drive)
Here is how I will rate the car on various attributes based on my driving experience of 1200 Km. Am starting with the cons and subsequently will rate the cool points of this car:
He is the pros-cons in my opining. Starting with Cons:
Cons:
Music System - Nippon - Rating(4/10)
The biggest & the only true disappointment in the entire package. Seems serious cost cutting has gone only on music system to fit VDi and ZDi in the affordable price tag. Maruti could have easily put a better system and made it an optional feature to choose.
The speakers are pure crap @ 40W, paper speaker only there for name sake. The player of nippon too leaves much to be expected. Another expense of about 20K on player and 5K on speaker set. and you can have a audible interior.
Looks - Rating(6/10)
Maruti could have done better. Its on individual perception though. I have met people who love the shape, my personal opinion however is that it could have been better. No major complains though. Have bought it after all with this very shape!
Rear seat space - Rating(7/10)
Rear seat is cramped especially when front seats are pushed all the way back. Dzire due to its slanted back glass has addressed the claustrophobic feeling that one get in Swift’s back seat. The direct competition in its price segment(Accent, Ikon, Manza) are definitely better here. The seat is comfortable though, legroom is what the problem is.
Dashboard - Rating(7/10)
Maruti could have done better with the quality of plastic they have used. Otherwise simple yet impressive dashboard, easy to reach controls. Spend another 20K on beige interiors and you will have a stunner at your disposal.
Pros:
Front seat space - Rating(8/10)
One of the best front legroom in this segment, the driving position is comfortable and suited for both city driving conditions and long drive. Deducting one point for not giving height adjustment in VDi which I believe have become a necessary inclusion now rather that an optional luxury.
Steering Control - Electronic Power Stearing - Rating(9/10)
Effortless maneuvering with electronic power steering. Much better than Manza that is looking to overtake Dzire in this segment.
Gears - Rating(9/10)
Again super smooth gear shift with minimal effort and very conveniently and accurately positioned to match driving seat. A joy to drive even in city traffic condition which requires continuous gear change. When the city traffic is driving you crazy the gears with gear it down.
Cooling - Raitng(9/10)
The 1.3 lts powerful DDiS engine predictably enough gives instant and effective cooling. Although I guess with December temperature in Mumbai it has yet not been tested to limits. It would be interesting to see how it fares in May-Jun.
Power - 1.3 ltrs 75BHP@4K rpm - rating(10/10)
Clearly the most power packed car in the segment. I have driven Manza Diesel which is a 95bhp engine but somehow the magic does not work with Manza. While driving Dzire DDiS you would clearly feel like a king out there. You hit the maximum torque of 190nm@2000RPM and all other on road would become lesser mortals to you. With Dzire you rule the road.
Pick up - Rating(10/10)
The stats are impressive. But number don’t tell everything. Even being a diesel engine this car does not give you a delayed zip on 0 to 60. So that’s a clear plus. But what does the magic is the power that this car gives
Fuel Consumption -Tank: 43L City: 17 kmpl HighW: 20 kmpl - Rating(10/10)
Take it and you would’nt stop smiling when you fellow petrol owned cars are crying about having to drive without AC, to drive within 50-60 kmph range for best fuel efficiency and the numerous theories on what is the best time to leave for work for best fuel efficiency. This car is truly fill it, shut it and forget it.~Rs.1650 of fiesel(43L @ 38 Rs./L) would last you for a whole 700 Km approximately. Anyone who knows anything about fuel cost pain would know its a whole lot of kms. And that with AC on full blast all the time. So now just smile past those Fuel pumps. You wont visit them more than once in two month.
Boot Space - Rating(10/10)
Unless you are are into movers & packers business, you wont need more than this space.
So this indeed was an impulsive buy on my part as with is pretty much the case with everything I do. But this is one decision that I definitely wont regret. I have logged just 1200 km and I guess the fun driving has only started.
For me, “The Heart Car” has truly delivered. Am off to road! Visit following link for pictorial story and drive experience - https://brijeshrsyadav.blogspot.com/2009/12/and-heart-car-finally-arrives.html
Jan 2010:
Have completed 1200 km with my Dzire VDi and the fun has only started. I am happy with my impulse decision of buying a Dzire VDi and cant love this car more. Just clocked 160 kmph on the speedometer and the RPM meter was not even close to its peak power. Its fun driving this beast.
For complete story of 0-160 kmph on Dzire read - https://brijeshrsyadav.blogspot.com/2010/01/monk-who-will-not-sell-his-ferrari.html