Maruti’s best performing car models are not surprisingly loaded at the lower end of the price spectrum. For the company that really put Indians on four-wheels, the affordability image has really put paid to its ambitions of moving up the price and size ladder. Maruti Suzuki has definitely moved on in the buyer’s mind and yet one could have said that till recently the company did have trouble find takers for its premium vehicles.

But that was in the past with cars like the Kizashi and the Grand Vitara bombing in the market. There has been slow transition in the buyer acceptance levels at least for a premium mid-size sedan from the badge and they have been found wanting a better alternative for the SX4. Given the competition in the segment from the likes of the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and the Nissan Sunny, Maruti’s portfolio is certainly missing a more competitive model in the Rs 8 lakh to Rs 11 lakh price segment.

The missing link will be the new Ciaz, which is being launched later this month. Replacing the SX4, the Ciaz is Maruti’s big bet at cracking the growing premium sedan segment. You might recall the Ciaz concept showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo in February this year.

The Ciaz is a global model developed by Suzuki for introduction into many markets, the most important of which could be China (in terms of numbers), though India gets it first. The Ciaz has been built on an entirely new platform and one of the key parameters that has been considered is space. No wonder its wheelbase is a class leading 2,650mm.

Design

The production version of the car is expectedly less futuristic compared to the concept. But the new Ciaz follows most of the design elements of the notchback style concept. In the flesh, the new Ciaz’s design comes across as simple and cautious, but still modern and fresh. There are, finally, some lines that are beginning to be identifiable as Suzuki’s own. The curved down edge for the wraparound headlamps and the typical chrome slats for the bonnet grille.

There are very mild references to some of the other models, but the overall profile of the Ciaz is focused on delivering the image of a premium sedan. The front of the Ciaz is more expressive than the rear, where the stubby boot is overpowered by the large tail-lamps and the rear bumper inserts that mimic dual exhaust ends. The boot itself conceals a huge 510-litre luggage area, though, with a high-set rear bumper, the loading height might be a bit high.

The Ciaz design’s simplicity is even more pronounced when the car is viewed from the side. The side profile line, the shoulder line and the waistline are all pronounced and nearly straight lines. But, they all elegantly merge into the other design lines at the front and rear. The shoulder line is set high, though that hasn’t lead to a reduction in the amount of light that gets into the Ciaz’s cabin.

Interior

Talking about the airy cabin of the Ciaz, it is sure to surprise anyone who enters with the amount of space available. With a roofline that plunges downward late in the curve, there is enough headroom even at the rear. But it is the amount of legroom that is going to leave most potential buyers with a satisfied smile. Rear legroom is better than most other competing cars, except possibly the Nissan Sunny/ Renault Scala.

The dashboard features a 3-layered, 2-tone finish, with dark grey and light beige panels with fake wood inserts set in a simple, uncluttered fashion. The centre stack and floor console and flow seamlessly forming a clean Y-shape. Fit and finish quality is excellent and perceived quality is also right up there, though just a tad bit lower than the Honda City.

There are a few additions in the new Ciaz that are rare for a Maruti, but needed for a car in this segment. Starting from something simple like the presence of a dead pedal, to the new touchscreen infotainment system, the rear aircon vents and the new auto climate control are image boosters for the Ciaz. The steering wheel is by now the familiar chunky, 3-spoke, but the addition of Bluetooth and voice controls are new and positioned just behind the wheel.

There is a considerable amount of plastic all around, but unlike Marutis in the lower price segment, the Ciaz’s interior doesn’t feel tacky at all and is instead quite upmarket in feel. The seats, especially at the rear could have been given a bit more under-thigh support. We felt that the rear headrests could also have been adjustable instead of fixed. The boot lid now gets an electric release button on the dash.

Performance

The Ciaz gets a choice of two engines one each of petrol and diesel. The petrol engine is the K14 VVT mill that is already available in the Ertiga and in almost the same state of tune. But, Maruti engineers say that there has been considerable amount of weight reduction work that has been done to the engine. The Ciaz itself also features an increased use of lighter weight, high tensile steel that keeps the kerb weight of the petrol version to just above one tonne (1,010 kgs).

The 1,372cc petrol engine delivers a peak power of 92.5PS at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 130Nm at 4,000 rpm. The engine, as we all know by now, is a refined unit that is inherently quiet and of low vibration. During our test drive of the Ciaz, the most likeable aspect of this engine was the amount of low-end torque available. During slow speeds, below the 20-30 kmph levels, the engine almost behaves like a diesel.

The diesel engine is the more familiar DDiS engine that is originally the multijet from Fiat. This is the 1,248cc diesel burner that is available across many models from Maruti and even Tata and Fiat models. This engine felt familiar during our test drive too and continues to surprise with its remarkably refined performance even in the Ciaz. The mill delivers 90PS of power at 4,000 rpm and 200Nm of torque at a low 1,750 rpm.

There is a bit of turbolag initially just like it is in other models with this engine, but there is enough pulling power just past 1,200 rpm. Both the engines are paired with a 5-speed gearbox. The petrol engine version also gets a 4-speed automatic, which was available for a test drive. What is missing in the smooth shifting manual transmission is a bit more shift feel. The cabin is quiet in both the petrol and diesel versions, with extensive use of sound deadening and noise dampening aids.

The improvements to the engines and the weight reduction measures manage to make the Ciaz one of the most fuel-efficient sedans with a claimed mileage of 20.73 kmpl for the petrol and 26.21 kmpl for the diesel (ARAI rated).

Bottomline

The Ciaz also managed to delight us with its ride quality. The stiffer chassis and the suspension set up gives the right mix of rigidity and compliant ride quality. Straight line stability is excellent. Though we cant quite comment on cornering ability after the short test drive we had, it would be safe to say that the Ciaz would match segment benchmarks.

We feel that Maruti Suzuki potentially has a better premium sedan in the Ciaz than some of the competition. Features like the rear sunscreen, SmartPlay infotainment system sand personal reading lamps for the rear occupants are big pluses for buyers in the segment. We have to wait for the launch for the price announcement, but a Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10.5 lakh range will possibly leave the competition palpitating.

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