Dzire-able: Suzuki’s new subcompact sedan

There is this hot topic in America that the sedan market is dying.

As rising consumer preference for utility vehicles with better space and safety features cause the plunge in sales of the mid-size and compact sedans in that part of the world, there is a valid concern that the Philippine market is taking the same direction.

Definitely not, if you ask the people at Suzuki Philippines, Inc.

For a company that counts a lot of its blessings—past, present and future—from small cars, Suzuki is not just about to let anything divert its attention.

For Suzuki, small is big.

Suzuki Philippines is, in fact, importing the all new Dzire to continue the relentless campaign for a bigger share in the subcompact market that counts models like the the Mitsubishi Mirage, Toyota Wigo, Kia Picanto, and just recently, Volkswagen Santana.

Now, with a sedan-heavy lineup that includes the Ciaz, Swift and Celerio, you wonder how affordable becomes more, well, affordable for Suzuki.

The prices are P638,000 for the GL Manual and P698,000 for the GL+ AGS.

AGS is certainly not a typo for GAS, because it’s the reason why Suzuki is placing its bets on this new model, the third generation of what has become India’s most dominant sedan the past three years.

AGS stands for Auto Gear Shift, the result of a new technology that allows the Dzire to offer multiple driveline options.

The Dzire’s AGS is a newly developed automated manual transmission system equipped with the intelligent shift control actuator that can send signals to perform clutch and shift operations.

And that’s what makes Dzire desirable as this will translate to excellent fuel efficiency (as the basic structure is manual transmission), easy driving because the driver enjoys freedom from clutch pedal and gearshift operations, and what’s more, fun driving.

There will always be that itch to crank up the power of the engine, and a flick of the stick will transform the transmission mode from automatic to manual even on the fly, giving the driver all the possible options for speed.

The 1.2-liter 16-valve engine with VVT (carried over from the previous generation) packs 82 hp at 6,000 rpm, although tweaks should aid fuel efficiency more than power.

When the Dzire was once called the “ugly” Swift because of what looked like a small bump added to its rear, the new arrival is just what it needs to be.

You have to believe that the new Dzire undoubtedly has found an identity of its own.

A new bumper, a revised front grille, and a lower air dam enhance its front fascia, but its sexy features rely mainly on the C Pillar that makes the transformation real and evident.

No need to worry about its size because the dual front airbags assure passenger safety, as well as with other features like the ABS (anti-lock braking system) with BA (brake assist) and EDC (engine drag control).

Two weeks before its official launch on June 27, it’s quite certain that this Dzire has caught the fancy of some people in search of a new ride fit for their budget.

Sometimes, it’s really hard to fight your own desire.

A special video feature of the Suzuki Dzire can be viewed at the L-INQ facebook page