MORE STYLE, MORE SPACE: The new Suzuki Dzire

Photos by Aida Sevilla Mendoza

 

More style and more space make the 2018 Suzuki Dzire more desirable than its predecessor.

The Dzire has come into its own with a nameplate no longer connected to the Swift, although it is powered by the same engine as its sibling’s.

With a chrome-accented hexagonal front grille flanked by large headlights and integrated fog lamps, plus a tapering roofline at the rear and prominent LED taillights, the new Dzire looks a class above its subcompact segment rivals.

The sleeker profile improves drag coefficient compared to the previous Swift Dzire and results in a quieter cabin and less fuel consumption.

Spacious

Riding on a longer wheelbase, the new Dzire’s interior is more spacious, with 10 millimeters more shoulder room for the driver and front passenger, 55 mm additional legroom in the rear, decent headroom and 378 liters cargo space, 26 percent bigger than the preceding model’s.

A flat-bottomed, three-spoke, multifunctional steering wheel, a new instrument cluster with a 7-inch multi-information touchscreen, user-friendly dials and controls, a 4-speaker audio system with USB port and Bluetooth connectivity, bottle holders in the doors, a storage bin centrally located under the radio, a foldable armrest with integrated cup holders at the rear, 12V ports front and rear, and silver accents on the dash spruce up the neat, all-black interior.

But for car-conscious consumers, the most notable features of the Dzire are its 5-speed automatic gear shift (AGS) and the aircon vents for rear passengers.

Aircon vents in the rear of the cabin are welcome, but AGS is something else.

New transmission

AGS is an automated manual transmission without a clutch pedal. There is no Park in the AGS system, only Drive, Neutral and Reverse. Neutral is equivalent to Park.

To operate the car, you step on the brake pedal, push the start/stop button, and shift from Neutral to Drive.

It takes a long time to get used to driving the quirky AGS in manual mode, even for those who are experienced manual transmission drivers.

To shift up or down using the manual mode, you either step hard on the gas pedal or lift your foot slightly as you would driving a manual transmission with a clutch pedal.

If you don’t use the manual mode, the AGS will hiccup or hesitate before shifting up from first to second gear.

The speedometer lags, sometimes reflecting third gear even when you are running at 80 kilometers per hour.

Nonetheless, for those who have the patience to learn how to use the manual mode of the AGS properly, the new Dzire has other specs that compensate for the AGS’s inconvenience.

For one thing, the third generation Dzire weighs some 175 kg less than its predecessor due to a new lightweight but more rigid platform, which contributes to fuel efficiency.

Peppy performer

The reduced curb weight means that the reliable 1.2-liter, 4-cylinder direct action intake VVT K12M engine of the outgoing model is more than capable of delivering peppy performance despite the limitations of 82 hp and 113 Nm of torque.

For another, the Dzire has a sporty attitude. It handles nimbly, the ride quality is good for a car this size, the cabin is well-kitted, and the MacPerson strut/torsion beam suspension absorbs road imperfections capably.

Summing up, the 2018 Dzire GL with AGS at P698,000, with its upscale styling and maximized interior space, is worth considering for daily driving in the city.

For those on a budget or who prefer a conventional manual transmission, an entry-level Dzire GL with 5-speed manual transmission is available at P638,000.