Maruti Suzuki Dzire - Esteem Part Two!

March 11, 2008 – 11:39 am by Ashish

Maruti Esteem – a saloon car which Maruti has been selling successfully with minor upgrades for over 14 years now! But that’s about to change. Soon. What I am talking about is the Dzire that aims at being er.. a desirable car!

Maruti has been flirting with the Indian customers on the idea of a sedan which would replace the Esteem. But the flirting is about to end. Already having a cracking machine which is easy on the pocket in the shape of a Swift, Maruti started development of this car to develop a new one – a car which will replace the Esteem.

The Dzire is basically a Swift with a boot, you might say, and it appears to be just that. Or does it? Viewed head-on, it’s an all familiar face of the Swift but move around and you will gape in disbelief. The Swift, you should understand, is a small car with a high set waistline and incorporating a boot to it has been quite a tough ask, but as seen on the SX4 already, trust the engineers and designers at Maruti to keep the product improving.

The Dzire is all Swift till the B pillar but beyond that it so isn’t! The panel gaps where the rear door merges into the C pillar is very pronounced and looks extremely odd, as does the shut lines of the boot. The rear is dominated by the large, peeled-back tail lapms that are reminiscent of the Swift and a chrome strip that sits atop the registration plate.

The boot, though looks like an afterthought, has been inspired from the much famous ‘Bangled’ design of the BMW 7 Series. What it does to the rear of the Dzire is make it look stupidly bulbous. When viewed from the side, the rear overhang is just criminal when compared to the front. It also appears that the wheelbase has not been changed much compared to the Swift, so how much space is this sedan endowed with on the inside remains to be seen. The Esteem was criticized for the lack of space, hope its not the same with the Dzire. The interiors, we believe, will be given the beige treatment to make it look classy.

There are two engines that will find occupying the space under the bonnet and both will have a displacement capacity of 1.3L. One of the engines will be a diesel though – the Fiat sourced 1.3L Multijet engine while the petrol will be the same that powers the Swift. Running on 14 inch tubeless tyres, the torsion beam suspension setup of the Dzire will be worked upon to handle weight at the back side.

With the Tata Indigo CS selling in decent numbers, Maruti will do well to price the base version of the Dzire at around 4.5 lakh while the top end diesel version could cost near about 6 lakh. The battle in the entry-level mid sized segment is just about to become even more vicious.

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  1. 54 Responses to “Maruti Suzuki Dzire - Esteem Part Two!”

  2. Ya even i have heard about Maruti swift dzire and even seen some of the spy pics but seriously yaar i would not agree to this that its a replacement of esteem every car though every product has a specific life cycle and for esteem its almost an enh but that doesn’t mean that to evolve its sucess they are giving a comlementry esteem.. its a entireky new concept i feel rest we’ll see whn its actually on roads..

    By Khushi on Mar 12, 2008

  3. pls let me know as to when does maruti plan to launch swift dezire !! am waiting for a reply very soon !!

    By manish bajaj on Mar 13, 2008

  4. Hi ashish, I don’t think Swift Dzire is a relacement of esteem. Yes, it is also in the entry level mid size segment, but based on the swift platform, which is more sporty and stylish

    By Shailendra on Mar 13, 2008

  5. people maruti dzire website is already live
    visit www.marutidzire.com.
    they have launched a song also. its not so great but interesting

    By ajay on Mar 19, 2008

  6. its too early to comment because the curtains are yet to be removed but hopefully it will come up with all the expectations. i have seen pictures on web and iam sure this is going to be big hit, because we all should remember it is coming from maruti(the undisputed king of indian automobile industry)

    By bhupendra malik on Mar 19, 2008

  7. The pics are available on yahoo image search with keywords “matuti swift desire”

    I personally feel that the new car may appeal to a lot of people but swift looks sweeter than that, the boot added doesnt match the overall curvy-boxy body of swift and looks more like a Dilip Chabriya kinda job.

    However the above comments are only based on my first impression of the pics. You have every right to differ.

    By Sandeep on Mar 20, 2008

  8. i have seen the dzire picture from the google search …but i dont think its going to look same as swift ..there should be lot of changes …if not so then it won’t look good as sedan ..i am sure maruti has taken care of this …..

    By shouvik roy on Mar 20, 2008

  9. You are right shouvik. With Maruti, there is always a confidence that they will give you value for money.

    By Ankur on Mar 21, 2008

  10. Today I have seen the Car on the CNBC TV. The car is very same as swift with extra boots space :)
    And as per the review the inside quality is not Good at all. I mean to say the meterial they have used for the interior.

    By Arindam on Mar 21, 2008

  11. wonderfull. i think this is value for money. i will sure buy this.

    By sonendra verma on Mar 21, 2008

  12. good car i wan the same as soon as possible

    By ramneek on Mar 22, 2008

  13. i have seen the pics of this car but i am not impressed by the design as compared to the ESTEEM’S slim and stylish. But the interiors are best as compared to the esteem’s interiors. The interior of esteem was unsophisticated.

    I had seen the complete details on IBN7 and also seen the interiors belive me its gorgeous.

    By Mohnish on Mar 22, 2008

  14. hi

    well i think it will be a big threat to the likes of tata indigo and mahindra logan after all it looks really dezirable in the segment ……..

    By saurabh on Mar 23, 2008

  15. Hi,
    Swift Dzire looks ugly for sure it will close the doors for Maruti. Replacing Baleno was a foolish step and now Esteem is a blunder.

    By Hitesh on Mar 24, 2008

  16. Hi saurabh ! I agree with you. Dzire is going to make a major dent in the sales of logan, indigo and even honda city. After all it is a great package - good looks and great features, which none of the other cars offer.

    By Ritesh on Mar 24, 2008

  17. Maruti swift DZIre Will rock sedan segments………..
    visit :
    http://hubpages.com/hub/MARUTI-SUZUKI-SWIFT-DZiRE-REVIEWS-FEATURES-PRICE-SPECIFICATIONS-MILEAGE-PICTURES

    By disposable on Mar 24, 2008

  18. waiting for the big day. i think its 26th March. but you can see video of dzire in youtube

    By shouvik roy on Mar 24, 2008

  19. hi,
    after a long time we have seen a good model of marti cars.
    it is true that swift desire will play a good role in place of esteem.

    By amit on Mar 24, 2008

  20. I saw this thing on NDTV Profit on Sunday, and quite frankly, it is the ugliest thing ever to hit Indian roads.

    Thanks to the so called ‘designers’ at Maruti, the Swift’s backside has been extended so that it looks like a tank from 2 metres away. The rear curves hardly blend into the boot, and I really puked when the anchor called it a great ‘value for money’. Interiors remain exactly the same: pathetic. If this is all Maruti can come up with ‘in response to the Logan’, heaven help us!

    By Mohnish on Mar 25, 2008

  21. If you ask a school going kid to draw a car he will come up with the better design and good looking car than Swift Sedan. Just adding the boot space does not make a it a sedan. Also Maruti engineers must have lot of Feviquick to paste the boot, otherwise how can they justify such a high price compared to Swift hatch.

    By Mohnish on Mar 25, 2008

  22. Read more about the Dzire with scoop picture and video at IndiBlog

    By Anil T on Mar 25, 2008

  23. Saw the car on IBN7. It was too good
    waiting to buy.
    If front look of the car can be improved
    than this will be the best car in this
    sagment.

    By B.B.Chaturvedi on Mar 25, 2008

  24. Hi Mohnish, I am surprised at your sense of beauty. You find the boxy logan good and are Dzire ugly - amazing. All maruti cars emerge as value for money and no doubt this one will too. Such features at 5.2 lacs, how can logan even stand in front of this one.

    By Mitesh on Mar 25, 2008

  25. Hi Mohnish, i have heard a few people saying..”Ashwaria is ugly!”

    By Jiten on Mar 25, 2008

  26. Swift Dezire looks bad, and it only has a boot that cannot be named as “Value for money”. Phasing out Baleno was a mistake and now esteem with dezire.

    By Saju on Mar 25, 2008

  27. cool down guys ….just wait for 14 hrs more …see logan and dzire side by side and then compare …:-)

    By shouvik roy on Mar 25, 2008

  28. i dont know much about swift desire but i that it will be a cool one

    and it will give competetion to honda city

    By abhy on Mar 26, 2008

  29. i dont know much about swift desire but it will be a cool one nd it will give a competetion to honda city zx

    By abhay on Mar 26, 2008

  30. Let’s see today they are launching the car. Basically now days everything matters. look, average, price and I mean everything

    By sharlin kaur on Mar 26, 2008

  31. The car looks bad, i drove it, test drive report can be read on http://thecarsandmore.blogspot.com/

    By fas on Mar 26, 2008

  32. Want to buy Maruti New Launched Dzire.

    Please contact me at +91-9958160125

    Lallima Mahindru

    By Lallima Mahindru on Mar 26, 2008

  33. Hey the initial photos dont seem very appealing esp from behind..agree with Mohnish..the design at the back could have been better..Reminds one of the shabby look of Indigo…

    By Max on Mar 26, 2008

  34. Its really look ugly.its website mainly contains rear pictures but when you look at 360 view at
    http://www.marutidzire.com/360view.asp?nav=360

    newly added rear doesnt suit existing swift front.

    By Gaurav on Mar 26, 2008

  35. All it looks like a small sister of SX4 as per the high trunk……….

    By Mohnish on Mar 27, 2008

  36. Hi..

    I have seen Swift Dzire and being an Indian, I am proud to say that Maruti’s product always withstand with customer’s expectations, in terms of ” Value For Money ” and for Launching Innovative Models on periodic basis.

    Sunny.

    By Sanil Saraff on Mar 27, 2008

  37. Hi max, Even I saw the Picture it’s just seems they converted swift into another car with dikki in it. but lets see how it’s looks in road

    By sharlin kaur on Mar 27, 2008

  38. Hi guys,
    Saw the Swift Dzire yesterday. It was amazing . The built quality of the car was very good. However the rear legroom and inclination was disappointing. The boot is huge. Also getting in and out of the rear was not very comfortable. But overall it is a very good car. Compared to Logan the looks are definetly better. It will be the best car in the segment. No doubt it will be a hit once it hits the road. Will be booking the DZsire today.

    By Siddharthan on Mar 27, 2008

  39. Siddharthan, How about the Interior. and what’s the start price range x show room price

    By sharlin kaur on Mar 27, 2008

  40. I dont think so this will be play a gud role in market

    By Naveen on Mar 27, 2008

  41. Hi
    swift dzire is very good competitor with its price tag for the midsize segment version and it has very good outer look with very good interiors like SX4. All the best swiftdzire, Gohead to win the competition.

    By Gopinath on Mar 27, 2008

  42. Can anybody compare the features and specs of DZire ZXi and HondaCity ZX GXi?
    Where is Honda City advantageous, leaving Price apart, but just feature wise?

    By Praveen on Mar 27, 2008

  43. Its an alright package but I seriously hate the looks. I wouldnt buy it at all. Might as well go for the swift without the ass than go for this ugly experiment. Im sure a lot of people will buy it though.

    By M on Mar 28, 2008

  44. Sharlin Kaur,the interiors are good.They have matched the quality to SX 4 . The onroad price for Ldi is 5,64,000 Vdi, 6,14,000 and Zxi is 7,06,000. We cannot compare this car to Ford fiesta or Verna. Those cars are definitely superior in quality and drive comfort. But please keep in mind about the price . The zxi models in fiesta is 9,07,000 and Verna is 9, 40,000. Also bear in mind that the maintenence of ford and Verna is costlier than maruthi. It will be an instant hit. Already the delivery date is 4 months from booking. You can guess the demand. Also this price is introductory,
    it will increase in the due course. the top end model in Logan is nearing 8,00,000. So the ultimate choice will be SWIFT DEZIRE.

    By Siddharthan on Mar 29, 2008

  45. I did a test drive on VDi, pickup of this care is just amazing. The front panel with integrated audio system is just awesome. In Pune the on road price is around 6.5 Lakh for VDi. I was comparing this car with Fiat Palio 1.3 SD, which has the same diesel engine. So power wise both are equal as but the Fiat interior just sucks. The on road price of Fiat Palio 1.3 SDe is 5.0 Lakh in Pune.

    But I personally feel 1.5 Lakh extra is worth it. Also the Maruthi Tag… Service Cost, Service Dependability, Service Reliability, Resale cost.. these are plus of Swift Dzire..

    Only down side for Dzire is waiting period of around 35 Days.

    By RCKP on Mar 29, 2008

  46. Seen the Swift Dzire- good features for the price, but hey, in priofile reminds you of the old Ambassador ( landmaster). Also the rear visibility is almost as terrible as in the swift

    By Ashok Chandani on Mar 30, 2008

  47. Hi M,
    People are flocking to buy it. I am sure they don’t think it is bad looking. There is already waiting time for delivery.

    By Rajesh Saxena on Mar 31, 2008

  48. I saw the dzire yesterday. Liked the looks and the features. I found the rear seat comfort quite good.

    By dhiraksha Jain on Apr 2, 2008

  49. Hi praveen, Honda city and dzire are 2 different car segments. Still a hit on honda city sales is being predicted. Reason being dzire is high on features which even honda doesn’t give.

    By harnam singh on Apr 2, 2008

  50. Yes. I agree. I am one of those. In this price bracket Swift Dzire is the best option available.No wonder it is over booked already.

    By Abhisekh on Apr 2, 2008

  51. Well, I saw, i went to showroom, i booked.
    That’s all.
    No more comparisons.
    Price at its best in that segment.

    By Sridhar.R on Apr 2, 2008

  52. Which is better - Maruti Indigo Vs Swift Desire…?

    By Vishal Harupka on Apr 3, 2008

  53. Definitely Maruti DZire. Indigo has none of the features that DZire has - airbags, abs, ebd, icats, titl sterring, stereo mounted controls etc etc.

    By Bharat Kumar on Apr 3, 2008

  54. Hey Vishal, Swift Dzire is the better one without a doubt. Indigo is ok for running as a commercial vehicle, but not for personal use.

    By Indian Car Lover on Apr 7, 2008

  55. looks better in real than in the pictures.
    booked dzire vxi on 6th april waiting period max 45 days min 35 days.
    selling like hot cakes.
    you think all these people are fools to buy it.
    dont compare with indigo and logan they are just 3 boxes and tin.
    swift dzire has way better looks than these cars.
    ive seen logan piece of shit interiors they say the midconsole is crome liars!it is all plastic.what indians do not know what crome is?i just hope i get it in 45 days coz some had booked the swift hatchback and got it in 6 months hope this does not happen to the dzire.

    By avinash on Apr 10, 2008

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