Review: Suzuki Dzire is a practical and affordable sedan that should be on your list

It’s not by accident that Suzuki has elevated themselves as South Africa’s second biggest manufacturer on the sales charts.

They’re batting in the R250k to R500,000 range which is where the majority of South African consumers are shopping for cars.

Complimenting the affordability is their reliability, relatively low maintenance costs and exceptional fuel efficiency.

The Swift remains their most popular headline act and while sedans don’t make the headlines that often anymore, the Swift based Dzire doesn’t always receive the recognition it deserves.  

Sure, it’s punted as an E-Hailer rather than something that stands in people’s driveways, but I think it should be regarded as more than just a car you call on an App.

Exterior

The mid-spec GL+ we had on test is a budget sedan which in itself is somewhat of an oddity on our roads seeing we prefer hatchbacks and crossovers. 

It’s not a stand-out looker but I would describe it as neat and well-rounded. A wide black grille, slim halogen headlights and a neatly designed front bumper combine well to keep it contemporary. 

The small lip on the boot, angular lights and rear bumper design provide a neat rear end and standing on black 15-inch alloys gives the Dzire an elevated look.

Interior

Despite its size, the Dzire’s interior is actually relatively roomy with substantial space for rear passengers with the driver’s seat adjusted for my height.

When we drove the car on launch last year, the only seat colour was beige, not exactly ideal for a car likely to be used every day.

Thankfully Suzuki SA have convinced Maruti Suzuki in India to provide black upholstery, which not only offsets better against the beige and black doorcards but is also a lot more dirt forgiving.

At R252,900 you can’t expect leather and soft touch surfaces, instead there’s a lot of hard plastics scattered throughout the interior.

Our test unit had over 10 000km and on the surface, at least, it looks as though it will stand the test of hard-wearing time.   

Still, you get a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, set in an oversized housing, providing wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that also shows rear view camera images with rear park assist.  

You get electric windows, cruise control, USB charging points, a height-adjustable multi-functional steering wheel and a nice touch is the rear air conditioning vent.

Boot space is rated at 378 litres providing more than enough space for weekends away and even a golf bag.

Safety-wise there are six airbags, ABS with EBD, stability control and ISOfix mounting points.

Adjusting vehicle settings is a cinch with everything easy to reach and happily almost everything is done via a switch or a dial. 

The sound emanating from the speakers is hardly an eargasm though and if this is important to you, I would suggest an upgrade.

Power

The Suzuki Dzire is pulled forward by the same engine found in the Swift. The 1.2-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine produces 60kW and 112Nm coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox in our test unit, or a CVT. 

Driving

As you would expect, the Dzire is not a speed merchant but in and around town and the suburbs it’s a perfect companion. 

The clutch is super light and gearchanges swift and while the steering may feel a bit vague, it’s perfectly acceptable for this segment. 

Highway driving provides a slightly different experience.

It’s not bad, mind you, but you really have to thrash the gearbox to keep momentum.

Fortunately the three pot motor doesn’t mind high revving but you have to keep it above 4000RPM to get the best out of it. 

On a drive from Pretoria to Joburg and back there were a number of times in slow traffic that I thought third gear would do but there just wasn’t enough grunt so a quick shift and hard acceleration in second gear was the order of the day.

There’s quite a bit of wind and road noise at higher speeds. It’s not overly intrusive though and considering the price-point is acceptable. 

I suspect that having to keep the revs up, especially on the highveld, was responsible for the 5.5l/100km against the claimed 4.4l/100km but I’d be happy with that consumption any day. 

Verdict

In a tough segment the Suzuki Dzire stands out as a well-equipped, practical and fuel efficient option that makes a strong case for everyday driving. With good boot and interior space as well as decent levels of safety and tech it should be on your list if you’re shopping around at this price.

Also, it’s a sedan, so you’re not part of the masses.