EXCLUSIVE: 4th Generation Maruti Suzuki Dzire Coming By End-August

The much anticipated Maruti Suzuki Dzire is overdue for change, and its new generation is all set for debut in a few weeks. The car has been a huge volumes driver, and while sedans may have lost some steam in the recent past, the Dzire juggernaut remains fairly powerful. And so a new model is expected to shake things up in the dormant sedan segment once more. The new 4th gen subcompact sedan will be launched by the end of August, according to sources. The new Dzire like its predecessors is obviously also based on the Swift hatchback. And with the new Maruti Suzuki Swift having arrived in May, the sedan cannot be far behind anyway. So expect the Dzire to share the Swift’s updated Heartect platform, and its new Z-series petrol engine. The Z12E motor will replace the K12. Also expect the sedan to be offered with both a 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT (automated manual transmission; also known by AGS in the Maruti scheme of things). The other expectation is strong fuel efficiency figures for the car, which are also expected to be higher than on the outgoing car (claimed mileage on gen 3: 22.41/22.61 kmpl on petrol manual and AMT respectively).

The new Dzire will also no doubt carry over the Swift’s cabin equipment in terms of the 9-inch touchscreen with the SmartPlay Pro+ system. But that would only likely be available on the top-spec ZXI+ variant. Lower variants will likely get the SmartPlay Pro 7-inch treatment as on the hatch. This also means wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, steering-mounted controls, and wireless charger. Expect the car to also sport a push button start-stop, and keyless entry. The higher variants will likely also get automatic climate control and an Arkamys sound system. On safety too the car is expected to get a massive step up. Besides getting ESC, the 6-airbags treatment and ISOFIX child seat anchors, it is also expected to have a sturdier build – all as standard. Acko Drive had reported exclusively on how the new generation Swift and Dzire are aiming at higher star ratings from crash tests. You can read that story here. Given that strategy, the Dzire is now expected to become a much safer car as well.

All this does mean that prices will move up marginally. While the current car starts at ₹6.56 lakh and tops off at ₹9.38 lakh, the new generation is expected to be priced in the ₹7-10.5 lakh price range. Maruti would be eyeing another blockbuster here, and so keeping volumes in mind, the Dzire is expected to be priced competitively. New colours are also expected, and the Dzire would likely sport a lot more chrome in its exterior design over the Swift hatch. The interior is also likely to have a lighter palette in terms of materials like plastics and fabric. The timing of the launch is also being seen as relevant just at the threshold of the start of India’s festive season.

After a dull first half, a lot of brands are expecting strong sales during the August to November months. The Dzire will play a big part in that. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire has on occasion been India’s largest-selling car model, and sales do tend to remain robust around the festive season, and in tier 2 and 3 towns, as well as in rural markets. The Dzire sold over 157,000 units in 2023, and this despite the fact that the outgoing car has been around since the summer of 2017. In fact its sales almost matched the previous year’s volumes. The 3rd generation had outdone sales of the previous two, and the CNG variant had a big role to play there. So the gen 4 model is also expected to ring in good numbers. A CNG variant of the Dzire will follow in a few months after the initial petrol car’s launch.