photo by carl cabusas
ONE OF the highlights of the recent Manila International Auto Show were the small, subcompact vehicles.
They are just practical as a daily driver. But the thing is, at less than four meters, not all small cars look good when they are shrunk to a certain size.
But Suzuki’s Dzire is basically a Swift with a rear end, so it looks pretty good. What it lacks in size, it makes up for its character and practicality.
The new Dzire uses the same HEARTEC platform as the all-new Suzuki Swift. That means, it’s now lighter than the MK1 Dzire by almost 80 kilograms.
Power is still from the tried and tested 1.2-liter VVt engine. But it’s now mated to what Suzuki calls an Automated Manual. It’s basically a clutchless Manual transmission that behaves like an automatic.
Confused? We, too, are. The new Dzire comes out later either May or June and specs should be better than the display unit.
With a lighter body and with a preppy engine, the new Dzire should be economical to run and fun to drive.
Fit and finish and overall design have improved accordingly, but the excessive use of hard plastic inside the cabin dampens the mood quite a bit.
The new Dzire now gets rear air vents for rear passengers, by the way.