Maruti Celerio 2017-2021

The Celerio might be just another hatchback from the Maruti portfolio for many. However, for the Indo-Japanese auto giant, the hatch has been a potent tool to test uncharted territories. The Celerio was hand picked to feature one crucial firsts for Maruti. The Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). What does the Celerio bring to the table? Let’s find out.

The styling on the Celerio follows a design theme that Maruti calls ‘CICO’ (Curve in, Curve out). Design elements are majorly subdued and conservative, and in no way are groundbreaking.

In spite of the Grand i10 being a full 40mm longer than the Maruti, the Celerio has the exact same wheelbase. The way Maruti has packaged the car needs special mention. Wheels are pushed all the way out to the extremes, liberating more space for the passenger cell.

The hatchback gets plenty of curves and creases that complement its compact proportions really well. The large chrome grille flows into the droopy headlamps. The subtle creases on the bonnet and the front bumper lend it a bit of aggression.

The silhouette is typically Maruti, featuring just a dominant character line running along the length of the car and flowing into the wrap around tail lamps. The blacked out B-pillars, indicators on the ORVM and the 14-inch wheels all do their bit in adding a dab of premiumness to the hatch.

The rear is clean and simple, with the exhaust tucked away neatly under the bumper. The almond-shaped  tail lamps remind us of the Alto 800 at first glance. The top-spec trim gets a rear defogger and rear wash wipe as well.

The boot space is a healthy 235-litres, which, although less than the Grand i10’s 256-litre boot, is significantly bigger than the Chevrolet Beat’s 170-litre storage space. The rear seat gets a 60:40 split for additional luggage, and can be folded away all together to liberate 510-litres of space.

The design is definitely neutral on the Celerio. There isn’t a wow factor, nor is it categorically boring. The proportions are spot on for the city too. We only wish the build quality was slightly better.

Exterior Comparison

Boot Space Comparison

Step inside the cabin and a familiar Maruti layout welcomes you.  The dual tone beige and black combination is pleasant and dull silver accents strewn across the centre console look nice and classy.

The build quality of interiors has definitely gone up compared to older Marutis. However, compared to its immediate rivals such as the Tiago or the Grand i10, the quality does seem a notch lower.  We believe the Celerio scores very high in terms of  ergonomics; everything falls to hand very easily and is in just the right spot.

The driver’s seat on the top-spec ZXi (O) variant gets a healthy range for adjusting reach as well as height. Coupled with the rake adjustable steering, and we could get into comfortable driving position relatively easily. There’s adequate support for short trips, but we would have liked slightly more bolstering for the lower back and under thigh for the longer journeys. Also, the integrated headrests don’t support the neck , especially if you are a tall person. The view from the driver’s seat is nice since one tends to sit higher in the Celerio. However, the A-pillar is too thick, so, you will have to be careful while turning at junctions.

The steering wheel is borrowed from the Swift. It gets controls for the audio and calls, the buttons for which feel tactile. The wheel itself has a grainy texture, it isn’t wrapped in artificial leather like the Grand i10.

The cluster is a three pod unit that houses a tachometer, a speedometer and a multi-function display that lets you toggle through data like average fuel economy, distance to empty and instantaneous average as well.

The centre console houses an integrated music system (that supports USB, AUX and Bluetooth) in the top-trim, and flows into the manual aircon controls. Lower variants get a blank 2DIN slot to fit an aftermarket head unit. The air-con is typically Maruti, which means it is amongst the best units out there. The cabin gets cooled very quickly, and you wouldn’t have any complaints on that front.

The rear bench sits slightly higher than the front seats and is reclined backwards at a comfortable angle. The seats are rather thin, owing to which support and cushioning is average at best. The bench will accommodate two people in relative comfort. However, a third passenger at the rear will be a tight squeeze. Unlike the Grand i10, the Celerio misses out on rear AC vents, but it isn’t a deal breaker in any way.

Maruti has managed to wriggle out a significant amount of space on the inside for a car that has such compact dimensions. The interior has no ground-breaking features or anything drastically different than the standard Maruti fare. However, it ticks just the right boxes to be a practical city hatchback.

Recently, Maruti has offered optional ABS and Airbags across all trims, which is appreciable. This is on par with what the segment offers. In the EURO NCAP tests, the top end version of Celerio scored 3 stars out of 5.

Safety Comparison

Celerio Diesel

The world’s smallest diesel motor found its way into the Celerio’s engine bay in 2015. Dubbed the ‘DDiS125’, the 793cc motor comprises of just two cylinders. The overall power output does look meek, especially when stacked against its closest rivals. The two-cylinder motor comes to life with a shake and stir, and vibrates quite a bit before settling into a somewhat smooth idle. On the move, it does sound coarse and the engine noise will filter into the cabin at lower speeds. As the revs climb, the clatter becomes all the more nagging.

The motor lacks the outright punch you’d require for overtakes on the highway. That said, it is decently peppy for driving around in the city. All said and done, it is still the claimed 27.62kmpl mileage figure that tilts the decision in the Celerio’s favour.

Compared to its rivals, the Celerio diesel has the least amount of power and torque. However, the lower kerb weight makes the little Maruti light on its feet.

%performanceComparision-Diesel% 

Celerio Petrol

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The petrol option on the Celerio features a slightly altered K10B motor that also does duty under the bonnet of the WagonR. This 3-cylinder, 998cc engine comes mated to either a 5-speed manual or an automated manual transmission (AMT). The light clutch and the rev-happy motor is an amazing combo for city commutes. The power delivery is linear and there is enough low-end grunt to pull cleanly in one gear higher. However, the engine does get very vocal at high revs where the power tapers off very quickly. Irrespective of transmission option, the engine manages a claimed mileage of 23.1kmpl.

The same engine powers the CNG variants as well, but the power output drops to 59PS@6000rpm and so does the torque with 78Nm@3500rpm. However, this helps in returning a staggering mileage of 31.79kmpl. Notably, the CNG variant is available with the manual transmission only.

Performance Comparison (Petrol)

Note: Automated Manual Transmission (AMT)

The Celerio is equipped with an automated manual transmission. There are just two pedals, and the operation is like a conventional automatic vehicle. Slot the gear lever in ‘Drive’ (D), let go of the brakes and the car creeps forward. The operation of the clutch, is controlled by a hydraulic actuator - thereby relieving your left leg. The AMT on the litte Maruti isn’t the most polished units around; there are slight jerks when the car upshifts or downshifts. That said, they can be easily overlooked during daily commutes. You can also take charge of the gears yourself by shifting it into manual (M) mode.

Ride and Handling

Like most Marutis, the suspension is on the softer side in the Celerio. This lets it absorb the bumps and undulations on the road fairly easily. However, drive over the bigger and badder potholes, and the thuds will be transferred to the cabin. The steering is nice and light and weighs up well as the speeds progress.

You shouldn’t be cornering hard in the Celerio, but if you insist on doing it, it does fairly well. There is a hint of unavoidable body roll owing to its height, but other than that - it does feel composed. High speed stability is confidence inspiring upto 120km/h, post which the car will feel twitchy. Stopping power comes from a pair of ventilated disc brakes in the front and drum brakes at the back. Braking is standard fart - the car comes to a halt cleanly in a straight line without squiggling about too much.

The base L trim is best avoided, since it misses out on important features like audio system, keyless entry, and power windows. However, this variant has some of the essentials like power assisted steering along with manual air conditioner and heater. If you are on an absolute budget, pick the L(O) variant, the ABS and airbags are definitely worth the premium. The mid-spec V trim gets goodies like power windows and central locking system for five doors. It also comes with a 60:40 split folding rear seat, rear luggage shelf, and passenger side sun visor. The top-spec Z trims gets an integrated music system that supports radio, CD player, AUX-In, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It also gets a tilt adjustable steering with mounted controls, a rear wash wipe and defogger as well. The Z or the Z(O) trim are the only ones that can be termed as a complete package.

The Celerio is a neutral car, that won’t offend you nor please. It will go about its work in a manner that will ensure peace of mind. Couple that with Maruti’s fantastic service support network, and you have a near perfect ownership experience.

Yes, it does have few issues like the inconsistent quality, doesn’t have all the features that some of its competition boast of. But, as a city commuter, the Celerio will not disappoint.