Maruti Dzire crosses the 5,000 km mark: A Tale of Work Trips, Midnight Runs And Ghats!

From smooth highways to challenging ghats, the Maruti Dzire ZXi+ MT proves itself as the perfect blend of efficiency, comfort, and fun!

When the Dzire lost the highly sought-after ICOTY (Indian Car of the Year) award by a narrow margin of 2 points, I was absolutely devastated. I was highly impressed with the car, its dynamics, usability, and sheer joy it brought to my daily commutes. Of course, the Thar Roxx is not a bad option by any stretch of imagination. In fact, it's an awesome car with its own brand of charm.

All thanks to my polite colleague Ansh, who generously handed over the keys of his much-loved long-term Dzire, I was able to put some good kilometres on this one.

But come on, the Dzire was a serious contender. It had all that you would want in a daily driver: efficiency, comfort, and a degree of involvement that you just don't get from a sub-4-meter sedan, let alone at this price point.

In 5,000 km, I got to drive around about 2,000-2,500 km myself in this ZXi+ MT trim, and here's what I have to report:

The First Few Runs: A Comfortable Cruise

It wasn't long before I fell for the Dzire's smooth cruising capabilities. My first few journeys were the usual Pune-Mumbai runs. The smooth expressway, the gentle hum of the engine, and the ease with which the Dzire cruised on the road made me realise just how appropriate this sedan is for long trips. It did not feel underpowered even as a 1.2-litre engine in lone drives, but at times when loaded with 5 people on-board, the performance felt dull. The shifting of the 5-speed manual transmission was smooth, which resulted in the entire driving experience being more interactive.

On these highway trips, the Dzire's thriftiness was experienced. The 1.2-litre Z-series engine was not whining for attention but steadily delivered power, and this suited the nature of my highway trips. I was achieving around 20 kmpl, which is a decent fuel economy on long drives and one that I enjoyed thoroughly, considering the number of road trips I take.

Midnight Adventures: Khandala Ghat And The Dzire’s Hidden Personality

It's not all cruising along highways smoothly, however. The real test came on those nighttime drives. There's something about the Mumbai-Pune highway at midnight; the roads are devoid of traffic, the air is cooler, and the long stretches just invite some action. One such night, I found myself stuck in traffic near Lonavala ghat (ironic). The expressway was clogged, and nobody seemed to be moving. So, I chose to use the old Khandala ghat, a narrow, winding road with hairpin turns and sharp rises.

Now, you would not expect the Dzire to shine on such roads, but surprisingly, it did. The 3-cylinder engine, though not the most potent in its class, was a joy to be around. The Dzire is not performance-oriented, but it handles well for its size. The light steering, manual box, and revvhappy engine all came together to make driving in the ghat a joy. I was chucking the Dzire through the corners, and it did not complain. It was quicker than I expected, and there was certainly fun to be had. The engine was astonishingly smooth even when maximum throttle was pressed, and rapid gear changes were no problem for the light clutch and gearbox.

City Driving: Nimble And Efficient

While I loved the Dzire on highways and ghats, the city drive experience was where I really appreciated its characteristics. Mumbai's crowded roads are no place for big, clumsy sedans, but the Dzire's small footprint meant that it could easily make its way through narrow lanes, jammed traffic, and tiny parking spaces. Its light steering meant that driving through congested traffic wasn't as stressful. Whether taking it out for a sundowner drive or post-work drives within town, the Dzire never felt like a fish out of water.

What I loved most about driving the Dzire in the city was how it combined everyday practicality with a touch of fun. I could get out of sticky situations without breaking a sweat.

Work Trips: Comfort And Reliability

Several work-related travels had me making Pune-Mumbai runs (yes, once again!) and even to the scenic Khadakvasla Dam, and I was more than happy to have the Dzire with me on such journeys. Such journeys were mostly early morning starts, long driving hours, and plenty of stress. But the Dzire made all these easier to bear. The seats were not the most comfortable, but they were well-supported, and the interior was quiet enough to carry on conversations or listen to podcasts during a ride. The white interior, though, tends to get dirty!

One of the greatest pluses of my work travels was the fuel efficiency of the Dzire. With a full load of work equipment and resources (yes, people), I was easily getting over 18 kmpl. The highway driving was less exhausting and more of a comfortable ride. Despite all those hours on the road, I never felt too exhausted, due to the car's comfortable ergonomics and well-tuned suspension that absorbed road bumps with ease.

The Final Stretch

By the time I had crossed 5,000 km on the Dzire, I appreciated it even more. The 1.2-litre engine, now well broken-in, was humming along smoother, and the fuel economy continued to leave me baffled. The Dzire had been my companion on these late-night drives, long work trips, and quick city hops. It wasn't the most exciting motor in straight-out performance terms, but it was now a part of my daily commute, delivering just the right combination of comfort, practicality, and driving enjoyment.

It's not hard to get swept up by the excitement of new launches and flashy tech, but occasionally it's the simplicity of a vehicle like the Dzire that will make you smile. It does not scream in your face, and it's not the most flashy vehicle on the roads, but it performs everything you expect of it and does so fairly well. On work commutes to midnight outings, the Dzire has been reliable, frugal, and surprisingly pleasurable to drive.

The very fact that it came so close to winning the ICOTY award by only 2 points? That itself is evidence of how much of a genuine threat it actually posed. And regarding myself, now I have to return the vehicle to Ansh, the rightful "keeper" of the Dzire, since I had merely "borrowed" the vehicle for a short while.

Your turn, Ansh! (with a 200 km range of fuel :p)

Current Stats:

Positives: A fuel-efficient, comfortable, and surprisingly fun-to-drive sedan that's perfectly suited for both city commutes and highway runs.

Negatives: Could do with a bit more grunt, cabin insulation, along with white interiors, could improve.

Date When Received: 16th December, 2024

Kilometres When Received: 723 km

Kilometres Till Date: 5,671 km

Average City Fuel Efficiency: 15-17 kmpl

Average Highway Fuel Efficiency: 20-22 kmpl