Maruti Suzuki Ciaz : In the sea of compact suvs and crossovers, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz still finds a low-key spot.
The segment is quite diluted now, but the Ciaz remains to be the sedan of choice for those who swear by the elegance, comfort and practicality that the classic sedan body style gives.
Positioned as Maruti’s response to the likes of the Honda City and Hyundai Verna, the Ciaz came loaded with spacious cabin, good fuel economy, and strong value-for-money proposition.
Years hence it still manages to remain relevant to the right type of buyer with occasional tweaking and a smart, hybrid system.
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Form: Sophisticated and Unobtrusive
Not one calling attention to itself — and that’s the beauty of it. It has a clean, well balanced, and mature design. Its monochrome package involving a chrome-accented grille, LED tail lamps, and projector headlamps, ensures that it does not look overdone.
It looks like a real mid-size sedan, without any fan fare.
Thanks to its long wheelbase and its well-balanced stance, it is among the most spacious and comfortable-looking cars in its class. For those who like their sophistication more subdued and less aggressive, the Ciaz fits like a glove.
Interior & Comfort: The Way It Overwhelms You
Slide into the Ciaz and it gets a well-spread cabin with plenty of space. The dashboard is minimal but effective, with soft beige-coloured plastics and faux wood strip accents to give it a premium feel.
The seats are broad and you get excellent under-thigh support, more so for the rear where the Ciaz definitely has what could be best-in-segment leg room.
Where the Ciaz truly shines as a family car is the rear bench. Fuel In Hybrid Space : Fuel In is a true seven-seater and it’s not really the lack of space that makes up for long journeys. The 510 litres of boot space also makes weekend getaways a worthwhile proposition.
Features & Tech: Not Sexy, but Just Plentyeworthy
Though it might not be the most feature filled car in its segment, the Ciaz you see does cover the basics quite nicely.
You also get a 7-inch SmartPlay infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, push-button start, cruise control, rear parking camera, and LED DRLs.
But things do start to feel a bit last-gen in comparison to newer rivals that now offer bigger screens, digital clusters and ADAS. However, everything does work reliably, and it’s not difficult to use.
Prefab Performance: Steady and Flourish presto performance: smooth andEfficient
The Ciaz is powered by a 1.5-litre K15 Smart Hybrid petrol engine that produces 103 bhp and 138 Nm of torque. It’s no performance engine, but it excels at refinement and drivability. It’s linear power, and the engine is also mouse quiet around city speeds.
Acceleration is aided by the mild hybrid system, which also helps achieve better fuel economy. In reality, the Ciaz is capable of a very good 18-20 kmpl under normal driving conditions, and that is great for a car of this size.
It comes with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The manual allows more control, and the auto is silky but a tad old school in today’s context.
Ride & Handling: Comfort Tuning
The Ciaz is easy on ride but likes to keep away from sharp dynamics. Its suspension is good at soaking up bumps, especially at low and medium speeds.
High-speed stability is good, although it doesn’t feel sporty or planted as the Honda City or Skoda Slavia does. Steering feel is light — great in town but less so on the curvy stuff.
If you’re the kind who loves to take it easy and have an easy commute, the Ciaz will not let you down.
Pros of Maruti Suzuki Ciaz
Very generous rear seat and cabin dimensions
Great fuel economy via hybrid technology
Refined and reliable engine
Calm ride quality, perfect for our roads
Good resale value and strong after sales support
Low cost maintenance and extensive service network
Cons of Maruti Suzuki Ciaz
Doesn’t benefit from modern luxuries such as a digital cluster, ADAS
4-speed automatic is antiquated
No option for a diesel or turbo petrol engine
INTERIORDESIGN a little bit outdated to be honest
Adequate but unspectacular performance
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Final Verdict
The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz isn’t the sexiest looking sedan, but it’s a sausage sizzle that’s happy to know it’s a sausage sizzle.
If space and comfort for you and your family is on your mind, this 2016 Accord is among the best, most affordable cars that will fulfill those needs.
For families, city dwellers or anybody who is fed up with the SUV obsession, the Ciaz is a breath of fresh, spacious air.