MOST DESIRABLE

The new Maruti Suzuki Dzire looks like everything it should, but is it the perfect package?

- Joshua Varghese

These days not many people ask us about which compact sedan to buy. The segment's popularity appears to have declined over the years. Although there are multiple options on sale, no one has offered anything more than a facelift in recent times, which is why the new Maruti Suzuki Dzire is an important car. Not only is it largely a new product, it has been the undefeated king of the ring thus far. We found ourselves in Goa to experience the fourth generation of the popular Maruti Suzuki Dzire.

Since the first iteration, I have never been a fan of the Dzire's Swift-inspired looks. So, when Maruti Suzuki decided to replace the "Swift Dzire" moniker with just "Dzire" in the previous model, it felt like a step in the right direction. For the current generation, they have taken a few purposeful strides along that path because the new Dzire looks nothing like its hatchback counterpart. The side profile appears to be the most familiar angle of the car, because the rest of it has received a significant makeover.

The overall styling is sharp with the new LED headlights and tail-lights only adding to the car's premium appeal. Furthermore, the 15-inch alloy wheels are a good choice and they fill up the wheelarches nicely. Dimensionally, the new Dzire is identical to the car it replaces on all counts except height. This one is 10 millimetres taller. There are seven colours to choose from and white seems to be the brightest shade among them all.