Long-Term Report 1 Over the past three months, I’ve lived with the Suzuki Dzire GL Manual as my latest long-term test vehicle, and it’s proven to be a car that quietly gets the job done. There are no thrills, no unnecessary frills —just honest, bare-bones motoring at its finest—as both Edwin Naidu, Director and Editor of EDNews.Africa , and I spent time with this humble city slicker. Some things will always chip away at this sedan’s character, most notably its looks. Previous generations of the Dzire weren’t exactly known for pulling at the heartstrings. The new model changes that. It’s more modern, although I have to tease that it’s giving “Uber Luxe” vibes. Our GL+ unit came in white with black alloy wheels, and it looks neat in the metal. If you love the Swift, then you’ll love this. Think of it as a Swift sedan. At R224,900, the Dzire enters the market as one of the most affordable new sedans available. Our test unit came fitted with a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reverse camera, cloth upholstery, air conditioning, LED headlights and electric windows. Again, to reiterate, it’s not a Maybach. It’s bare-bones motoring, and I quite liked its simple charm. Suzuki has equipped the Dzire with six airbags as standard. It also achieved a five-star Global NCAP rating for adult occupant protection and a four-star rating for child occupant protection. Well done, Suzuki. Under the bonnet sits a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing 60kW. Those numbers won’t set anyone’s pulse racing. That said, it has enough punch for daily driving and feels fairly comfortable. Of course, road noise is apparent, and it does err on the tinny side. It makes up for that with efficiency. I achieved between 5.0 and 6.1L/100km, figures that should make budget-conscious motorists smile. With fuel prices continuing to fluctuate, economy remains one of the most important considerations for many South Africans, and the Dzire appears well-positioned to keep running costs low. The five-speed manual gearbox also adds a bit of engagement, which I thoroughly enjoy. It’s a simple formula, but one that works. It’s easy to get distracted by vehicles costing R600,000, R800,000 or even more than R1 million. They’re exciting, aspirational and often packed with impressive technology. But most South Africans want value, and that’s where the Dzire comes in. For less than R225,000, you’re getting a brand-new set of wheels. Yes, it’s not a head-turner, and you may even be mistaken for an Uber driver, as happened to me once. But the Dzire is an honest car. It knows exactly what it is, and it executes its brief exceptionally well. Sometimes simplicity never goes out of style, and this budget-beating Dzire has got the right stuff. ©HigherEducationMedia Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. SubscribeRead More
Driven | The Suzuki Dzire Might Be the Budget Hero South Africa Needs
