Maruti Ciaz ZXi+ long term review: Introduction
We picked up the Maruti Ciaz from Pune after testing the new B-Class. My initial impression of the new car was based on its surefootedness on the expressway. However the joy was short-lived because immediately above cruising speeds, when you start to push the car it starts to feel skittish and you can tell the that the Maruti is no longer in its happy place. The 1.4-litre petrol engine meanwhile is very quiet in its operation even at high speeds. In town, the Ciaz doesn't leave you constantly searching for the right gear. The torquey nature of the engine ensures that you never run out of steam or have to downshift even at crawling speeds. It's reasonably rev happy although you're not going to be hunting for those final revs as the mid range is strong enough most times.
The Maruti Ciaz delights with its space. There is acres of it inside the cabin, unlike any other Maruti on sale today. I tried out the rear seat and could stretch my stupidly long legs easily across the cabin. There are other interesting features like the touchscreen audio system which has confused every passenger I have driven â€" they mistake the air conditioner controls for those of the music system. You see, the Ciaz has its audio controls on the screen and on the steering wheel.
The reverse camera that Maruti offers is very good and clear even at night - one of the best entry level systems we have seen so far. The Ciaz has every feature you could possibly need but I do wish the car would automatically unlock when you turn off the ignition or pull the handle. Our car also has a problem where even if you manually unlock the driver's door, the others will not open.
Overall, the Ciaz had me impressed with its fuel efficiency (14kmpl overall), torquey motor and well thought out interiors. It's a no nonsense practical car that does everything very well despite not being an exciting driver's car. I quite like it.
Total mileage: 3522km  Date acquired:  Mar'15