Maruti Suzuki's New Sedan: Ciaz (Codenamed YL1)

[CRACING]

I am also bit confused about which looks better ICE HU in ZXi or future 7" touchscreen.. Should one upgrade to one of many D-Din HUs available in market. IMO touchscreen will have advantage in maps/navigation but ZXi HU looks better.

Aftermarket HU will not be compatible with built-in steering mounted audio controls, so its lot better to stay with factory fitments. Of course no problem for V trim.

 

[AutoRock]

I felt there is no such thing as "a badge more premium", it has to be product which is more premium not the badge. If a premium badge is not providing a premium car would we still consider it?

Very true, this is what we (enthusiasts) think, but many people out there in market have this premium badge perception. Hope, Ciaz will change that for Maruti.

BTW, Honda did produce non premium products like Brio (compared to Swift/Polo/i20), Amaze & Mobilio (poor build/fit & finish)

Aftermarket ICE HU will not be compatible with built-in steering mounted audio controls, so its lot better to stay with factory fitments. Of course no problem for V trim.

Not really! There are lot of aftermarket HU compactible with steering mounted audio controls.

 

[nishant5858]

Very true, this is what we (enthusiasts) think, but many people out there in market have this premium badge perception. Hope, Ciaz will change that for Maruti.

BTW, Honda did produce non premium products like Brio (compared to Swift/Polo/i20), Amaze & Mobilio (poor build/fit & finish).

It was Maruti Suzuki who grew up as a non premium brand with lots of cheap small cars and failed when they came up with Big expensive cars, its now the same thing which Honda, Toyota, Nissan and some other premium brands are doing. They provided premium products before ex(Camry, Accord, Teana, Civic, XTrail) and now they are offering cars with some cost cutting done in them to lower the price point compared to thier earlier products.
Apart from Swift, I didn't get the "Peace of Mind" on other cars from Maruti stable when Brothers, Dad had owned them and this has completely spoiled the interest in MS cars for us.

People who don't want other then Maruti will buy Ciaz, while others who prefer various brands will buy cars like City, Verna, Fiesta, Vento, Rapid, etc.

 

[CRACING]

Not really! There are lot of aftermarket HU compactible with steering mounted audio controls.

Please share more details bro. I would buy a aftermarket HU in the near future if it is compatible with my ANHC steering mounted audio controls.

 

[AutoRock]

It was Maruti Suzuki who grew up as a non premium brand with lots of cheap small cars and failed when they came up with Big expensive cars,

Partially true! Kizashi failed because it was too expensive and this did not match with Maruti's VFM tag. Vitara failed because it did not have diesel engine. SX4 was hit initially but lack of diesel ruined it, also it faced sibling rivalry from Dezire which had diesel mill. SX4 got diesel engine lately, but then it was too late then. Maruti never got the combination right in the past, for any of these premium products ,thus all failed.
And it seems they studied and learned from this experience while designing Ciaz. Without doubt, Ciaz is a competent vehicle and will see success unlike above cars. It is a typical VFM package from Maruti this time.

its now the same thing which Honda, Toyota, Nissan and some other premium brands are doing. They provided premium products before ex(Camry, Accord, Teana, Civic, XTrail) and now they are offering cars with some cost cutting done in them to lower the price point compared to thier earlier products.

Unfortunately true

People who don't want other then Maruti will buy Ciaz, while others who prefer various brands will buy cars like City, Verna, Fiesta, Vento, Rapid, etc.

This is very generic statement, and stands true for every product.

Please share more details bro. I would buy a aftermarket HU in the near future if it is compatible with my ANHC steering mounted audio controls.

Check these out, they are compatible to steering mounted audio controls. Also even if you pick another one which is not compatible, you can always use "Steering Wheel Audio Control Adapters" which helps to establish this connection. I am not a ICE expert but other TAI'gers can help you out.

 

[vm2011]

Maruti Ciaz Z+ trim meet with music system software glitch , expect availability only in Jan 2015

 

[AshBabu]

Please share more details bro. I would buy a aftermarket HU in the near future if it is compatible with my ANHC steering mounted audio controls.

For ANHC 2014 model - Blaupunkt Sandiego 530 is suitable. The audio controls work with this model.
Also check CASAKA infotainment systems, which are custom built for respective car models. But it will be costly

 

[CRACING]

Check these out, they are compatible to steering mounted audio controls. Also even if you pick another one which is not compatible, you can always use "Steering Wheel Audio Control Adapters" which helps to establish this connection. I am not a ICE expert but other TAI'gers can help you out.

For ANHC 2014 model - Blaupunkt Sandiego 530 is suitable. The audio controls work with this model.
Also check CASAKA infotainment systems, which are custom built for respective car models. But it will be costly

Thanks for the heads up guys. I got Honda City VMT 2009 and will check what you have suggested. CASAKA is HU supplier for Honda so it surely work but costs more like you said and I'm not interested in that brand.

Sorry for change in topic.

 

[prasanth11]

I have seen vehicle in flesh today.
Seen Metallic Sangria Red colour variant Zdi and did test drive on white Zdi
My impressions
Features wise
-Car looks good,It will command good presence,but not any eye turner, Maruti definitely omitted "wow" factor seen in concept car
-Car is long and good and build quality seems good
-Seats are good. Backseat is the place Ciaz invites you more,with good comfort and surprisingly soft and good rear head rests.
-Soft release compartment infront of gearbox is nice and looks premium
-Instrument panel looks good and simply beautiful and not having wow premium look
-gear knob is looks nice and feels nice to hold also
-front arm rest is kind of a joke..did find any use .may be useful in long drives.
-Front seats are having good shoulder support for me.
-2 DIN audio system is OK Ok... sound is pathetic in stock speaker.. BASS kills your head. IMHO stock speakers are first to be replaced
Driving
- Overall driving experience is ok.
-Diesel engine looks more refined and pleasant to ears than in swift/ritz
-Gear throws are short for 1-3 and longer for 4-5
-Turbo lag is there and not as clearly evident as swift
-Breaking is good
-Steering is dissapointly light and give less confidence at speeds of 100+. Car feels as if not planted to ground may be Zdi has thinner tyre. Tyre upgrade will improve and give more stable driving experience
-Acceleration is more linear and engine lacks peppiness
I test drove vehicle with 3 persons with avg weight on board. I touched 100+ speed
Not able drive in bumper to bumper traffic as no heavitraffic in lunch time
-Best experience is noise levels inside cabin are low.(may be brand new vehicle just clocked 80km)

Pros for me
Features it offers giving a good feeling of VFM car
Low noise levels inside car..Best NVH levels by Diesel maruti so far i think
Even though dashboard design is simple ,doesnt have cheap look. Looks premium
Biggest advantage ofcourse is BACKSEAT

Cons as for me
Steering is light . Tyre upgrade may solve with thicker rubber
-Price of ZDi with 1.3 DDiS
-

This car surely be a some number changer for maruti in a3+ segment but may not dethrone city. Honda still carries USP of premium brand

 

[prasanth11]

One more problem observed by me is that downshifting from 5th to 4th ,gear going to reverse gear. Happened to me twice. Verna has lock for reverse gear and city doesn't move to reverse position as vehicle is in forward motion

 

[prasanth11]

Car looks good outside,beautiful ,but not eye turner

A practical car by Maruti to pull Backseat Babus to pull from Verna and City. But babus also think of premium tag of Honda before erasing city from their options.
What if City give diwali offers and offers some 50k discounts on city iDtec or iVtec...???
Maruti marketing excecutives may commit suicide...

 

[anu87]

The segment deserves at-least 1.5 liter engine, I would have been very happy if the car is equipped with 1.6 liter multi-jet diesel. The same 1.6 liter can also be used in SX4 SUV.

 

[tai_newbie]

BTW, Honda did produce non premium products like Brio (compared to Swift/Polo/i20), Amaze & Mobilio (poor build/fit & finish)

In the world market, Honda is not a premium brand. They have Acura - Honda's premium brand.

 

[Akash1886]

What if City give diwali offers and offers some 50k discounts on city iDtec or iVtec...???
Maruti marketing excecutives may commit suicide...

Honda is in no mood to give discounts on City or any other model at present since they have recently started their productions for City Ivtec and Idtec in Rajasthan after shifting Mobilio to Noida. They have a big back-log due to all this and waiting period for City is 1.5 month minimum. As far as Maruti is concerned, they don't bother much and actually give discounts even before asking (that's my personal experience over the years) so any other brand who gives discount on their vehicle will not bother Maruti's sales staff.

The segment deserves at-least 1.5 liter engine, I would have been very happy if the car is equipped with 1.6 liter multi-jet diesel. The same 1.6 liter can also be used in SX4 SUV.

1.5 L engine is being worked upon and soon will be seen in Ertiga. As far as 1.6 L engine is concerned, the same has been provided to Chinese Variant of Ciaz.

Regards

Akash

 

[vm2011]

Ciaz draws attention of a different kind.

The consumer affairs ministry is considering legal action against Maruti Suzuki for taking orders for its new mid-size sedan Ciaz even before publicly displaying the car or revealing its technical specifications or price

Carmakers such as Honda with the Amaze and Mobilio, Hyundaiwith the i10 Grand and Tata Motors with Zest have invited bookings without revealing prices and technical specifications. Legal experts aren't sure whether the ministry and Trivedi have a strong case

The customer can file a complaint that the strategy of Maruti Suzuki violates the rights of consumer guaranteed under the Consumer Protection Act 1986, but the (consumer disputes redressal) forum will take up an issue in totality." .The complainant will have to prove that this is not a normal practice within the trade and the company is unfairly treating its potential customers.

Source:ET