Maruti has launched the SX4. It is the replacement for the Baleno which was a very good car but somehow never managed to set the sales charts on fire. Even when Maruti cut the price, the Baleno was never a quick mover.
IT was famous for very good acceleration and performance. The handling wasnt that great and the Baleno became one of the most popular cars on the rally scene after Honda stopped making the old City VTEC.
But now, we have a new Baleno. It isnt called the Baleno though. IT is called the SX4 which is the name it is known around the world.
MAruti has done a very surprising thing by releasing the car in India before JApan or Europe. The SX4 is the second global car from Suzuki to be launched in India. The Swift was the first.
It has been launched in 2 variants. Both are powered by a 1.6 litre engine developing 102 bhp.
The lower end version, the VXi, is likely to be priced at Rs 5.5 lakh and the higher variant, ZXi, would be approximately priced at Rs 7 lakh.
The car sports a 16-valve, DOHC, 1.6 litre engine meets the tight Indian emission laws (bharat Stage 4). Plus, the car can be made compatible with the forthcoming Euro-V emissions norms too, if needed.
The car is aimed mainly at the current market leader, the Honda City.
The company claims the new SX4 to be the tallest, longest and the widest car in the 'C' segment. With enough of legroom and headroom in the offering, it will be a complete driver's car. Cherry on the cake is its high ground clearance of 190mm. The short overhangs and the large glass area also adds to its beauty and makes it more featurish.
And the SX4 offers Climate Control and buttons on the steering wheel to control the function. This is a first in this segment. No other car has these features.
The SX4 comes with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. This is a letdown as the Honda City VTEC comes with rear discs as well. A car as heavy as the SX4 and with 102 bhp should have rear discs. Dont know what Maruti was thinking.
IT also has ABS and EBD. Dual front airbags will be available as standard in the top-end variant.
The ex-showroom price in Bangalore is as follows:
MARUTI SX4 Vxi -- 6.29 lakhs
MARUTI SX4 Zxi ---7 lakhs
MARUTI SX4 Zxi With Leather ---- 7.35 lakhs
These are special introductory prices according to Maruti.
The on-road prices will be around 8 lakhs for the high end model with leather. A bit more than 8 lakhs actually.
In other parts of the country, it will be cheaper. Cars are more expensive in Bangalore as compared to other cities like Mumbai, Delhi, etc...
The car is offered in 6 different colours. According to Maruit they are named Midnight Black, Metallic Azure Grey, Metallic Supreme Red, Pearl Metallic Arctic White, Metallic Sunlight Copper, Metallic Clear Beige, Metallic Silky Silver.
According to a person who test drove the vehicle before it was released
The car handles really beautifully, given it's girth; no doubt aided by the 16 inch (beautifully crafted) alloys. Still not flickable as the Cedia, which, by far, offers the highest level of driver satisfaction in terms of handling dynamics after the Lancer. Steering is sharp, although the OHC VTEC is still the benchmark in this area. Feedback is kinda, lacklustre. Chassis is sweet, and I believe is capable of handling much more. Performance is definitely not earth-shattering. 140 comes up pretty neat, but progress from 140-170 is kinda slow. I expect the top whack to be in the region of 185 kmph, true. The console is pretty similar to the Swift's, with the needles having a glass effect, with chromed rings on the dials- and oh, different font numericals. Curiously, the speedo's marked to "just" 200 kmph. Driver's seat comfort is way good, although the front quarter glass looks odd while judging corners. The thicker than usual pillars don't help either. I tested the ZXi, so the equipment levels were more than adequate, what with climate control, power mirrors/windows, blah, blah...and oh, thankfully, there's a clock in the centre of the dash...and the single din integrated CD system looks neat as well...
Rear seat comfort is of comparable quality to the Cedia. Definitely not in the Corolla league, since knee room isn't ample. Comfortable, yes, but not L-A-R-G-E. Rear centre armrest is standard on the Zxi. And yeah, leather is abound everywhere, with the steering as well. And steering mounted audio controls make their debut for the first time on a Maruti.
And yes, the diesel will debut in a couple of months. More details later.
OFFICIAL SITE :
:: MARUTI SUZUKI SX4 ::