Apr 21, 2008 06:38 AM
37580 Views
Was on the look out for a sedan within the 6 lac budget, so when the Dezire was launched it gave me better option to the logan that I had in mind.Went online booked a test drive on the web site and forgot about it.I get a call from Maruti about my request in 2 days time(!) and am directed to the friendly neighbourhood dealer.They call the next day and come home with a sales pitch.
Here are my impressions:-
1) The car looks much better in'flesh', photos do not do any justice.Its availabe in 6 colour of which all are new except for the'silky silver colour'.The white(which was the test car colour) looks great in the evening and is actually mettalic!
2)The boot.well its great.good loading aperture and not many protrutions.The ZDI model which is the top of the line has 20L less than the other because it uses a larger tyre(so the spare wheel takes up 20L).The only problem is that the boot lid supports intrude a lot into the boot space and it may foul with the luggage.Oh also they is no access to the boot from the rear seat.
3)Coming to the rear seat, it a bit more angulated than the swift but the real change is the bigger windows on the rear door wich gives it a bit more airy feel.Also I found the seat belt locks on the seat scab to impinge on the thighs.Still space is a premium and the logan is much better here.
4) The interiors are just the same, like the swift the only difference is the intergrated stereo that comes in the VDi(middle model) which was laking in the VDi swift.The front seats are supremely comfortable.There is no dead pedal and no low fuel warning but all other features are present.Also the glove box is quite small.
5) Engine is quite refined.its a revelation.very silent(and I use a santro/ikon)and the torque is also good.(better than logan).Anything above 2000 rmp and it flies!I revs out at 5000rpm(better than the logan).There is a bit of turbo lag below 1800rpm but its not much.
6)handling is great, steering is a bit numb centre but in the turns its great.The only weak link are the tyres.165's are really undertyred for a car of this size.Why does maruti skip on these?!
7) All the safety features are bundled on the ZDI model and the ABS is not even an option for the lower model(unlike the swift), why this attitude I dont understand.
8) finally I feel maruti could have played a little more with the front and atleast changed the headlight a bit to make the dezire stand out from the swift.
So all in all very impressed and I guess the dezire presents better value than the equivalent Logan.Also with far better residuals and better dealer support the only thing that the LOgan has on its side is a bigger back seat(not a very imp point for a self driven person like me).
One of my friends already have a dezire and he is getting about 19Kmpl in city use!
I have booked the VDI.so what more can I say.
ps. I have test driven the Logan DLX, Palio 1.3 multijet, Ford fiesta, indigo CS and I feel the Swift Dezire is the better and rounded package.
