New Maruti Celerio review, test drive

What is it?

The 2nd-gen Maruti Suzuki Celerio is India’s most gas-efficient petrol auto. That a single line introduction must adhere in these moments of low notice spans and large gas costs. Now that you’re interested, here’s more on the newest Celerio. It is new exterior as well as inside of, it’s designed on a new platform and also arrives run by a new engine. As ahead of, there is manual and AMT alternatives (the original debuted transmission type in India), with costs for the midsized hatchback ranging from Rs 4.ninety nine lakh-six.ninety four lakh (ex-showroom India).

What is it like on the exterior?

1st issues very first. There is no visible website link amongst Celerios aged and new. Even though the original was ordinary in seems to be, the new a single is more cheerful. It sports activities a rounded form that in fact seems to be much better in the steel than it does in photographs. It is not a classically handsome auto, but the new Celerio positive has more presence than the aged a single. The a little more substantial dimensions (it is really 55mm wider) aid to this finish too.

Curved and swept-again headlamps and an oval grille that’s bisected by a chrome bar give the Celerio a cutesy deal with, even though the black plastic encompass for the fog lamps and air dam add some sportiness to the glance. At the sides, you are going to notice relatively thick A- and C-pillars, a conventional glasshouse and tender contours at the doors and wheel arches. Prime-spec products trip on fifteen-inch alloy wheels and they positive do their component to aid the stance.

Sadly, the aged model’s premium pull type door handles have produced way for inferior carry type kinds. And even though the new Celerio has received keyless entry, the posture of the request sensor on the door makes it glance like an afterthought. There is a pleasant movement from the shoulder to the tail lights, with the Celerio’s rear continuing the curvaceous theme.

Under the pores and skin, the Celerio has a great deal in widespread with the newest of Maruti’s hatchbacks. It is designed on Suzuki’s Heartect platform and sticks to convention with its front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension arrangement.

What is it like on the inside of?

Like the exterior, there is more flavour to the new Celerio’s interior too. The winged glance to the dashboard is pretty trendy, the 7-inch touchscreen will get due prominence and the component digital instruments from the Wagon R also add to the physical appearance inside of. The cabin positive seems to be a little bit more upmarket than the aged car’s. It is simple, too, with door pockets and cupholders up front, and a substantial recess at the centre console to continue to keep your cellular phone and wallet. Really feel your way all-around nevertheless and you are going to come across that high-quality hasn’t taken a great deal of a leap. Positive, there is a pleasant textured complete on the dash prime, but difficult plastics make up most of the cabin.

The Celerio isn’t a tall auto, but receiving in and out is pretty uncomplicated. Motorists will also enjoy the inclusion of peak change for their seats. As on the before Celerio, the front seats feature single piece backrests with integrated headrests and rating well sufficient on consolation. Frontal visibility is very good, but the reasonably thick A-pillars did have us peer all-around it at crossroads. What also normally takes receiving utilised to is the posture of the window and door switches. The door lock/unlock and front electric power window controls are positioned on the centre console alternatively than at the doors. Travellers at the again will also have to reach out to the rear window controls that sit amongst the front seats.

Rear seat consolation is very good but not terrific. The substantial windows present a first rate look at out, there is enough kneeroom even for taller occupants, and the seat is well cushioned too. Difficulty is, the seat’s integrated preset headrests are just too tiny to offer any genuine head (and whiplash) support to taller passengers, and their low and angled posture also makes them awkward. Sitting down 3 abreast is also a squeeze.

Exactly where the Celerio has taken a massive stage up is in luggage room. The 313-litre boot can hold two substantial suitcases and two cabin bags with ease, and must you have to have more room, there is the option to fold the sixty:forty break up rear seat backrest as well. You will have to have to load your luggage with care as the lip is large and not all that large.

What options does it get?

The Celerio is on offer in four trims, specifically LXI, VXI, ZXI and ZXI+. Showcased listed here is the prime-spec ZXI+ that packs in pretty a several options. There is keyless entry, push button start, driver seat peak change, electrically adjustable mirrors, steering-mounted audio controls and front and rear electric power windows. Infotainment responsibilities are handled by Maruti’s Smartplay unit that comprises a 7-inch touchscreen. The display screen is pleasant sufficient to use and does well to offer Android Automobile and Apple CarPlay connectivity. What is lacking, however, is a reverse camera that would have served much better justify the model’s reasonably large rate. And even though vehicle local climate management is not on the options listing, we did come across the air conditioner to do a very good occupation of cooling the cabin.

In conditions of security tools, as conventional, the Celerio will get twin front airbags, Abs, front seatbelt reminders and rear parking sensors, even though hill start guide is component of the bundle on AMT versions. Bigger spec products add in a rear wiper and defogger. On the topic, even though the Celerio complies with newest Indian security norms, it’s not been set to the check by Worldwide NCAP as however.

What is it like to push?

Driven by a new engine and designed on a new platform, you’d hope the Celerio to be quite distinct to push, appropriate? But the point is, it isn’t. And that’s not necessarily a lousy point, simply because the original was a welcoming auto to push.

The Celerio debuts Suzuki’s K10C Dualjet engine in India. The acquainted K10 in the name tells you it’s a 3-cylinder, one.-litre unit, even though the new Dualjet signifies the use of two injectors for each cylinder. With an injector for every consumption port, gas and air mixing is a great deal much better, leading to larger performance. Idle start/prevent is conventional healthy, too, and can help to the finish of maximising economic system. The most efficient of the Celerios, the VXI AMT, has been rated with an economic system determine of 26.68kpl. The ZXI MT with us features of a determine of 24.97kpl. The change in figures is likely due to distinct tyre sizes and weights. In conditions of electric power and torque, the new engine’s 67hp and 89Nm unit is in fact 1hp and 1Nm down on the aged Celerio’s unit.

The engine could possibly not be massive on electric power but is quite likeable in how it provides it. There is a clean up create of electric power from low in the rev band and, even though not peppy like the more substantial-hearted Swift, effectiveness in town is in fact pretty pleasant. There are no flat spots or hiccups in the supply and you will like the smoothness with which the Celerio goes about town. What also performs truly well is the idle start/prevent. At long sufficient halts, the program switches the engine off. Depressing the clutch delivers the unit again to lifestyle. The program is rapid to react and doesn’t leave you 2nd guessing like similar models on some other vehicles. Difficulty is, with the engine off, the air-con also shuts off, leaving only the blower on not ideal on a scorching day. You do have the option to change idle start/prevent intervention off by way of a button.

The Celerio will happily continue to keep rate with metropolis targeted traffic and will get to freeway speeds with ease too, nevertheless on the open up highway you will have to plan overtakings. For its component, the 5-pace manual gearbox that arrives allied to a light clutch doesn’t connect with for a great deal effort and hard work.

The Celerio AMT is also a alternatively pleasant proposition for those people who really do not want the trouble of shifting gears at all. Gearshifts are, for the most component, timely and the AMT-normal head nod or pause amongst shifts is well contained too. It is continue to not as clean as a torque converter or CVT automatic, but the AMT positive has arrive a long way because the very first of the type on the original Celerio. You can consider manual management by way of the snazzy equipment lever too. The program responds well sufficient to manual inputs nevertheless, all over again, it’s greatest to undertake an uncomplicated-going driving style.   

If your driving will be generally in low pace metropolis settings, you are going to consider to the Celerio’s welcoming manners. It is acquired a tiny turning radius, it’s uncomplicated to park and the suspension also does a very good occupation of soaking up the bumps. At larger speeds too, the Celerio feels pretty surefooted nevertheless the suspension does crash by on potholes. Dealing with isn’t interesting, but the auto feels composed and that’s just as well.

What continues to be a grievance is the lifeless steering. Positive, it’s uncomplicated to twirl, but it doesn’t self centre adequately, so you normally have to continue to keep a company hand on the wheel.

Must you obtain a single?

Priced amongst Rs 4.ninety nine lakh- six.ninety four lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Celerio goes up in opposition to the Tata Tiago, Hyundai Santro and Datsun Go. Even though the mid-spec versions that make the bulk of profits rating well on value, the selection-topping versions arrive across a contact expensive for what they offer. And it doesn’t aid that the Wagon R with a more substantial and more highly effective one.2-litre engine prices a lot less.

The new Celerio could possibly not be a revolutionary solution in any way, but there is no denying that it offers most of what normal city potential buyers want. It is uncomplicated to push and spacious, and that tag of India’s most gas efficient auto is positive to be a pull in its have appropriate.

It is not the auto that will pull at your heartstrings, but, like the aged product, continues to be a level-headed decision of metropolis auto.