The Maruti DZire AMT is available only on the range-topping ZDi version and returns a fuel efficiency figure of 26.59 km/l, same as the manual trim.
Its first product for the new year, Maruti Suzuki has officially launched the 2016 Swift DZire with Auto Gear Shift (AGS) technology in the country priced at Rs. 8.39 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The AMT unit is available on the range-topping ZDi version of the compact sedan while the base variants continue with the 5-speed manual transmission. The DZire is the first diesel car and overall the fourth model in Maruti’s lineup to feature the AMT unit and directly rivals the Tata Zest AMT in the segment.
Mechanically, the Maruti DZire AMT draws power from the same 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine tuned to produce 75 PS of power and 190 Nm of torque, while the transmission is sourced from Magneti Marelli. The DZIre AMT returns an ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 26.59 km/l, same as that of the manual transmission. The features list also does not sport any changes as the recently updated compact sedan comes equipped with all the essentials including Bluetooth connectivity, keyless entry, climate control and much more.
Until now, the diesel-AMT combination was one of the few things that made the Tata Zest special in the compact sedan space but Maruti has ensured to slay that as well by offering the automatic feature on the popular fuel option. In terms of pricing though, the Tata Zest AMT still holds the advantage as its slightly cheaper starting at Rs. 7.33 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Since its launch, Maruti has sold over 11.5 lakh units of the DZire compact sedan, making it the only model in the segment to have crossed the 10 lakh units sales mark. The automaker kickstarted the AMT trend with the Celerio back in 2014 and soon updated its mass market models including the Alto K10 and Wagon R with the feature. With sales strong as ever, the automated version will further help the compact sedan consolidate its position in the segment.
