"The Maruti Celerio diesel is a peppy car to drive with the right ergonomics, which makes it extremely practical while also being easy on the pocket," finds Indian motoring website MotorBeam.
Maruti Suzuki managed to hit the bull’s eye with the Celerio as the AMT equipped hatchback has been widely appreciated by the masses.
The car played a pivotal role in changing the perception towards automatic cars in India and the automaker has decided to use its trusted product once again to introduce a newly developed diesel engine in the market.
The smallest diesel motor to go on sale in the passenger vehicle space, Maruti promises it to be peppy, fun and frugal.
Hence, MotorBeam decided to take the diesel-powered Celerio out on a spin to see what the hype is all about.
1) The Maruti Suzuki Celerio's neutral design language continues on the diesel version with the large headlamp cluster, strong lines and a tallboy stance. There are new DDiS badges though on the front fenders and boot-lid.
2) The interiors have been carried over as well, finished in a black and beige colour scheme with faux dark wood/silver inserts. The large windows lend an airy feel to the cabin and the Swift derived steering wheel offers a more upmarket appearance. The hard plastics are a bit of let down.
3) The audio system comes with a host of connectivity options including Bluetooth, USB and AUX, while the instrument cluster is clear and easy to ready. There is ample legroom at the front and rear seats that provide adequate support and the ergonomics are just right on the car.
4) Power on the Celerio diesel comes from a newly developed 793cc twin-cylinder turbocharged engine that belts out 47.6 PS at 3500 RPM and 125 Nm of torque at 2000 RPM. Weighing just 89 kgs, the all-aluminium engine comes with a lot of clatter on the outside, but the NVH levels inside the cabin are pleasingly good.
5) The hydraulic clutch is light on the Celerio diesel and the 5-speed gearbox is smooth and changes gears seamlessly. You do feel a bit of turbo lag present initially, but the motor gains momentum quickly courtesy of early upshifts.
6) The two-cylinder motor is a peppy unit and is great for cruising in the city; whereas a short turning radius of 4.7 metres makes the car quite practical. Highway performance though isn't one of its strong points and the engine does take efforts to climb beyond the 100 km/hr mark.
7) The ride quality is quite plush on the Celerio diesel and high profile tyres do not allow the patchy roads to unsettle the cabin. The front end has been made stiffer aiding in better stability, whereas body roll is well controlled despite the tallboy stance.
8) Safety features are seen on the top-end ZDi (Optional) variant that include dual front airbags and ABS. The Celerio has been tested at Euro NCAP and scored only 3 stars out of 5, resulting in just average safety levels.
9) Maruti has tuned the new diesel engine to be a frugal unit with a low compression ratio and large intercooler that aids in achieving an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 27.62 km/l, making the hatchback India's most fuel efficient vehicle.
10) The Maruti Celerio diesel emerges as an attractive package with loads of features, a frugal engine and a competitive price tag, which makes it a lucrative buy for anyone looking at an economical city car in diesel avatar.
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