Suzuki Dzire first impressions: Game changer in the budget segment or the new rideshare vehicle?
The new Suzuki Dzire.
Suzuki has experienced great success recently with the new
The Swift was also victorious in the budget segment at the 2025
Suzuki Auto South Africa has not rested on its laurels and is back with yet another car in the budget segment.
It was initially known as the Swift Dzire but Suzuki gave the Dzire its own identity in 2017, instead of labelling it a Swift variant. Now, the Japanese manufacturer has released the fourth-generation Dzire into the South African market.
It's interesting that the marque has opted to release a new sedan into a market dominated by hatchbacks and compact SUVs, but more importantly, it is yet another of their products that South Africans will not have to sell a kidney to buy.
Like the new Swift, the Suzuki Dzire is a good-looking vehicle. The exterior begins with a wide, sassy front fascia. The badge is slap-bang in the middle of the headlights and the clamshell bonnet brings the very neat and stylish front together.
The back looks slightly boxy but the assertive C-pillar that flows into the compact boot lid and T-shaped LED taillight clusters help round off the shape.
The Dzire borrows its interior architecture from the award-winning fourth-generation Swift. This means it features a wraparound dashboard design with horizontal air vents and centre controls angled towards the driver for improved ergonomics.
I guess it's a matter of, if it isn't broken, don't fix it.
But Suzuki has managed to elevate this interior with the colour scheme. The beige-and-black interior brings an upmarket feel to the vehicle. The only worry I would have is how dirty those beige cloth seats might get if you are not careful, especially since the vehicle is now being marketed as a family car.
The Dzire has a 7-inch infotainment screen that is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
All in all, Suzuki has produced a really comfortable and neat interior.
A short drive around Johannesburg in the Dzire showed me three things about the car: it is comfortable for passengers, it has enough to keep you entertained and it requires a heavy foot but is not underpowered.
It uses the same 1.2-litre engine as the Swift and delivers 60kW of power and 112Nm of torque.
Suzuki claims a fuel consumption of 4.4 litres/100km but a figure closer to 5 litres/100km is more realistic.
The Dzire comes in three options: a GA manual which is pretty basic and you only get steel wheels; a GL+ manual which is the top-spec manual and a GL+ CVT that has everything the manual has but comes in a CVT transmission.
The basic GA+ comes in at R224 900, the GL+ manual is priced at R246 900 and the CVT completes the line-up at R266 900.
This could become an extremely popular vehicle as the cheapest compact sedan in the country — or it could fall into the 'next most popular Uber ride' category.
However, I don't think this is top of mind for Suzuki. It won't mind what the car is used for, as long as it continues to contribute to the brand's upward trajectory in the country.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
7 hours ago
- The Herald
Cape visitors set to thrill at Aldo Scribante Raceway
An exciting change to this weekend's third round of the Algoa Motorsport Club's Regional championship is the addition of the Cape Town-based Kaltron Formula Supercars that are making the trip to Aldo Scribante Raceway. The cars that run a 2-litre Opel Motor were all built by the late Owen Ashley and celebrate their 30th year of existence next year. They will take part in three races, with the first two being for championship points and the third being a fun race where they will be joined by local Supercar racers Peter Schultz and Tom Hugo. A strong field of 20 modified saloons will be in action and sees legendary racer Syd Lippstreu with his immaculate Toyota Celica moving from the Retro Classic class and joining the modified saloons for the first time. The battle up front should once again be between the class B cars of Ian Riddle in his VW SuperPolo and Ian Oberholzer in his Volvo 850 station wagon as well as relative newcomer Elan Buchman in a VW SuperPolo. In the Wide Horizon Advance Training-sponsored Coastal Challenge for historics, classics and retro classics is Brent Watts, who is making a welcome return to circuit racing at Aldo Scribante Raceway in his Nissan Skyline and is set to give the similar Skylines of usual frontrunners Rane Berry and Tom Hugo a run for their money. East London visitor Neil Stephen returns with the only Opel Manta in the country that is racing and joins a whole fleet of classic Ford Escorts, Anglias and Capris as well as a classic VW Beetle with Henry Adams behind the wheel. Included in the mix are the street and fine cars with Barry Buchman in his Mercedes A45S and Ayrton Pilz in a Renault Clio 3 RS. Dylan Grobler returns to action after a short break in the open motorcycle class on his new 600cc Yamaha R6 and will be up against fellow 600cc competitors Ethan Diener, Ruan van Zyl and Ashton Heideman in what promises to be an epic battle on track. Kiera Potgieter is also back after taking a nasty tumble at the last round of the championship during qualifying and joins fellow girl racers Emma Diener and Kirsty Oberholzer in the CBR 150/250 motorcycle class where they will be up against Craig Benn, Dylan Grobler, Ruan van Zyl, Rob de Vos and Anthony Lippstreu Racing is set to start at 10.15am tomorrow and there will be three heats per class including the Ingco 45-Minute race that ends off the day and is set to start at about 4.15pm. Upcoming events: June 7: Main circuit racing at Aldo Scribante Raceway, round 3; Dirt Oval Racing in East London June 8: Speedyquip Bikers Breakfast Charity Run to Thornhill Hotel June 10: Algoa Indoor Karting League racing at Baywest Mall June 14: Motocross Training Day at Rover Motorcycle Club; Slake Enduro at Zwartenbosch Golf Estate in Humansdorp June 15: Youth Day Charity Spinning & Stance at Aldo Scribante Raceway; Top End Run at East London Grand Prix Circuit June 21: EP Off-Road championship round 2 at Innibos Lapa; Regional round 4 of Dirt Oval Racing at PE Oval Track Raceway; Algoa Kart Club round 4 of regional & club championship June 27-28: ROK Karting Nationals at Algoa Kart Club. The Herald
TimesLIVE
10 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Suzuki halts Swift production due to China's rare earth curbs
Suzuki's suspension of production of its flagship Swift subcompact is due to China's rare-earth restrictions, two people familiar with the matter said, becoming the first Japanese carmaker to be affected by the export curbs. The small car maker halted production of the Swift, excluding the Swift Sport version, from May 26 citing a shortage of components. Plans to resume output have been pushed back several times. Suzuki now expects a partial restart of production on June 13 with full resumption after June 16, as the "prospect of parts supply is clearer" now, it said in a statement. The company declined to comment on the reason for the suspension. The sources declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak on the matter. China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets has upended the supply chains central to carmakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors. Alarm over the situation has grown, with global carmakers warning of potential production halts. Some European auto parts plants have suspended output and Mercedes-Benz is considering ways to protect against shortages of rare earths. Japan is planning to propose strengthening cooperation with the US on rare-earth supply chains in upcoming tariff talks, the Nikkei business daily reported on Thursday. The Nikkei was the first to report on the reason for the Swift model suspension.
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
The people's champ: 2025 Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL+ CVT review
Just moments down the road in the 2025 Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL+ CVT, it dawns on you how uncomplicated this firm's latest hatchback is. Refreshingly, in a segment where car company's are throwing every conceivable gadget at a problem, the new two-pedal Swift keeps things simple and just does the basics exceptionally well. Perhaps that's why it is on a golden run so far in 2025 as South Africa's best-selling passenger car. Say what you will, but the numbers tell a compelling story. Priced at less than R250k, South Africans are voting with their wallets. And the common-sense 2025 Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL+ CVT is the answer. Whether in the showroom or on the road, the 2025 Suzuki Swift is certainly making an impression. Image: Thorp As regular readers will know, we tested the top-spec GLX manual not long ago, and still we can't stop raving about it. So, how does the continuously variable transmission (CVT) fare by comparison? Well, of course CVTs are not without their detractors. However, we appreciate that for 80% of the buying market, they simply want a two-pedal car that's easy in traffic. They couldn't care less how the transmission performs, just as long as it doesn't have a clutch pedal and manual gearshift. As such, the 2025 Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL+ CVT is immediately an altogether more relaxed companion on the road. In stop-start traffic at slow speeds, navigating the congested streets of Cape Town, not having to worry about a third pedal becomes a blessing. CVTs have their critics (us included), because of the elastic feel of acceleration, tendency for the engine to drone at high revs, and lack of defined gear changes. However, there's an honest, no-fuss approach in the Swift CVT that's perfectly drivable. The CVT's interface with the punchy 60 kW/112 Nm 1.2-litre petrol three-pot is thoughtfully calibrated. You can accelerate without excessive revs and it's not too noisy at highway speeds. In fact, I'd argue the CVT is better than the firm's four-speed automatic that's the most likely alternative of you don't like DIY. Note, left-hand drive GLX CVT pictured. Image: Supplied However, besides the CVT, what strikes you most about the Swift GL+ is what's not included. Of course, not everyone will have reference to the GLX. However, we did test drive the top-spec car, and the GL+ is somewhat stripped-down in comparison. Of course, it covers the essentials, but it does reveal some curious omissions. Like the absence of a rear wiper, which seems short-sighted given Cape Town's unpredictable winters. I certainly would have appreciated better rear visibility during some rainy weather. Similarly, the lack of factory window tinting is a little strange. Come summertime, South African sunshine is unforgiving. And some extra UV protection isn't merely cosmetic, it's a safety issue, too, for those with 'sticky fingers.' Likewise, the GL+ goes without keyless entry, which we found really useful on the GLX vehicle. Even in an affordable hatchback, it's one of those conveniences that becomes difficult to live without. Also, the touchscreen – while Apple CarPlay compatible – is smaller than the GLX's. And we believe, given enough time, you'll regret knowing there are thousands of Swifts out there with the bigger setup. Even if the interface itself is straightforward, responsive and not overly complicated to figure out. Likewise, the 2025 Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL+ CVT does without climate control. Instead, you have air conditioning you toggle left for hot and right for cold. And is less satisfying to use than the GLX's one-touch climate control. 15-inch alloy wheels are a nice-to-have on the GL+. Although we do miss the clever 'hidden' rear door handles of the previous Swift. Image: File Despite the 2025 Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL+ CVT and its spec limitations, this little car retains the essence that makes the new Swift formula so relevant in South Africa. The driving position is excellent, with good visibility all around. The steering, while light, offers enough feedback to keep you connected. It's just so effortless to drive and one of the easiest cars to park, too. The suspension soaks up the worst our road surfaces have to offer, and a young family can travel in genuine comfort over reasonably long distances. Therefore, the 2025 Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL+ CVT understands its mission completely. This isn't a car trying to be anything more than it is. It simply executes the basics exceptionally well, even in CVT guise. Of course, for us, a manual gearbox Swift GLX (R271 900) remains the superior purchase. And we'd argue if you can stretch your budget, you won't be disappointed. However, the Swift range has rightly earning its stripes as South Africa's best-selling passenger car. Showing once again that in tough times it's best to keep things simple … 2025 Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL+ CVT Engine: 1.2-litre petrol 1.2-litre petrol Transmission: CVT CVT Power: 60 kW 60 kW Torque: 112 Nm 112 Nm Performance: 0-100 km/h: unknown 0-100 km/h: unknown Fuel economy: 5.5 l/100 km (tested) 5.5 l/100 km (tested) Price: R245 900 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
