The Evolution of Maruti Suzuki Ciaz in India: Upgrades and Changes Over the Years

The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is a popular mid-size sedan which was launched in India in 2014. Since its debut, it has carved a niche for itself, being regarded as a premium alternative to compact sedans, and directly competing with the likes of the Honda City, the Hyundai Verna, and the Volkswagen Vento at the time. Over the years, the Ciaz has undergone a few facelifts and updates to keep up with evolving consumer needs, market dynamics, and technological advancements. 

Overview of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz

The Ciaz was aimed at the rapidly growing premium sedan segment at the time of its launch, in 2014. Successor to the SX4, which was discontinued in India, the Ciaz brought with it refreshed styling, and a feature rich offering in the competitive C-segment. It was primarily focused on comfort, space, and fuel efficiency, and sought to bridge the gap between compact sedans and more premium mid-size offerings. 

The Ciaz was made initially available in both petrol and diesel variants, with a variety of trims to cater to different customer needs. Over the years, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz has been continuously upgraded, with the introduction of a new engine, features, and design elements to remain relevant in the segment. 

Let’s take a closer look at the evolution of the Ciaz over the years, and the changes that were brought about in terms of design, features, performance, and market positioning. 

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz 2014: Launch and Key Highlights

Initially, the Ciaz was intended to introduce the Nexa premium dealer channel, however, it was delayed. In 2017, the Ciaz was moved from the Arena outlets to Nexa. The first ever Ciaz was vastly different from other sedan offerings from Maruti Suzuki. It was a stylish and feature packed sedan, which offered a more mature and premium design. It was initially launched with two fuel options, a 1.4 litre petrol, and a 1.3 litre diesel, both sourced from the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, but tuned for better performance. Furthermore, in 2015, the Ciaz offered Maruti Suzuki’s SHVS, which used the car’s lead acid battery.

Design and Features

The Ciaz came with a sleek, contemporary design, which featured sharp lines and an elegant front grille. The car was designed to be aerodynamic, and came with a long wheelbase, which offered a smooth ride, and generous cabin space. It came packed with a lot of features, including a Bluetooth enabled audio system, with the ZXI+ variant having a touchscreen infotainment system. Alongside the audio system, leather seats, keyless entry system, and rear parking sensors were also introduced by Maruti Suzuki. Safety features included dual front airbags, and higher trims came equipped with the ABS system. 

Engine Options and Variants

The first iteration of the Ciaz was available in four variants, namely V, V+, Z, and Z+. Each variant offered different levels of equipment and features, catering to different customer preferences. 

1. V (Base Variant)

The V variant offered basic features like air conditioning, power windows, and dual front airbags, and came with a 1.4 litre petrol, or a 1.3 litre diesel engine, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

2. V+ (Mid Variant)

The V+ variant added rear parking sensors, and steering mounted controls, with the same engine and transmission options as the V variant.

3. Z (Higher Mid Variant)

The Z variant further improved the feature list with a touchscreen infotainment system, leather seats, keyless entry, rear sunshade, and a rear view camera. While the engine configuration remained the same as the other variants, there was also the availability of a 4 speed automatic transmission, only for the petrol engine. 

4. Z+ (Top Variant)

In addition to everything from the Z variant, the Z+ brought chrome exterior accents, climate control, and an upgraded sound system. The engine and transmission options remained the same as the Z variants. When the Ciaz was moved to Nexa, the naming convention changed to Alpha, Delta, Sigma, etc.

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz 2018 Facelift: Upgrades and Updates

In 2018, Maruti Suzuki introduced the facelift version of the Ciaz for the Indian market, which received mechanical and cosmetic changes. The design was refreshed with a new grille, LED headlights, and updated bumpers. The interiors also received minor changes and new features.

Exterior Upgrades:

• New chrome-studded grille with sleek chrome underline
• Sharp new LED projector headlamps and LED daytime running lights (DRLs)
• Redesigned bumpers and new 16-inch alloy wheels

• Updated LED tail-lamps

   

Interior Enhancements:

• Birch blonde wood finish with satin chrome accents
• New 4.2-inch TFT Multi-Information Display showing details like fuel consumption, energy flow, and gear shift indicator

• Updated steering wheel with cruise control buttons

   

Engine Upgrades:

The most prominent change came under the bonnet, where the old 1.4 litre petrol engine was replaced with the newer, and more efficient, 1.5 litre K15B engine, which came with Maruti Suzuki’s mild hybrid technology (SHVS), that used an auxiliary lithium-ion battery.. The new engine was more powerful, producing 104 bhp, with a fuel economy of 21.5 kmpl for the manual, and 20.2 kmpl for the automatic version.

There was no change to the diesel engine, which produced 89 bhp, 200 Nm of torque, however, it was upgraded with the SHVS mild hybrid system.

In 2019, Maruti Suzuki replaced the Fiat-sourced diesel 1.3 engine of the Ciaz, with its own in house developed 1.5 litre turbocharged DDiS 225 engine.

Safety Features: 

The Ciaz facelift also introduced new safety features, such as a seatbelt reminder for the driver and front passenger, and a speed alert system. Dual airbags, and ABS remained standard across all variants. 

The 2018 facelift came in various trims, such as Sigma, Delta, Zeta, and Alpha, across petrol and diesel variants. However, the automatic transmission option was only available in the Alpha variant, and only with petrol fuel type.

Post-2020 Updates: BS6 Transition, Feature Enhancements, and Focus on Comfort

With the introduction of the BS6 emission norms, the Ciaz’s petrol and diesel engines were updated for better compliance. The 1.5-liter petrol engine continued to perform well, maintaining the same power output while ensuring better fuel efficiency. The cabin continued to offer luxurious materials, and higher variants saw the addition of features like a larger touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and updated upholstery. The Ciaz also benefited from improved NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) levels, making for a quieter cabin.

Key Highlights for Model Years 

Conclusion

The Maruti Ciaz has undoubtedly evolved significantly since its launch in 2014. The Ciaz evolved from a stylish and spacious sedan with key features to a refined and feature-packed car. Offering  advanced technology and improved comfort, the Ciaz continues to compete strongly in the mid-size sedan segment. Its generational upgrades have kept it relevant, with constant focus on safety, comfort, and performance.