Maruti Suzuki Dzire vs Tata Manza: Diesel variant comparison

The new Maruti Suzuki Dzire has become quite popular but does it beat the Tata Manza when it comes to value for money? We find out.

The Manza is known for its spacious interiors, creature comforts and good fuel economy. The new Dzire with refreshed exterior and interiors comes with the same proven 1.3-litre diesel engine (sourced from Fiat) that offers the best of both worlds: performance and fuel economy.

Here we take a look at the different aspects and features of these two diesel sedans to see how they square up against each other. We will compare the top-end diesel variants, i.e. the Manza Elan and the Dzire ZDI.

Driving and handling

The Manza is powered by the 1.3-litre Quadrajet 90 motor that puts out 89 bhp (90 PS) of power and 200 Nm of torque while the 2012 Dzire is powered by the 1.3-litre DDiS motor that puts 75 bhp of power and 190 Nm of torque. While the power and torque specifications suggest that the Manza has an advantage, the power-to-weight ratio suggest otherwise.

The Dzire has a power-to-weight ratio of 70.75 bhp per ton while the Manza has a power-to-weight ratio of 73.55 bhp per ton. Hence, the Dzire matches the overall performance of the Manza, though the Quadrajet 90 feels less strained when driven at high speeds.

With regard to handling, the Dzire has a clear edge, for it offers controlled vertical movements even when hard pushed towards corners. Besides, the precise steering offers commendable feedback at all speeds. The Manza, due to its sheer length and suspension that is tuned for a supple ride, exhibits a fair amount of body roll. The Manza will be at its best when driven in a sedate manner. Also read: Tata Manza Elan Quadrajet road test and review

Summing up, the Manza performs better than the Dzire though the Dzire surges ahead when it comes to handling.

Space and Comfort

Tata cars are known for their spacious interiors and the Manza is no exception. Both the front seats and rear seats come with good legroom, headroom and shoulder room. The rear seat has enough width to seat three passengers easily. The 2012 Dzire, on the other hand, offers enough under thigh support, headroom and just adequate legroom for front occupants. But, the rear seat is best suited for two passengers while the middle passenger will feel a bit squeezed.

Boot space of the Manza is a commendable 460 litres while the 2012 Dzire offers 316 litres only due to its shortened length when compared with the old Dzire. Comfort wise, the Dzire has a slightly stiffer suspension when compared to the Manza. This gives the Dzire better handling; it’s the Manza which offers better ride quality at both low and high speeds.

Overall, the Manza wins over the Dzire in both space and comfort.

Looks

The old Dzire was criticized for its awkward boot design. The 2012 Dzire however is presentable if not gorgeous. In order to differentiate from the Swift hatchback, the Dzire gets slightly modified grille and fog lamps, making it slightly sporty. On the side profile, the rear quarter glass looks conventionally designed and renders an airy feel inside the cabin.

The Manza is best when viewed from rear quarter angle. The boot design though seems to be a little old school, still managed to charm with the attractively designed tail lamps. The side profile has slightly raised shoulder line than you normally expect from a sedan. The front has soft looking parabolic headlamps and chrome-rich grille.

While the front end of the Dzire looks young and sporty, its short boot design makes it look a bit awkward. In case of Manza, the rear end looks great but the front could have been designed more aesthetically.

Features

The Dzire (ZDI) and the Manza Elan come with safety features such as airbags and ABS and comfort features such as steering wheel mounted audio controls, automatic climate control, central locking, all four power windows, keyless entry, driver seat height adjuster, alloy wheels, electrically adjustable ORVMs and rear defogger.

The Dzire ZDI also comes with turn indicators mounted on the outside mirrors. With regard to gadgets, both the cars have CD/MP3/FM/AM music system with four speakers, but the Manza Elan also has two tweeters, USB & auxiliary inputs and Bluetooth connectivity.  Overall, the Manza has a slight edge over the Dzire in terms of features.

Price, mileage, overall VFM

The Dzire ZDI is priced at Rs. 7.51 lakh while the Manza Elan is priced at Rs. 8.03 lakh, which is Rs. 52,000 more than the Dzire. Mileage wise, the Dzire has a claimed mileage of 23.4 kmpl while the Manza’s claimed mileage is 21.12 kmpl. The Dzire has a slight advantage over the Manza, in terms of mileage.

Car to car, the Manza is a great package for it has slightly more features and more spacious than the Manza and also comes with a full-sized boot.

Pros and Cons

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Verdict

Though the Manza and the Dzire are pitched in the same segment, they cater to different needs from a sedan buyer’s point of view. If you want a compact sedan with good mileage, decent performance and low on maintenance costs, go for the 2012 Dzire. If you want a full sized sedan with good performance, decent mileage, a spacious cabin and full-sized boot, go for the Manza.

You my also like to see our Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire Video Review: