Maruti Suzuki SX4 diesel launched at Rs. 7.74 lakh-Rs. 8.62 lakh

Maruti Suzuki has launched the long-awaited SX4 diesel today and that too a super price! Available in two variants, the SX4 VDi is priced at Rs. 7.74 lakh and the top-end variant, SX4 ZDi is priced at Rs. 8.62 lakh.

The prices are introductory (ex-showroom, Delhi) so better hurry. In any case, there isn’t much to think, since at these prices, the SX4 diesel is a steal!

The Maruti SX4 diesel is identical to the SX4 petrol, but has the DDiS badge on the sides. It is powered by a 1.3-litre, 16 V, DOHC, DDiS engine with VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger) technology that produces 90 PS of maximum power at 4,000 rpm and 200 Nm of maximum torque at 1,750 rpm. The same engine is used in the Fiat Linea diesel, but the ECU tuning and gearing differ in the SX4. Expect the car to take around 14 seconds to reach the 0–100 km/hr acceleration and achieve a top speed of around 160 km/hr.

The Maruti SX4 diesel is the first car in India to comply with OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics). The automated system in the SX4 diesel will alert owners if the car pollutes more than the allowed levels and prompts them via a dashboard warning to take the car to the workshop.

Variants and Prices

The SX4 diesel is available in two variants, Vdi and Zdi with similar equipment levels like the petrol variants Vxi and Zxi. The base variant (Vdi) of SX4 diesel gets AC, power windows, central locking, keyless entry, music system with USB port, 4 speakers & 2 tweeters, height adjustable front seat belts and iCATS security system.

The top-end Zxi variant has all the features of base variant and in addition, comes with single zone auto AC, driver seat height adjust, alloy wheels, driver & front passenger airbags, ABS with EBD and three-point ELR front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiter.

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Competition

The Maruti SX4 diesel will take on diesel variants of Fiat Linea, Tata Manza, Hyundai Verna Transform, Volkswagen Vento and Chevrolet Optra.

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The SX4 diesel undercuts all its rivals in terms of price by a significant margin. This in itself is the first unique selling proposition of the SX4. Further, the maintenance costs and spare parts cost of the SX4 diesel will be the lowest since it’s a Maruti product.

Conclusion

Buyers who were looking for a low-priced, reliable diesel sedan below Rs. 10 lakh will now have an attractive package in the form of SX4 diesel. Though the SX4 diesel was a much expected car since 2009, only now Maruti Suzuki had launched it, losing a significant share to its rivals in this segment.

Nevertheless, with an attractive price range and a proven engine, the SX4 diesel is sure to allure many potential customers easily.