This is the 2017 model of Suzuki Ciaz, which is a family-size sedan. Suzuki rarely plays in the 1300cc category, and mostly its popularity is confined up till 1000cc hatchbacks in Pakistan. Popular cars include Mehran, Wagon R, Cultus, and Alto. The Ciaz failed to gain much popularity and acclaim from the Pakistani consumer, mainly as Honda and Toyota have already gained dominance in this segment. Their offerings are reliable and have a strong resale market. I would have always been difficult for Suzuki to penetrate this segment. The owner of this car previously owned Toyota Passo. The Suzuki Ciaz in Pakistan is a Thailand assembled car. The owner purchased this used sedan in 2019 at PKR 1.8 million. Currently, the ex-factory price of the manual variant is PKR 23,00,000, and that of the automatic variant is PKR 25,00,000.
Exterior
Suzuki Ciaz is available in five exterior colors: black, white, silver, brown, and grey. As standard, this car comes with 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers. There is also a spare wheel in the boot. The front grille is fully chrome as standard. Both front and rear bumpers, door handles and door mirrors are body-colored. There are projector halogen headlamps provided in this car. There are two lamps to illuminate the cabin and one to illuminate the boot. High mounted stop lamp and turn signals are provided in the fenders. The trunk can be opened electrically in this car. Exterior accessories that you can buy with Ciaz include front grille garnish, door visors, rear bumper step guard, fog lamps, fog lamps garnish, trunk lid garnish, carpet floor mats, and all-weather floor mats.
Interior
The interior cabin can seat five passengers easily. Power steering is provided as standard, and the speedometer information display includes temperature and fuel gauges, headlight-on reminder, door ajar warning lamp, and seatbelt reminder. The door trim is made up of fabric, and sun visors are provided for both the driver and the passenger. There are two cupholders at the front and two at the rear. An accessory socket is provided in the center console. There are two bottle holders at the front and two at the rear. Electric mirrors and windows also come standard in Ciaz.
Seat upholstery is fabric, and only the driver’s seat has a height adjustment feature. Back pockets are attached to both the driver and passenger seats. A rear center armrest is provided with cupholders, and headrests are also offered for the rear passengers. Air conditioning, heater, and power door locks are also standard features. The air conditioning system is manual with a pollen filter. The audio system has four speakers, an antenna that is rear-glass mounted and has AM/FM, CD, MP3, and USB connectivities. The interior is mostly black and looks a bit older compared to the contemporary design elements of sedans like Toyota Corolla.
Suzuki Ciaz 2017 Manual – Owner’s Review – video:
Performance
This sedan comes with a K14B 1.4L 4-cylinder engine that produces 68 kW of power and 130Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission; however, you can also opt for 4-speed automatic transmission. The new VVT petrol engine in this car comes with new piston crowns and cylinder heads. This results in better performance and improved fuel efficiency of this sedan. The fuel average of this car is around 15 km/l in the city and on the highway, it can return up to 17 km/l. One time oil and filter change can cost you PKR 4,500 in this car.
Comfort and Handling
The suspension of this car is soft, and therefore it glides over bumps relatively softly. The ground clearance is also optimal for the Pakistani roads and speed bumps. A footrest is provided on the driver’s side to enhance comfortability while driving. The independent suspension system provides better handling and improved comfortability. This suspension effectively absorbs shocks while driving on bumpy roads and also reduces harshness. The air conditioning of this car is also optimal for the hot climate of Pakistan. The legroom at the front and the rear is ample for an average-sized adult.
Safety
To improve the braking of the car, the front brakes are ventilated disc brakes. Two airbags (driver and passenger) are provided to enhance the safety of this car. Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) are also included as standard. Other safety features include childproof rear door locks, immobilizer, security alarm system, pedal release system (automatic variant only), and side-impact protection beam.
Verdict
Superior fuel economy, powerful engine, better road grip, comfort, and better build quality than the locally-manufactured cars are some of the reasons to buy this sedan from Suzuki. However, the prices of spare parts and the resale market are two things Pakistani customers value the most. In these two things, Ciaz has not performed well. Until it establishes a strong brand recognition in the market, Suzuki will find it difficult to sell Ciaz in Pakistan. The legacy left by Liana is also adversely affecting Ciaz in Pakistan.
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