Driving the Dzire over the festive season was a joy. There’s something quietly comforting about a car that knows exactly what it is. The Suzuki Dzire has never pretended to be sporty or luxurious.
Instead, it has always leaned into being sensible, affordable and easy to live with. In a country like SA, where people are struggling in a fragile economy, the Dzire makes sense. Launched in 2025, the latest Swift-based Dzire revealed itself as a small sedan with far more substance than its modest footprint suggests.
Designing a budget compact sedan in a highly competitive market is no small challenge, and none of the cars in the segment will probably win beauty contests. But, the Dzire is one of the better-looking efforts. The front end is neat and contemporary, with a wide black grille and just enough chrome to lift the look without losing its modest, yet dignified presence.
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The slim halogen headlamps do a decent job of keeping things modern, even in the absence of LED technology. The GL+ model’s 15-inch black alloy wheels make a surprising difference, filling the arches nicely and giving the car a slightly more planted stance than the GA’s 14-inch steel wheels. Around the back, the T-shaped LED taillights and chrome strip across the boot lid give the Dzire a more upmarket appearance than you’d expect in the segment.
Importantly, it no longer looks like “a Swift with a boot”, but rather a cohesive compact sedan in its own right. Step inside and anyone familiar with the latest Swift will feel right at home. The wraparound dashboard, logical button layout and refreshingly physical air-conditioning controls are all very Suzuki.
It’s intuitive, uncluttered and easy to operate while driving. For many this would be welcomed in a touchscreen-obsessed world. The cabin certainly brightens the space but the cloth seats are a questionable choice for a family car.
My test vehicle was practically new yet showing faint marks. The latterly introduced darker cloth seats are more practical, especially with kids in the car. On the tech front, the GL+ trim ticks the important boxes: a 7-inch infotainment screen with wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reverse camera, cruise control and a multifunction steering wheel.
Smartphone pairing is seamless and once connected, you can largely forget about the system and let Siri or Google handle the heavy lifting. The audio quality, however, is underwhelming and music lovers will be disappointed.
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