High on the highway: The Maruti Suzuki Ritz rides well and the impact of most patchwork roads can’t be felt inside the cabin

The latest small car from the Maruti stable is practical, refined, comfortable and looks good on paper. Should its on-road rivals be worried?

The Ritz is the eighth new model within 48 months after the Swift, Zen Estilo, SX4, Swift Diesel, Grand Vitara, Swift Dzire and A-star. It’s Maruti’s practical and spacious alternative for those who don’t quite fancy the Swift. It’ll be available in three variants — LXi, VXi and ZXi with petrol engines and LDi and VDi with diesel engines.

STYLE FILE

The Ritz is based on the Swift platform, but it’s taller (3.7 metres) and longer (1.7 metres) which will appeal to families. Though the rectangular shape doesn’t have the style quotient of the Swift, it still manages to look smart and very urbane.

Being taller, getting in and out of the car is a very comfortable affair. You don’t crouch to get in; you just walk into the cabin and the wide and tall door apertures aid this.

INSIDE STORY

Step into the cabin and you’ll be instantly impressed with its airy feel. An oval theme runs across the interiors, ranging from the centre console to the grains on the dashboard. The large speedometer is similar to that on the A-star and is surrounded by the warning-lamps cluster.

It also gets a digital fuel gauge, though it isn’t as convenient to read as a regular analogue gauge. Just like the A-star, you get a separate rev gauge bolted onto the dashboard. On the left rather than to the right of the driver, it can be distracting at times.

The Ritz has clever interiors. There are plenty of places to store your cell phone, coins, wallet and similarly sized items. The front passenger seat gets a tray under it — a good place to put that book you just bought. Maruti has kept costs low with the Ritz, which shares its steering wheel, gear lever and power window switches with the Swift and SX4.

The top-of-the-line ZXi variant comes with steering-mounted audio controls and integrated stereo, though climate control is oddly missing. All controls are logically placed and intuitive to use. The gear lever is housed in the centre console, just like the rival i10, and is easy to operate.

The driver’s seat is height-adjustable on the top-end ZXi version and you get a good view of the road ahead from the front seats. But reversing may be a tricky proposition, thanks to the massive rear pillar.

The Ritz passes the rear-seat-comfort test easily with decent legroom and brilliant headroom. Atleast three people can be accommodated in the high-set rear seats.

However, the boot is disappointing and, at only 178 litres, is smaller than the Swift’s 232 litres — good enough only for a couple of small bags.

The car’s build quality and general plastic quality, areas where Maruti hasn’t been too strong in the past, have improved and are better than the Swift. There are generous splashes of colour in the cabin, adding to its cheerful feel.

UNDER THE HOOD

At the heart of the Ritz is an all-new 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, 16-valve unit with a maximum power of 85ps from the petrol engine, which is Bharat Stage IV-compliant. This unit will be complemented by the 1.3 common rail 16-valve diesel (DDiS) engine that delivers a maximum power of 75ps.

The new petrol feels far superior to the Swift’s 1.3-litre engine in terms of refinement. It feels quiet and gets a little vocal only at the end of its rev range. But, unlike the busy-sounding Swift engine, this motor feels relaxed. The 85bhp power plant feels more than adequate for town use and doesn’t mind being revved. The best power comes once it’s past the 4000rpm mark. However, the Ritz is heavier than the Swift and doesn’t feel as quick.

DRIVER’S DEAL

The Ritz diesel is as refined as the Swift and there’s little to suggest that there’s a diesel motor under the hood at cruising speeds. The gearbox feels slick, is a joy to use and extracting power is an enjoyable affair.

However, the Ritz feels different to drive and isn’t as exciting. The generous height means that body roll, though under control, is evident. But there is decent grip from the tyres, which are similar to the Swift. The steering weighs up nicely and gives good feedback.

The ride quality is better than the Swift and the impact of most patchwork roads won’t be felt inside the cabin. Ride comfort improves as speeds increase as well. On the highway, the car feels well planted and composed, even at speeds in excess of 100kph, and doesn’t feel light like some other small cars.

FINAL VERDICT

As an overall package, it’s hard to find fault with the Ritz, save for the small boot. It’s well-built, the cabin is spacious and smartly styled as well. The fuel efficiency levels are expected to be similar, if not better, than the corresponding Swift diesel and petrol variants.

At an expected starting price of Rs 4.10 lakh for the petrol, the Ritz might be more expensive than the Swift. But it makes sense as a family car, thanks to its superior cabin space and build quality.

spec check

Maruti Suzuki Ritz

Price: Starting at Rs 4.10 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Fuel Options: Petrol and diesel
No. of Cylinders: 4
Engine cc: 1197cc (petrol)/ 1248cc (diesel)
Max Power: 85ps at 6000rpm (petrol)/ 75ps at 4000rpm (diesel)
Max Torque: 113Nm at 4000rpm (petrol)/ 190Nm at 2000rpm (diesel)
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Suspension (F/R): McPherson strut, coil spring/ torsion beam, coil spring
Fuel tank: 43 litres