This new Suzuki Dzire looks suited and booted to take on the ride-sharing market, but it has a hint of design flair that may endear it to consumers who are looking for a small family car. We attended the model’s launch on the Highveld to see what it can do.
What is a Suzuki Dzire?
The new Suzuki Dzire is based on the Suzuki Swift (which regularly tops monthly new-car sales charts in Mzansi), but the newcomer features a capacious boot. You’d assume the fact that the Dzire has a bootlid rather than a tailgate limits its practicality, but the Indian-built sedan has a stated load capacity of 378 litres, which is more than the Swift’s claimed luggage space (265 litres, when all seats are occupied).
The Dzire uses the same 3-cylinder petrol engine as the Swift and is offered in manual and automatic guises. There are 2 trim grades: the entry-level GA, which is only available with a 5-speed manual ‘box, and the range-topping GL+, which can be had with either a manual- or (CVT) automatic transmission.
Here’s a look at the specs & pricing of the new Dzire
Low running costs for Suzuki Dzire owners
Suzuki has become renowned for its models’ impressive fuel economy. The brand has stuck mostly with natural aspiration (non-turbo engines) in its range, with a focus on optimising its small powerplants’ fuel efficiency. The 1.2-litre 3-cylinder in the Dzire produces 60 kW/112 Nm and is claimed to consume just 4.4 L/100 km. Our drive around the outskirts of Joburg, with 4 people in the car (as many as an Uber driver is likely to transport), returned 6 L/100 km (we drove the manual), which was deeply impressive.
I wouldn’t say that the sedan carried its 4 occupants with ease, however. The engine does struggle in the thin air of Gauteng (which saps about 17% of the power that a non-turbo engine would develop at sea level) and, when you require the Dzire to ascend a steep hill under load, you need to be prepared to downshift a few times – and task the engine to deliver whatever it can – to sustain momentum.
The Top Deck interior
South Africans prefer black interiors, but consumers on the subcontinent seem to favour beige interiors; that’s why many Indian-built vehicles that have been sold in the Republic feature beige cloth interiors (the Honda Brio, plus the previous-gen Suzuki Ertiga and Mahindra XUV300, are examples).
The new Dzire’s interior combines the 2 in a Cadbury’s Top Deck style mixture of black and beige. The seats are beige too, and that doesn’t bode well for those who like to keep a clean-looking interior.
The cabin’s fit-and-finish seems fine, but it’s no surprise that all the panels are made of hard plastic. The GL+ has a few upgrades that include cruise control, reverse-view camera, multifunction steering wheel, an extra USB port (front) and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The latter looks small compared with the plastic that surrounds it, but at least it has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
Search for a new or used Suzuki Dzire listed on Cars.co.za
In terms of passenger space, we found there was enough legroom in the back (even when seated behind tall drivers) and the headroom only became a problem for aft passengers taller than, say, 1.85 metres.
There are 3 proper seatbelts at the back (even for the middle occupant), which is commendable, but I couldn’t find a way to fold down the rear seats, which leads me to believe they can’t be folded; that may disappoint aspiring owners who thought they could occasionally use the Dzire to transport long items.
Suzuki Dzire pricing and after-sales
The Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GA costs R7 000 more than its predecessor, while the GL+ is R12 000 pricier than the previous-gen GL. All variants are sold with a 5-year/200 000 km warranty and a 4-year/60 000 km service plan (the service plan has been increased from the previous model’s 3 years or 45 000 km).
The new model also comes with far more safety equipment as standard, including ABS, EBD and electronic stability control (ESC), 6 airbags, rear parking sensors and -ISOfix anchor points.
| Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GA 5MT | R224 900 |
| Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GL+ 5MT | R246 900 |
| Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GL+ CVT | R266 900 |
See also: Suzuki Dzire (2025) Price & Specs
Summary
The Suzuki Dzire caters to a market that (now almost exclusively) serves ride-sharing operators. To service that market, the GA variant has the basics for comfort without frills that would hike the price.
The GL+ seems to cater for the ride-sharing market and general consumers who want a cheap sedan, but don’t want it to look like an Uber car. It has black wheels, a boot spoiler and some extra goodies that make it a little less plain than the other small sedans on the market. The Swift will certainly remain the volume seller, but if a small sedan piques your interest, the Dzire has a little something going for it.
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