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Untitled Document

Suzuki Ritz: GOING RITZ-Y!

Adil Jal Darukhanawala-Editor in Chief, ZigWheels.com 15 May 2009

Maruti Suzuki fired its second salvo in the large hatchback segment of the Indian car market today with the commercial launch of its new Ritz. Already outlined and described threadbare in www.zigwheels.com, this spanking new car built on a chopped Suzuki Swift floorpan with many underpinnings to match is not exactly the replacement for the practical but much reviled (for its looks) Wagon R but all new modern day "tall boy" with elegant looks to match.

Related Links

Maruti Suzuki Ritz: Special Feature

Maruti Suzuki Ritz: First Drive!

Maruti Suzuki Ritz: The Indian focus

Maruti Suzuki Ritz: Tech-firsts!

Maruti Suzuki Ritz: Positioning in the Maruti stable

Maruti Suzuki Ritz: The Power tussle!

Maruti Suzuki Ritz: Design dazzle

As we mentioned it is built on a wheelbase smaller than the Swift but thanks to its cabin architecture and interior packaging, the upright seating stance delivers great space and headroom for four adults which is the mantra specified for a large hatch. With a 500-litres plus boot space, it is no slouch in the luggage packing detail which is where many of our countrymen try to hold out against large hatchbacks vis-a-vis saloons and this is the first such car in the segment which has got this point absolutely spot-on.

Factor in a very well laid out funky interior (both in design as well as in the colour coded graphics and upholstery patterns employed), you get a car which has a good driving position (could have done with some adjustability though to driver's seat) and very good all-round visibility. Ample space for odds and ends abounds all across the interior and though the hard plastics at some places do show that it is built to a price, the overall ambience is of a pretty tall order.

Related Links

Maruti Suzuki Ritz: Slideshow

Maruti Ritz: Spy shots

Maruti Suzuki Ritz to debut on May 15

The Ritz' heart rolls out!

Maruti's Ritz scheduled for May

Maruti plans diesel variants of SX4, Ritz

Suzuki Splash/Ritz

After the Skoda Fabia at the top end of the large hatch spectrum and the Tata Indica Vista on the same level, the Suzuki Ritz is probably the most important large hatch after these two to offer a choice of either petrol or diesel propulsion. The Ritz with its new K12 1197cc four-cylinder petrol engine is the first such to be BS IV compliant months before this emission level is mandatory. The oil burner option is taken care of by the very same and highly acclaimed 1.3-litre DDIS unit which does duty in the Swift as well as the Swift D'Zire. Together these two units offer a good choice to buyers in this category and for once we could say that the petrol would seem to be the more sensible choice.

Stylistically the car is surely the best ever "tall boy" design seen in this country and if looks alone could determine it as a winner, the Ritz could be galloping to the head of the pack on first eye contact. That it bolsters this attribute with performance, good ride quality, decent build and hopefully value-for-money, would just be added impetus for buyers wanting a big hatch without the encumbrance of a boot.

Variant and Pricing:-

Variant

Fuel Type

Price (Ex Showroom, Delhi)

Maruti Suzuki Ritz Lxi

Petrol

Rs.3,90,000/-

Maruti Suzuki Ritz Vxi

Petrol

Rs.4,20,000/-

Maruti Suzuki Ritz Zxi

Petrol

Rs.4.80,000/-

Maruti Suzuki Ritz Ldi

Diesel

Rs.4,65,000/-

Maruti Suzuki Ritz Vdi

Diesel

Rs.4,99,000/-

Video :	Zigwheels Maruti Suzuki RITZ First Look

Check out : Fashion on Wheelz

User's Comments

Suresh (27 July 2010 23:49)
. Maruti Ritz is a good product, since I am personally driving it for the past 7 months, I know its quality. The driving is very easy with the feather light steering. Seats are supportive with good thigh support, hence long drives is not a problem. Ritz is also good in providing a consistent mileage of 17.5 kmpl on average. Getting in and out of Ritz is very easy due to the tall boy design. Go for Ritz, if you are looking for value for money, practical hatchback | Reply

Arihant (25 June 2010 13:47)
Ritz is giving me a consistent mileage of 18 kmpl. It has impressive pickup and top speed performance. Go for ritz. its the best hatchback in India | Reply

Kishore (21 June 2010 18:32)
Ritz is futuristic as well as feature rich. It has got highly refined K series engine and being compact, it is very easy to drive in city. Ritz is giving a consistent mileage of 16 kmpl. Maruti Ritz is the best hatchback | Reply

vijay (08 February 2010 13:56)
ritz is an Awesome car with so many features bundled together.when we think about the compact car with good milage,in india we cant find lots of options to choose.I think ritz definately makes available one more option to choose.Thanks to ritz. | Reply

SAM (20 August 2009 21:18)
@ Venugopal.. Maruti will be soon fitting the same Euro IV engine in Swift. Looks?? So according to you Ritz looks better then Swift??? That's something not easy to digest!! Bigger wheels?? Both cars come with 165/80 R14 / 185/70 R14 tyres. "Far cheaper then Jazz"?? Yeah that's true and easy to make out if you compare both cars in whatever possible ways one may think of!! Yeah the car buyers in India have good choice with Maruti Suzuki's top of the line cars M800/Alto/Astar which are basically different generation "Alto's" and then they have more choice in the form of Wagon R and Zen Estilo which are based on same platform and Omni which is based on M800 and the the mighty SX4 which is based on a SUV!! C'mon Maruti Suzuki bring something which not only looks different but also feel different interms of build/Safety/Ride/Comfort. I know here in India majority of car buys decide upon just 2 points 1)Mileage 2)Service cost. | Reply

Vijay Kumar (12 January 2010 17:05) Reply to SAM
Relax Dude. Every second car in India is a Maruti and they | Reply

Venugopal Ravindran (27 June 2009 17:37)
This is with regard to SAM's (16 June 2009) query viz.can anyone tell me why will someone buy Ritz when we get Swift for similar price?Dont forget that Ritz/Splash is basically new Wagon-R, I wish to say that Ritz has not only an advanced Euro IV engine but also has better looks including bigger wheels. In terms of price, it is far cheaper than Honda Jazz. Well, car users in India have reasonably good choices to make now...and for car makers the choice is tougher, as the need to 'delight' them rather than 'satisfy'. | Reply

SAM (16 June 2009 17:19)
Can anyone tell me why will someone buy Ritz when we get Swift for similar price?Dont forget that Ritz/Splash is basically new Wagon-R. | Reply

Amit (15 June 2009 18:32)
Maruti always gets the price right but not this time. Ritz price is identical to Swift and similar is size except 9 cm taller. But for the OTR price of Ritz Lxi, one can buy i10 Sportz in Delhi, which has lot more useful features. | Reply

akshay (29 May 2009 11:10)
I have buy Ritz and one having honda its far better comfirst just add ddin stero and rock | Reply

Narayan (23 May 2009 18:33)
Ritz VXI is better than Swift petrol OR I10.Looks small car but space sufficient better than I10. Look is very goodI plan to buy RITZ instead of I10 | Reply

Bobby (21 May 2009 10:38)
I had a Test Drive of the Ritz Diesel. In terms of the internal space it is certainly lesser than the Indica Vista, specially the Rear Seating so it’s ideally comfortable for two normal size adults and a Child at the Back seating. For a person as tall as 5.8 ft is on the front seat the leg room is just a bit less, if the seat is moved behind to make more leg room than the person setting behind would not be comfortable. What is most disappointing is the step brotherly treatment given to the interiors and features between the Petrol and the Diesel version. The interior of the Petrol being much better with Duel Tone colors matching the external color, where as the Diesel interior is only Gray/Black with NO climate control AC as in the top end Petrol. No option of Air Bags in Diesel which is available in top end Petrol (Not even Optional). Optional ABS in Diesel Yes at Rs 20000/- which is worth it but with a waiting period is minimum 45 Days. Top end Petrol ABS is optional of default I am not sure. Most Car makers give this step brotherly treatment to Diesel Cars, do they think that people who prefer Diesel have a lack of taste and refinements...They are so wrong and I hope this reaches them and soon.If your priority is internal space and comfort I’d say Indica Vista with the same engine as the Ritz, External looks is your choice as I find both good in their own rights with a few plus to Ritz, Internal looks Indica Vista is good too but Ritz scores better in style and trend (the petrol version). Indica Vista’s dual tone combination is much better than the Grey/Black of the Ritz.In terms of Value for money I’d say Indica Vista as is currently offering free insurance worth Rs 18000/- if purchased before 27th May with Two Years 1 Lakh Kilometer warranty as compared to Maruti Ritz at 2 years 40,000 Kilometer warranty only. No ABS option in Indica Vista which is sad. Drive wise both are good with both weighing around 1100 Kilos. Hope my option Helps. | Reply

Vijay (12 January 2010 17:10) Reply to Bobby
Sir, Please dont bring a TATA into the comparison. Its cruel | Reply

shachindra singh (17 May 2009 18:05)
Good | Reply

agk (17 May 2009 14:40)
Ritz all set compete with i10 and Swift itself. Looks beautiful [even from back], fuel efficient, appears spacious [need to check what if 2 6 footers sit back-to-back], amazing style and colours, uncluttered dash-board....WoW! | Reply

Hari (16 May 2009 20:06)
Adil, I don't think the Rit's boot capacity is 500 litres as stated in your article. That would put it in the league of the SX's boot size! I understand the correct value is 236 lites - a shade bigger than the Swift's boot. | Reply

Ankur Virmani (15 May 2009 22:16)
In my opinion you should go for Ritz, I test drove it today and I tell you this is a real gem. The best thing is its gear shift, absolutly amazing. With features better than swift and i10 this will be a true winner in this category. you can have different options for interior colors according to the body color, but blue dash board looks fantastic, awsome music system, excellent pick up, much leg room at the back. | Reply

sourav s (15 May 2009 20:45)
I am planning to buy a new car . I think i will get a better deal if i go for i10. its price is less and it has good safety features also ... wat u guys say | Reply

SHARAD NIRANTAR (15 May 2009 17:32)
congrate.to lauch new auto for young indians.all the best. | Reply

Abhinav Agarwal (15 May 2009 17:28)
totally crap, lots of varity by maruti, confusing to customers, they must close the dated wagon R, versa, omni and zen estilo. and is not batter then i10 Kappa. | Reply

BVS SURESH BABU (15 May 2009 17:23)
the front shape of ritz is very good, but the back shape is not good at all. It is slowly klick because of swift diesel engine. If any customer is purchase swift diesel- they will definitely purchase ritz diesel because of front look only | Reply

AMRINDER SINGH MAJITHIA (15 May 2009 17:06)
NOT a GOOD deal at all after viewing thru the looks of the car seems one has to sit cramped inside certainly a bad version for swift | Reply

Hilal (15 May 2009 16:41)
The price is high considering you get better/added features on i10 at a lower price. this will only eat up the aging Swift sales. | Reply

om prakash (15 May 2009 16:16)
good look | Reply

Mitul Barot (15 May 2009 15:44)
Havent they cluttered the segment with just MARUTI cars, leave aside competing with other manufacturers.There is A-Star, Alto, Estilo, Swift, Ritz, Wagon R. We can also add Esteem and Dzire since they would also be Sub 5 lac category. Whats happening? | Reply

bhans (15 May 2009 15:23)
exceptional and amazing !! basically for shooting the pics of the car at our city Vizag ! thanks :-) what made you come this far ? | Reply

Kapil (15 May 2009 14:13)
Maruti has produced a winner here! It might take for the junta to adapt to the back of the car. The front view is fab. The Vxi would be the most sought after model as it is correctly and strategically priced. | Reply

Sumit Gurtata (15 May 2009 14:10)
The pricing is similar to Swift, Maruti didn't tweak much from the pricing perspective, but yes now people have choice to choose if they don't like the "fat back" Swift.... | Reply

nilus (15 May 2009 14:06)
must say.... maruti always gets he pricing right | Reply

NAGENDRA (15 May 2009 13:40)
very nice.Interested to buy | Reply

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