UDAIPUR :

A hatch is a hatch is a hatch. One can’t stress enough the importance of having a hatch at home, despite the bigger sedans or SUVs that may be parked alongside in your garage. Afterall, you also know that it is the hatch that is your preferred car, and not only because it so easy to slide into for running those quick stop-and-go errands but also because of the convenience that it offers on account of its body type which makes it a breeze to dart in and out of traffic, especially during rush hour. And if there is one that is also fuel efficient what more could you possibly ask for? Enter the All-New Celerio, from Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), a feature rich hatch that is also big on mileage! We got our hands on the Manual and the AGS (Automatic Gear Shift) variants of Celerio recently and managed to drive them on a mix of both, smooth as well as some really broken road surfaces. Our thoughts on the hatch…

The Celerio’s design is the first thing that you’ll notice because so much has changed on it as compared to the outgoing model. The new Celerio has more of a rotund shape which frankly, can be quite a hit or a miss, depending on your personal preference. The old headlights, the old grille and the old fender lines have all gone. The new headlights exude a swept back look with a beautiful new design.

The fog lamps also get a new treatment and are now housed in a black casing as compared to the earlier model which came in body-coloured housing.

The new grille, which is flanked by headlights on either side, has a chrome strip running through the middle while the Suzuki logo sits at the center, glistening in all its glory, against the black mesh.

The fender lines add a new dimension to the hatch and when you look at the fender and the blacked-out multi-spoke wheels, you’ll notice that they add a distinct look to the Celerio.

If you take a look at the Celerio from the side, the beautifully sculpted surfaces are bound to bring a smile to your lips…why? Because the devil is in the details, that’s why!

The rear sports a minimalist, clean look, with the tail lights continuing to sport a swept back look and reflectors integrated neatly into the body-coloured bumpers. There is something really appealing about the shape of those rear bumpers, especially those boxy lines on the sides, which are well-designed and blend ever so seamlessly into the rear without jutting out and being an eyesore. Just the name of the car for badging, instead of a host of other lettering, gives the rear of the Celerio a very uncluttered look.    

Inside, shades of grey and black greet you.

While the beautifully designed dash is black, the upholstery is a combination of two shades of grey – dark and light, with a pretty patterned design. The twin slot Aircon vents don’t just look good but also do a good job in terms of keeping the cabin cool.

The 7-inch SmartPlay studio infotainment system that also offers navigation feels rugged and well-built and we especially liked the screen’s clarity even in the hot blazing sun which made for easy reading from all angles. It was also intuitive and easy to operate.

The Celerio boasts a push-start button and the ORVMs also feature auto-fold.

Also, on board is a pollen type AC filter so that you’re breathing cleaner air. The instrument cluster which has amber-coloured lighting is predominantly one large dial for the speedo and a smaller one for the tacho, giving you all car-related info at a glance.

The well-sized steering, (we wish it was a telescopic one as well as a meatier one, for better feel and for people with big hands), houses steering-mounted controls which allows you to control several features on the infotainment system through it and is pretty well-laid out. The door pads in all the doors – front and rear can accommodate a one-liter water bottle each and there is also enough room to slide newspapers and magazines in there for your reading pleasure.

The rear seats are comfortable too and while five people can be accommodated in the Celerio, it is best to stick to four so that everybody is in a comfortable space.

The Celerio comes with the next gen, renowned K-Series 1.0-liter engine, with Dual Jet, Dual VVT, that churns out 49kW@5500rpm and 89Nm of torque @3500rpm, offering a whopping mileage of 26.68 kmpl, earning it the moniker of “India’s most fuel-efficient petrol car.” Would we buy it? Absolutely! Without batting an eyelid. 

The 5-Speed MT (Manual Transmission) is everything you could ask for. It is sprightly, agile and gobbles up potholes like no other hatch in this segment does. On the first day, we really punished the Celerio (MT) taking it through some really damaged and poorly maintained roads and no, we weren’t driving slowly, in fact, we were really pushing it hard, and much to our surprise, the Celerio took every single pothole and every single unauthorized speed breaker that the road threw at us, beautifully in its stride, performing brilliantly.

The seats were comfortable and offered great visibility. The suspension of the Celerio is really remarkable and you can rest assured that this hatch even with four-five people seated inside and with luggage in the boot will be an able performer, without letting you down. Of course, you will have to maintain it well so that it can give you years of trouble-free service. But overall, you won’t regret it.

The AGS variant with the dual-driving modes, was also fun and we drove this one the following day but mostly on the highways and in city limits and while the AGS isn’t a bad choice, it is definitely not for you, if you’re into spirited driving. This is only the best choice for those who find the use of the clutch pedal cumbersome during daily driving and are not inclined to racing. 

The Celerio is a robust hatch that comes equipped with a number of safety features including the new safety feature – Hill Hold Assist – if you opt for the AGS variant. Available in four MT variants and three AGS variants, the prices for this hatch start at INR 4,99,000 and go up to INR 6,94,000. You also get to choose from an array of six colours, of which two are brand new colours – Speedy Blue and Solid Fire Red. One thing is for sure – you can’t really go wrong with the All-New Celerio and also let’s not forget that it comes with the Maruti Suzuki backing which means in the unfortunate event of a breakdown, you’ll never be too far away from a Maruti Suzuki workshop, thanks to its vast network spread across India, which should be able to get you back on the road within no time. 

To conclude, the Celerio, offers great ride and handling, but more importantly, it offers excellent mileage thanks to the new gen K-Series engine, thereby making it a smart choice for smart people. And that itself should be reason enough to book your test drive right away, to see if you want to bring yours home, especially in this season of mounting fuel-prices.