We take Suzuki’s DZire out for a spin!

A few days ago Suzuki Philippines handed us the keys to their DZire, their newest subcompact sedan based on their wildly popular Swift hatchback. To really see what the Swift DZire could do, I decided to take it up to Baguio during the weekend to see just how far the car could go and what it could do. I actually got more than I bargained for, thanks to the challenging road conditions last week because of Habagat or the south-west monsoon which inundated much of Luzon, extending well into CAR. But as I found out, I shouldn’t have worried – the Suziki DZire handled wet, winding roads which was often filled with fog with no issues, while offering a comfortable and smooth ride all throughout our trip.

The DZire’s styling is obviously similar to Suzuki’s hatchback, the Swift, save for the trunk at the end. Not many people like the styling, and some describe the boot as an ugly appendage to an otherwise sporty looking car.

Trust us though, the more time you spend time with it, the more it grows on you. While I love hatchbacks, there’s something about having the security of an actual trunk, and Suzuki didn’t just add that rear appendage without thought – there’s actually more legroom for rear passengers compared to the regular Swift. Aside from that, the car also utilizes a stylish new bumper, revised front grille and a lower air dam.

Amenities inside the car is good, but isn’t great. It’s not as high tech as other vehicles out there that can switch songs by the sound of your voice, but you’re not just given a simple radio either.

The driver can control the radio via the integrated controls on the steering wheel, and if you don’t like the tunes or don’t happen to have CD’s with you (seriously, who uses CDs anymore) you can plug your USB drive or Apple iPod into the USB port and stream your tunes that way. I would really have loved a way to actually connect our phone via Bluetooth to the entertainment system, unfortunately that’s not an option on the DZire.

As far as specifications go, the DZire that I drove was a 4-speed automatic with a DOHC, 1.2L, 16V engine with VVT that produces around 86hp (@6000 rpm) and 144Nm of torque (@4000 rpm). That’s paired with a McPherson strut with coil spring in the front and torsion-beam with coil spring rear suspension system, rack and pinion electronic power steering (EPS), ventilated front brakes and drum rear brakes.

While most people would be worried about driving at NLEX, SCTEX and TPLEX during the terrible rains that ensued around a week ago, I wasn’t worried. The car had enough power to quickly overtake slower vehicles plying the expressway and had ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with BA (Brake Assist) and EDC (Engine Drag Control) that help prevents skidding and ensures short stops in the event of an emergency. If the unthinkable ever happened, the seat-belt, paired with the dual front airbags would make sure that the driver and the passengers are safe from harm.

Even with the rain, the DZire managed the climb up to Baguio via Kennon road without any trouble. The DZire’s agility came into play here, as the road was littered with potholes and debris caused by the monsoon rain. And even though fog reduced visibility to almost zero, the DZire’s headlamps managed to cut through the thick of it, giving us just enough to safely traverse the winding road up to Baguio.

When I got to Baguio, I was happy to learn that my lengthy drive left more than a third of gas left in the tank. That includes a hellish, 2 1/2 hour drive from Makati (where I picked up the DZire) to NLEX. For those who like pinching pennies, know that an even more efficient, manual transmission version of the DZire is also available, though it lacks many of the niceties that the automatic version has.

The DZire is a solid subcompact sedan, and proved its worth during our drive on challenging road conditions. If you’re interested in picking one up, Suzuki Philippines has pegged its price at Php 568,000 for the M/T version and Php 698,000 for the A/T.