Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Diesel Launched with New Engine & Gearbox

Maruti’s new DDIS 225 1.5-litre diesel engine replaces the aging Fiat-sourced 1.3 litre multijet engine.

The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz now gets a 1.5 litre diesel engine and six-speed transmission.

(Photo: The Quint)

Maruti Suzuki has given the Ciaz sedan a new 1.5 litre diesel engine, replacing the aging 1.3 litre diesel that it used to source from Fiat earlier. The new Maruti Suzuki Ciaz diesel is available in three variants priced between Rs 9.97 lakh and Rs 11.37 lakh ex-showroom.

Prices of 2019 Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Diesel

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Delta: Rs 9.97 lakh
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Zeta: Rs 11.08 lakh
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Alpha: Rs 11.37 lakh

(Ex-showroom prices, Delhi)

Prices have increased by up to Rs 50,000 over the earlier Ciaz diesel variant for variant.

The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is already available with a 1.5 litre petrol engine that puts out 103 bhp and 138 Nm of torque. This motor was launched with the new Ciaz in August 2018 and features a mild-hybrid (start-stop) system for added fuel efficiency.

The introduction of the 1.5 litre diesel engine is part of Maruti’s strategy to stop using the 1.3 multijet diesel sourced from Fiat, which cannot be upgraded to meet BS-VI emission norms.

The Maruti Suzuki DDIS 225 engine is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel that puts out 225 Nm of torque and 93 bhp of power. Photo: Maruti Suzuki

What’s New With the Ciaz Diesel?

The new 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that Maruti calls the DDIS 225 has been developed in-house by the company (this means less royalty payments to Fiat). It puts out 225 Nm of torque between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm and a peak power of 93 bhp at 4,000 rpm. That’s a bump up of 25 Nm of torque and 4 bhp of power compared to the earlier 1.3-litre multijet diesel.

The engine meets current BS-IV emission norms and can be upgraded to meet BS-VI norms next year. Along with the new DDIS 225 engine, Maruti is also offering a six-speed manual transmission with revised gear positioning (reverse is next to first, to reduce hand movement in tight-parking situations).

The new Maruti Suzuki Ciaz gets a six-speed manual transmission. Photo: Maruti Suzuki

There is no automatic transmission on offer with the 1.5 litre diesel for now.

In terms of fuel efficiency, Maruti claims the Ciaz diesel now offers 26.82 Kmpl. The earlier Ciaz diesel had an ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 28.09 Kmpl.

While that’s a drop in fuel-efficiency due to the larger engine, the added power and torque are likely to make the car better to drive. And it will meet future emission standards.

Maruti will soon introduce this 1.5 litre diesel engine across it range of vehicles from the S-Cross to the Vitara Brezza. It will also appear in the Baleno and Swift diesels as well.