Japanese car brand Suzuki updated the Dzire for the Philippine market early in 2019, giving the car an all-new look. Though it’s a huge seller in India, its country of manufacture, Suzuki’s subcompact sedan offering doesn’t quite get the same respect here, what with a sea of more established competitors drowning it out.
But when all is said and done, the Suzuki Dzire offers a lot of quality features that would give even its strongest rival a run for its money.
The Dzire runs on a 1.2-liter gasoline engine that puts out 82hp and 113Nm of torque. This power mill is mated to a 5-speed automated manual transmission dubbed Auto Gear Shift Technology by its maker.
As for the updates, the exterior of the current Dzire boasts a significant improvement from the outgoing model, revealing plenty of better design choices in comparison. Up front, it is fitted with a distinctive bumper, new hexagonal chrome grille, contemporary-looking multi-reflector headlights, and restyled fog lamp housings.
That said, the rear portion of the 2019 Dzire is arguably the area that received the biggest makeover. The new Dzire’s backside appears to be wider, complete with retooled trunk lid, bumper, and rear combination lights, now equipped with LED.
Interior-wise, the new Dzire features an uncomplicated black design theme. Center console controls are grouped together smartly, with a better focus on aesthetics and ergonomics this time around, especially when compared to the old model. The dashboard also features a D-shaped steering wheel, giving it some racing smarts. It also comes with a rear air conditioner vents, which comes in handy especially during hot summer months. Only the top-ranging GL+ comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is expected given the price range.
It’s worth noting that the new Suzuki Dzire, which costs from PHP549,900 for the 1.2L GA MT variant to PHP698,000 for the top 1.2L GL+ Auto Gear Shift (AGS) variant, is cheaper than its predecessor, which ranged from PHP568,000 to PHP718,000. If the Dzire’s pricing sounds good to you, then make sure to check out Carmudi’s selection of brand new Suzuki Dzire vehicles for sale.
If you’re interested in another type of subcompact sedan, here are some of your biggest alternatives available on the Philippine car market.
The Suzuki Dzire has a rival in Suzuki’s own stable in the guise of the Ciaz. With two variants to choose from, Suzuki’s other subcompact car comes powered by a 1.4-liter gasoline engine VVT that delivers 92hp and 130Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a four-speed automatic in the top variant and a 50speed manual in the lower trim. It’s pricier than the Dzire, and buyers can expect features that are a tad more upscale for the price.
Exterior-wise, the Ciaz radiates a well-composed design: the front end welcomes onlookers with its large wraparound headlights, stylish chrome-plated grille, and angular bumper. Turning to the side, the Ciaz sheetmetal is enhanced by sharp character lines and chrome trims. The rear is fitted with a stylized bumper, distinctive taillights, and a bulging trunk lid that gives the Ciaz some sportiness.
Black is the primary theme color inside the Ciaz, highlighted by silver accents here and there. You’d half-expect the Ciaz cabin to look cheap for the price range, but surprisingly, the overall aesthetic has a hint of premium appeal, especially with the large touchscreen Android OS audio unit with Mirror Link capability serving as the centerpiece. It also has a three-point steering wheel with phone/audio-mounted controls, a keyless push start system, and leather seats.
The Mirage G4’s latest version remains virtually unchanged since 2018. Dropping the number of variants from four to three, all Mirage G4s are powered by a 1.2-liter gasoline engine that delivers 77hp and 100Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) in the top trims and a 5-speed manual in the base.
Though the Mirage G4 has some sharp styling cues, it’s starting to look dated, especially when lined among the rest of the Mitsubishi lineup that now come in Dynamic Shield. Still, the G4's interior can be relied on to accommodate up to five average sized Filipino adults.
The trunk offers enviable storage space amounting to 450 liters in total. This means you’ll have no problem fitting five travel luggage or three golf bags in the G4's trunk. Safety-wise, the top Mirage G4 variant comes with dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes and brake override. The infotainment system also acts as a rearview screen when the gears are in reverse.
The Dzire certainly has its price going for it, because basically all of its rivals cost over a hundred thousand pesos more. Take the number one car in the land, for instance. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) launched the 2020 facelifted version of the Toyota Vios compact car late in July last year. Shoppers of the latest version of the Vios car get nine variants to choose from, making the Vios more diverse than ever to meet the wide-ranging needs of the Filipino car owner.
The lower trims come powered by a 1.3-liter engine with 98hp and 123Nm of output, paired with a 5-speed manual. Meanwhile, the top variant runs on a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that delivers 106hp and 140Nm of torque, with shifting provided by a continuous variable transmission (CVT).
Exterior-wise, the new Vios finds the fog lamp/air vent assembly relocated to the lower front grille, which now takes on a trapezoid shape as opposed to the reverse-trapezoid of the outgoing model. The air vent/fog lamp assembly that dimple the lower grille has also been redesigned, now angled inward with a bit of curvature added up top, like a musical note. The LED headlights have also been tweaked to give the Vios front a more contemporary aesthetic.
Inside, the infotainment system is now compatible with both Apple and Android music players. What’s more, this touchscreen is available across the range, except for the two bottom models. As for advanced safety features, the Vios has hill-start assist, vehicle stability control, and a security alarm with immobilizer. The upper ranges also come with speed sensing and Smart Entry with wireless doorlock.
With the Brio Amaze now out of the picture, the City subcompact once again becomes the smallest sedan in Honda PH’s lineup of cars. The latest version of the City has a sportier front fascia than its predecessor, thanks to a more prominent version of the 'Solid Wing Face' design language.
The new 1.0-liter gas engine arrives with more horses and torque—120hp and 173Nm to be exact, a huge improvement compared to the predecessor’s 1.5-liter i-VTEC’s 118hp and 145Nm. The added power is made possible through various tweaks to the engine setup, including the addition of a new turbocharger from BorgWarner, a more economical compression ratio, and finally, a Euro 5-compliant construction.
The design of the interior receives a major update, with a completely new dashboard setup that looks inspired by the Honda Jazz. In terms of size, new City is longer, wider, and lower than its predecessor. The wheelbase is also shorter on the 2020 City than the old unit.
With a growing market, Hyundai sought to improve the humble Accent sedan into a dynamic and more sophisticated vehicle, and it looks like the South Korean carmaker succeeds in this goal, as the latest version of the subcompact is now big on both performance and style. Helping it aesthetically is an eye-popping hexagonal front grille coupled with chrome front bumper trims that further highlight the new design’s elevated style.
Two powertrains are available for Accent buyers— a 1.6-liter CRDi VGT good for 126hp and 260Nm, and a 1.4-liter Kappa MPI Dual CVVT with 98hp and 133Nm. Each engine is available with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
One good thing (or bad, depending on how you look at it) about the Accent is that it offers the same cabin features across the board, which means you get the same infotainment, seats, and everything else regardless of trim.
Chevrolet PH’s entry into the subcompact sedan segment is built primarily to be practical, but style points abound, beginning with the refined aesthetic of the polished chrome trimmings on the front grille, to the exciting inbuilt sunroof with slide and tilt function, and on to the rest of the exterior and interior features.
Two gasoline engines are available for the Sail, a 1.3-liter VVT Inline-4 (100hp, 127Nm) for the base, and a potent 1.5-liter DVVT Inline-4 (109hp, 141Nm) for the upper trims. The lone 1.3-liter variant shifts solely via a 5-speed manual gearbox, while the two 1.5-liter options come exclusively with a 4-speed auto tranny.
Inside the Sail, buyers will find a stylish interior with plenty of legroom in the front and at the back, ready to provide a pleasant ride regardless of the length of the trip. Standard safety comes by way of airbags, seatbelts, and an anti-lock brake system with electronic brakeforce distribution.
Photos from Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Chevrolet
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2020 Suzuki APV vs. the competition: Your other local MPV options
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