Which 2021 Suzuki Dzire variant should you buy? [Comparison Guide]

Ever since we can remember, Suzuki has always been regarded as “the small car specialist.” In this day and age, that remains to be true. This quality of the brand is of course evident on the tiny but very capable Suzuki Dzire. This is of course evident as the said model is a fairly common sight on Philippine roads.  

The Dzire is a very affordable and practical car that's great for city driving

For those unaware, the Suzuki Dzire is practically the sedan version of the Suzuki Swift Hatchback. It's one of the smallest sedans available here in the Philippines thus making it ideal for city driving. On top of that, it also shares the reliable and agile frame of its hatchback brother.

Currently, the Swift Dzire has three variants available locally. So how different are they from each other and which one is the right one for you? Let us help you answer those questions. 

Suzuki Dzire Variants: Exterior 

In terms of dimensions, all the Dzire variants share the same figures. It is 3,995 mm long, 1,735 mm wide, and 1,515 mm in height.

While small, the Dzire boasts a minimum ground clearance of 145 mm. With these numbers, the Suzuki made sedan is compact enough to zip through tight city roads without sacrificing the ability to deal with small potholes and the like.

The Suzuki Dzire

As for exterior equipment, the Dzire variants are all equipped with halogen headlights, halogen turn signal lamps with side repeaters, and LED taillights. The entry-level Dzire GA 1.2 MT, however, rides on a set of 14-inch steel wheels, while the Dzire GL 1.2 MT and the 1.2 GL+ AGS rides on 15-inch alloy wheels.

The latter two also come standard with front and rear mudflaps, a chrome front grille, and an electromagnetic tailgate opener. The entry-level Dzire meanwhile, has a simpler tailgate and a simpler-looking silver front grille.

The Suzuki Dzire from the side

>>> Related: Suzuki Dzire delivers big practicality in a small package

Suzuki Dzire Variants: Interior and onboard tech

For interior amenities, all variants of the Dzire are equipped with manual air-conditioning with rear vents. The Dzire can also comfortably fit five people, and its seats come in fabric.  

The interior of the Suzuki Dzire

As for on-board entertainment, however, the top-spec Dzire GL+ has the most tech. It comes with a seven-inch touchscreen unit that offers offline navigation.

It can also connect via USB and Bluetooth. The mid-range Dzire GL in turn, comes with a 2-DIN MP3/WMA compatible head unit with a CD player, while the entry-level Dzire GA has a 1-DIN unit. Both still have USB, but only the Dzire GL has Bluetooth.  

Standard all across the Dzire’s variant range is a 12-volt accessory socket, a four-piece speaker system, a digital trip computer, and an analog gauge cluster.

Suzuki Dzire Variants: Engine and performance

Under the hood, all Dzire variants available locally are powered by a 1.2-liter inline-4 gasoline engine. It’s called the K12M, and it can produce up to 82 horsepower and 113 Nm of torque.

Power is sent to the rear via a five-speed manual for the Dzire GA and GL. On the other hand, the top-spec GL+ uses an auto gear shift transmission. It’s an automatic tranny that still has a clutch and actual gears, but the shifting is done by the car’s electronic control and telematic unit. So yes, it is a “shift-by-wire" system.

For braking, the Dzire comes standard with ventilated disc brakes for the front, drum brakes for the rear, and a hand-operated manual parking brake. All variants also use a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension.

>>> Related: Suzuki, Isuzu to adapt Subaru’s EyeSight safety tech

Suzuki Dzire Variants: Safety

To keep its occupants safe, all variants of the Suzuki Dzire are equipped with anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, two front airbags, ISOFIX, and an engine immobilizer.

The mid-spec GL and GL+ however come with a security alarm. Only the top-of-the-line GL+ is equipped with rear parking sensors. 

The Suzuki Dzire's dual front airbags

Suzuki Dzire Variants: Price

Suzuki Dzire Variants: Conclusion

The Suzuki Dzire sedan is one of the few models available locally that has a variant with a sub-Php 600,000 pricetag. We’re talking about the entry-level Dzire GA, so if what you’re after is a decent daily without breaking the bank, then this variant is for you.

Moving up the lineup is the GL, which comes with slightly more amenities in the form of a better infotainment system.

As we’ve said, however, these two are cheap but you better get used to rowing gears especially if you’re planning to use these as a daily driver. 

The Suzuki Dzire also has a decent trunk capacity of 378 liters

For now, the only automatic option is the Dzire GL+ variant, which also comes with the best on-board entertainment system among the three.

It is priced Php 60,000 more than the Dzire GL, but its shift-by-wire system will be a boon for those looking to use the Dzire regularly on heavy traffic. 

For more buyer’s guides like this, keep reading here on Philkotse.com.