Maruti Suzuki has just launched its most anticipated Celerio diesel hatchback starting at Rs 4.65 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
What makes this diesel hatchback unique is that it houses the first diesel engine developed in-house from scratch by Suzuki in its 63-year history. Until now the carmaker relied on Fiat-sourced diesel engines to power its vehicles, but has now decided to turn things around.
Moreover, despite the narrowing gap between petrol and diesel prices, the love affair between car owners and diesel cars in India is still very strong.
The Celerio is powered by Suzuki’s homegrown 793cc two-cylinder diesel, developing 47bhp at 3,500rpm and 12.7kgm of torque at 2,000rpm. However, power and torque are not the figures Maruti is counting on to bring in the sales. Rather, it’s relying on the Celerio diesel’s fantastic ARAI-tested 27.62kpl fuel economy figure to draw in buyers. In terms of claimed effiiciency, the Celerio is ahead of Maruti’s own Ciaz diesel, which until now held the title of the most efficient car in India.
The car badged Maruti Celerio DDiS 125 is available in standard three trim levels — LDi, VDi and ZDi — and is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission as standard. The interiors remain unchanged, with the diesel variants sharing features similar to those on its petrol sibling. There is also an options pack on the ZDi that adds a front passenger airbag and ABS. Every trim of the Celerio diesel is priced around Rs 75,000 more than the equivalent petrol trim.
Maruti says that the Celerio has sold over 95,000 units since its launch in February 2014 with the Auto Gear Shift variants accounting for nearly a third of the total sales. Within a year of the launch, Maruti Suzuki’s share in the lower hatchback reached 71 percent from the earlier 61 percent.
The automaker and its suppliers have together invested over Rs 900 crore towards development of the DDiS 125 diesel engine and much like the recently launched Renault Kwid over 97 percent of the Celerio’s parts are sourced locally.
Here's a look at the prices for the Celerio diesel and its closest rivals, the Chevrolet Beat and the Hyundai Grand i10.
NISHANT PAREKH
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
Rivan RS 
Lenny D'sa
Saptarshi Mondal
