While one of the major highlights of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz facelift (launched between Rs 8.19 lakh and Rs 10.97 lakh) may be the new 1.5-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid tech, a look at the price chart reveals an interesting detail: the diesel-engined facelift model’s price tags undercuts the pre-facelift model’s by a significant margin.

The pre-facelift diesel Ciaz was priced between Rs 9.50-11.51 lakh, while the new model costs between Rs 9.19-10.97 lakh. This means that despite the addition of more standard features on the inside – such as rear parking sensors, a speed alert system and seat belt reminders for the driver and front passenger – the base diesel on the facelift costs about Rs 30,000 less than the outgoing model. The price difference is even larger on the top-spec trims, climbing to about Rs 50,000. If we factor in that the new top-spec variant sees the addition of LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights and LED tail-lamps, cruise control and automatic headlamps, the value proposition of the new Ciaz has improved considerably.

In size and specifications, the updated Ciaz diesel is identical to the pre-facelift mid-size sedan. It continues with the Fiat-sourced 90hp, 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, and is offered solely with a five-speed manual transmission. Suzuki’s in-house 1.5-litre diesel engine will replace this older motor at a later date.

Even before the facelift, the Ciaz was very well-priced, as compared to its rivals. With this drop in price, the new Ciaz diesel severely undercuts the Honda City diesel (Rs 11.10-13.88 lakh), Hyundai Verna diesel (Rs 9.60-12.86 lakh) and the diesel Volkswagen Vento (Rs 9.65-13.92 lakh).

Interestingly, in the run-up to the Ciaz facelift’s arrival, Nexa dealerships across the country were offering rather large discounts and benefits, even up to Rs 1.3 lakh, on unsold inventory of the outgoing model.

All prices, ex-showroom, Delhi