Maruti is readying a mid-cycle update for the Ciaz. Slated to launch around June-July 2018, this will be the first major update for the car, since its introduction back in 2014. The big news, however, isn’t the facelift but that Maruti is likely to introduce the new K15B petrol motor in India on the facelifted Ciaz.
This should make the car much nicer to drive thanks to a bump in output figures. The 92hp, 1.4-litre motor that currently powers the outgoing Ciaz often felt down on power when compared to cars like the Honda City, but now with this increase in engine capacity to 1,462cc and 12hp more (104 in total) things should be better. What will also help is that this larger engine has slightly more torque at 138.4Nm (as opposed to 130Nm on the 1.4-litre engine).
The new motor is familiar, however, and is also likely to be used on the new Ertiga MPV that will arrive this year. The same K-series family of engines power numerous Maruti Suzuki models and they are well-known for their refinement, strong mid-range and good fuel efficiency.
As far as the Ciaz facelift goes, sources tell us it will be more of a nip and tuck. It’ll include reworked front and rear bumpers, mild reprofiling of the headlamps and tail-lamps, and some LED elements as well.
On the inside, expect slightly different shades and minor tweaks, especially on the dashboard and seat fabric. Maruti could also add a sunroof on the higher variants, as it is a feature that is sought after these days, and one that is offered on direct rivals like the City and Verna.
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
Lenny D'sa
Dipan Sur
Glenn Noronha
