With prices starting of Rs 4.53lakh (on-road, Mumbai) for the petrol, Maruti has assured the Ritz a strong start.
A comfortable ride and good ground clearance are essential for mass acceptance in India and Maruti has made sure both these essentials are taken care of. The Ritz’s suspension has been raised and softened to deal with our road conditions, which will make it appeal to a wider audience. Ride is much better than the sportier setup of the Swift and the Ritz takes to our rutted and potholed roads with a greater sense of calm. You don’t need to steer around rough patches, the suspension taking the punches silently and it’s only the larger bumps that unsettle the Ritz.
The tyres on the Ritz are identical to those on the Swift, 165s for the L and V versions and 185s for the Z. The softer setup, however, means that the Ritz lacks the Swift’s sporty edge. Straightline stability and roadholding are good but the rear tends to pitch on an undulating surface at speed. The softer suspension settings and tall stance result in considerable body roll but you always have a sense of control, at any speed. Key to the secure feeling the Ritz imparts is the steering which has none of the dead feel around the straight-ahead position you find in the Swift. The Ritz’s steering feels linear, precise and shows how electric steering (EPS) has dramatically improved.