Maruti Suzuki Ritz ZXi

With prices starting of Rs 4.53lakh (on-road, Mumbai) for the petrol, Maruti has assured the Ritz a strong start.

Published on Dec 09, 2009 08:00:00 AM

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The Ritz’s interiors are smartly styled as well and quality has taken a huge leap forward. Except for the hard plastics on the door pads, a few of the buttons and ordinary looking air-con controls, the materials and fabrics used inside are worthy of a premium hatch. The heavily textured effect on the dashboard feels rich and the silver-coloured piping around the centre console and the vents lift the mood of the cabin. The dash has an oval theme and a subtle two-tone colour scheme. And the seats are blue as well, but we found them a touch garish.

The ZXi gets the stereo integrated into the dash while the LXi/LDi have to make do with aftermarket sound systems. You’ll also notice a lot of common Maruti bits and pieces in the car, like the steering wheel and gear lever that’s the same as the Swift and SX4’s, while the standalone tachometer pod is shared the A-star, but in the Ritz it’s moved to the left and doesn’t obstruct visibility. Unique to the Ritz is the large, white circular speedo which adds a lively feel to the dashboard.

Up front, there’s generous legroom and forward visibility is excellent from the high seating position. However, the thick C-pillar causes some blind spots and the tailgate’s narrow glass area are a hindrance while reversing.

Legroom in the rear isn’t exactly generous, but the high-set seats, with good under-thigh support and generous headroom, compensate.

The wide recess above the glovebox, a jewel case on top of the centre console and large door pockets provide more than adequate storage space. The 178-litre boot is disappointingly small and can hold a couple of soft bags at best. However, the 60:40 split rear seats do help.