Finally, some life in the subcompact sedan market. No, the redesigned Vios still isn’t coming. However, it’s Suzuki Auto Philippines that’s making noise in the segment. The company recently released a teaser for its upcoming Manila International Auto Show debut, and the fact that it’s a sedan can only mean one thing.
The teaser practically confirms the arrival of the third-generation Suzuki Dzire. With that, the Philippines is likely to be one of the first left-hand drive markets to get this four-door.
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Unfortunately, there’s no mention of the Swift, but at least we get its cousin. That said, the all-new Dzire steps out of the shadow of its hatchback counterpart featuring more unique styling details this time around. It’s no longer just a Swift with a trunk and actually has a distinct face.
Specs are variants are unknown at this point, but mechanicals are likely the same as the version sold in India. Speaking of which, all Dzire sedans come from there – the assembly line in Manesar, Haryana in Delhi, to be exact.
That means a new 1.2-liter, three-cylinder engine now dubbed the Z Series. It succeeds the K Series although power output remains the same. The new Z12E mill churns out 82hp and 112Nm and can be paired with a five-speed manual or five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT).
Interestingly, even the most basic Suzuki Dzire sold in India comes with traction control, stability control, and even six airbags. It will be interesting to see if the local versions will get those as well. As for higher trim levels, those versions gain a sunroof, wireless phone connectivity, 360-degree cameras, and LED headlights.
