Maruti Suzuki Kizashi: The After-effects!

With the launch of the dashing Kizashi, what can be formidably seen is that Maruti wants to now find a spot in the more up-market and the aspirational section and leave out its image of just being a manufacturer for the common man. To do this, Maruti has left no stone unturned to win the hearts of the demanding and budding customers of the D-segment market.

"Maruti doesn't hold an image of a luxury-car brand and moreover the people in its dealerships across country too are trained accordingly. If I will spend Rs. 18 lakh on a car I would also expect the same treatment, which I know I will definitely get in showrooms of Skoda or Honda," said Madhav Malpani, Vice-president, Bangalore.

Even for Amit Dhami, Associate, Delhi echoes a similar concern. "Maruti is well known for small car and will remain well known in that segment only. Even if the Kizashi has to be compared in terms of price and looks, the other cars score a notch above it," said Dhami.

Where the image of Maruti as a common man's car is holding many prospective buyers back, it is the price that is considered as another hurdle. Priced between Rs. 16.50 - 17.50 lakh for its two variants on offer, the sporty yet elegantly designed Kizashi, is powered by a 2.4 litre petrol engine, namely the J24B engines from Suzuki's J-series of power-plants. This sporty sedan is capable of putting out 185 bhp and 230 Nm torque. Being offered in both six-speed manual and six speed continuously variable transmission, the CBU is capable of racing from 0-100km/h in just 7.8 seconds flat. But is this enough to impress the customers of the executive segment?

The Maruti Suzuki Kizashi

"Many things will go against this car. The price is way too high for a luxury car," said Mangesh, Executive, Pune. Even for Sunil, a businessman from Mumbai it is the same issue too. "This car does not look worth Rs. 17 lakh. The on-road price should have been below Rs. 12 lakh for MSIL to foray into luxury segment."

However, even though the Kizashi being over-priced and lacking the right image of a premium car, it is the loyal customers like Nikhil, Professor, Mumbai and Prashant Saxena, Delhi that might turn things around for MSIL. "I am a satisfied Maruti customer for last 15 years and I hope this car turns out to be the best for all luxury car lovers. Once the Kizashi registers good volumes, it will be as good a brand as the Honda, Skoda or Mitusbishi," said Nikhil.

While Nikhil was hoping for the best, Prashant was really optimistic about the Kizashi. "It has totally a different platform in terms of body and frame than any other car in its competition that too with a higher capacity engine. Also it's competitively priced in its segment when compared to Camry, VW Passat and Honda Accord."

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Even the dealers of Maruti are quite positive about it and have been receiving 4-5 queries on a daily basis and some already have begun the bookings with them. "We are hoping for the best and with the kind of response we are getting, we are sure the Kizashi will make it big," said Sanjeev Kumar Garg, senior-sales executive, Rohan Motors, Gurgaon.

Much has been said, debated and argued over this Completely Built Unit (CBU) from Suzuki's Sagara plant in Japan, but will the Kizashi in all probability open new grounds for an auto manufacturer like MSIL?