Suzuki Ritz: GOING RITZ-Y!

As we mentioned it is built on a wheelbase smaller than the Swift but thanks to its cabin architecture and interior packaging, the upright seating stance delivers great space and headroom for four adults which is the mantra specified for a large hatch. With a 500-litres plus boot space, it is no slouch in the luggage packing detail which is where many of our countrymen try to hold out against large hatchbacks vis-a-vis saloons and this is the first such car in the segment which has got this point absolutely spot-on.

Factor in a very well laid out funky interior (both in design as well as in the colour coded graphics and upholstery patterns employed), you get a car which has a good driving position (could have done with some adjustability though to driver's seat) and very good all-round visibility. Ample space for odds and ends abounds all across the interior and though the hard plastics at some places do show that it is built to a price, the overall ambience is of a pretty tall order.

After the Skoda Fabia at the top end of the large hatch spectrum and the Tata Indica Vista on the same level, the Suzuki Ritz is probably the most important large hatch after these two to offer a choice of either petrol or diesel propulsion. The Ritz with its new K12 1197cc four-cylinder petrol engine is the first such to be BS IV compliant months before this emission level is mandatory. The oil burner option is taken care of by the very same and highly acclaimed 1.3-litre DDIS unit which does duty in the Swift as well as the Swift D'Zire. Together these two units offer a good choice to buyers in this category and for once we could say that the petrol would seem to be the more sensible choice.

Stylistically the car is surely the best ever "tall boy" design seen in this country and if looks alone could determine it as a winner, the Ritz could be galloping to the head of the pack on first eye contact. That it bolsters this attribute with performance, good ride quality, decent build and hopefully value-for-money, would just be added impetus for buyers wanting a big hatch without the encumbrance of a boot.

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