New Maruti Celerio Is Strong Competitor Against Other Hatchbacks. Read Full Review

There is more to a car than just what efficiency it gives and more than ever, the Celerio has to fight newer rivals plus some within its own family.

New Delhi: Our wallets are getting lighter day by day and one thing we cannot ignore is the rising fuel prices. In the minds of car buyers, the fuel prices do have an impact and Maruti couldn't have chosen a better time than now to launch its Celerio with a magic number of 26.8kmpl as its official mileage figure.

That said, there is more to a car than just what efficiency it gives and more than ever, the Celerio has to fight newer rivals plus some within its own family. However, Maruti is known as a small car specialist so the Celerio better is good and justify itself within the line-up of Wagon R, Alto at one end and the Swift at the other.

The Celerio is clearly aimed at the youth in terms of being a more fun small car rather than the practical Wagon R. In that way, it does look appealing with the new styling. Do not judge the images as when you first see it, the Celerio does look more attractive than the previous one while also looking bigger without actually being so. It's the same size as the previous-gen model but is wider plus the 15-inch alloys for the top-end also make this a good looking hatchback. Maruti has also pushed louder colours in a bid for its sportier appeal and the sculpted new styling does work with bigger headlamps/tail-lamps along with the roofline which gently lowers down. It isn't boxy and in the right colour actually makes it one of the better-looking cars in its class.

Inside, the first thing you notice is the doors which open wider along with the much more premium cabin. Gone are the days of cheap and old looking bits since these days even small cars need to look good have a certain degree of exclusivity. The all-black dashboard with silver accents and especially the steering/AC vents and the centre console are very well designed. We also like the instrument cluster which offers a nice small customizable screen read-out. Quality moved up from the previous-gen Celerio and is amongst the better ones in its class. There are hard plastics but it's well done and not cheap. All in all, it does not feel built to a price.

That said, we did not like the window switches on the centre console- similar to the cheaper S-Presso. Equipment-wise, there are steering mounted controls, a nice 7-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, push-button start/stop, powered mirrors, keyless entry, height-adjustable driver's seat, rear wiper and defogger, rear parking sensors, dual airbags, ABS with EBD etc. The feature list is quite good but we must say that the absence of a rear-camera display plus climate control is perhaps the only big criticism we have from this cabin.

Space, thanks to the new platform, is frankly amongst the better ones in class now with impressive headroom and decent legroom. Two passengers would be easily comfortable at the rear while you can squeeze a third one. Even the boot at 313l is bigger now.

More than anything, the new engine is perhaps the biggest USP of the new Celerio. It's much more refined when compared to other 3-cylinders and is smooth from the word go. The refined nature of this engine also gels with better torque delivery at low speeds. Compared to other small capacity turbo petrol, this engine has more grunt which means fewer downshifts. It does not feel tied down and in the city, the engine is enthusiastic. Special mention must go to the gearbox also being a 5-speed manual with a very light shift quality but also being precise to use. We would say, compared to rivals, the manual Celerio is easily amongst the quickest and also the most fun. When pushed, the performance is not lacklustre and it does not struggle for power. We took the car through a mountain pass and not once did the engine feel let slow. The new Celerio being lightweight and the new platform (similar to the Baleno/Swift) has made its ride/handling much better. The Celerio is fun due to its compact size and motor but even steering is an improvement. The ride is firm but a lot more confident at high speeds.

Finally, kitna deti hain? Of course, the magic 26kmpl plus is for the AMT while the manual is roughly 25kmpl but in the real world you will get 18/22kmpl depending on how you drive it- but all things considered, that is still very impressive.

Prices start at Rs 4.9 lakh but you would want the Rs 6.4 lakh top-end as seen here with the bigger wheels and more (essential) equipment. The Celerio is a fun, efficient and back to basics approach to what the ideal small car should be. Above all the new Celerio stands out because of its new engine and efficiency while also design-wise being a fun car. It is also spacious while its only drawback remains the cost-cutting in terms of features (especially considering its price tag). So if you want an efficient yet fun city hatchback then this is a strong contender.

What we like - Looks better and less boxy now, a fairly spacious small car while interiors are nicely designed. More importantly, the new engine is its biggest highlight with its efficiency and performance.

What we do not - Lacks some much-needed features especially considering its price, which seems a bit higher for the top-end trims.

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