The 1.4L with 91 horses on tap. Has variable valve timing on the intake side only:
Petrol gets an insulation sheet under the hood...
...and on the firewall, but it's not enough:
The petrol's rev-counter. Free-revving engine, although max rpm is a conservative ~6,200:
The Ciaz petrol is powered by a 1.4L K-Series engine which is basically a larger version of the 1.2L found in cars like the Swift & Dzire. This 1,373 cc motor was first seen in the Ertiga. It makes 91 BHP (@ 6,000 rpm) and 130 Nm of peak torque (@ 4,000 rpm). Admittedly, the Ciaz has the smallest engine from the C2 segment where 1.5L & 1.6L petrols dominate. It also has the least power & torque output from the group. The fact that the Ciaz is the lightest sedan here somewhat helps its cause.
The small size won't bother you in the city. Start the Ciaz petrol & the engine settles into a refined idle. Maruti engineers have smartly tuned the 1.4L for low-end power delivery, and it shows. Engine pep when moving off from 0 kph is good. Even the ratio of the 2nd gear has been well-chosen for city driving. Sub-2000 rpm throttle responses are satisfactory and you won't be using the gearshift too much on your daily commute to work. Driveability is healthy and, at commuting speeds, the petrol is actually better than its 1.3L diesel sibling. The engine allows you to remain in 2nd gear in situations that some competitors would require a downshift to 1st. The Ciaz feels acceptably peppy and isn't under-powered at all for urban conditions. It's very practical.
The story is different on the highway. This is exactly where the engine's size & power deficit are evident. When you spend a million bucks, you expect something
special....but the Ciaz doesn't give you any 'wow' moments. Power delivery is straightforward & linear in nature. On the open road, this Maruti sedan is best driven conservatively. While the low-end response impressed us in the city, the weak mid-range disappointed us on the highway. It feels rather flat in the mid-rpm range and you'll frequently downshift to keep up with fast traffic. Even if you are cruising in 5th gear, any change in driving conditions (e.g. traffic, inclines) means you have to downshift to 4th. This weakness is amplified with 4 occupants & luggage onboard. The petrol is reasonably rev-happy, albeit the max rpm is a conservative ~6,200 (the Honda City revs to 7,100 rpm). Though the Ciaz doesn't seem under-powered, you will have to work the engine harder than in the Honda City or VW Vento TSI. Don't get me wrong, the car can cruise comfortably on the expressway...just that it's no road-burner. A sedate driving style is most suitable for this engine. Where the Honda City, Vento TSI & Linea T-Jet are entertaining, the Ciaz is boring.
There's another reason for me to recommend an easy right foot. Rev the engine hard and it becomes noisy! The sound gets irritating after a while and you'll feel it's better to cruise than push the car hard. 100 kph is seen at ~2,700 rpm and 120 kph at ~3,200 rpm. These cruising rpms are a little on the higher side. Make the speedometer climb up and the engine becomes audible. Leave aside high rpms, even at 3,000 rpm, the motor is audible. It’s not a sweet sounding engine either; raspy note, but far from being music to your ears.
The gearbox is nice enough to use. Its gates are well defined and they're placed close to one another. That said, this isn't a short-throw gearshift. The throw is longer than some competitors. The clutch is light enough. It's a tad too grabby though, and the pedal comes out more than I prefer. The clutch pedal should have had a shorter throw. If convenience is a priority for you, the Ciaz is available with a 4-speed automatic (conventional torque-converter transmission). The Rs. 1.1 lakh premium for the automatic is on the higher side, especially when you consider that the segment norm is a 5-Speed AT. The best-in-class VW Vento Automatic is equipped with a 7-Speed DSG!
In summary, the 1.4 petrol does the job. It's competent in the city, but not on the highway. The Ciaz petrol isn't for enthusiasts, even though it meets the needs of its target (commuter) market.