Maruti Ritz : Test Drive & Review

nickatnite · 9th May 2009, 20:19

This car is hideous. I first set sight on it at the 2009 New Delhi Auto Show and i shied away in sheer disgust. They should have announced this car as the replacement for the Wagon-R. It would have made sense to me. Not the way they're positioning it now as a premium hatch.Nice and comprehensive review of the car.

srijit · 9th May 2009, 20:30

Thank you for the comprehensive review. As mentioned by all the back does look a bit off, to me, too.
Congrats on the invite from the manufacturer. Maruti do seem to go out of its way to please us, dont they?

toiingg · 9th May 2009, 20:34

The rear tyres indeed make it look very wierd.
A relative of mine was looking for a small car for the city. I had recommended the i10. I'll ask him to check this out before making his decision.

PS: nice touch with the tbhp number plates. Professional.

Switch · 9th May 2009, 20:34

A nicely written review there GTO.

I still don't understand why should one consider Ritz D over the Swift D. Why do you say its a more family car then the swift.

pedrolourenco · 9th May 2009, 20:35

Not good if priced close to the swift. The petrol should be priced around Wagon R levels.

guptad42 · 9th May 2009, 20:44

Thanks, GTO.

Can you/ team-bhp do a detailed comparison?
1. ) Vista QJD Aqua Vs Swift VDi Vs Ritz VDi
2.) Swift Vxi Vs Ritz Vxi Vx i10 right model.

Select models by a 25K or 50K price-range, rather than carmaker's positioning.

Eddy · 9th May 2009, 20:50

A job well done by Maruti it seems.

But no automatic internal boot release ? Is this across all models ? With super duper qualified security personell thinking that security checks mean a quick dekho inside the boot everytime you enter an office or a mall, the lack of this feature will be very troublesome !!

jkdas · 9th May 2009, 20:53

Great review about a car yet to be launched.

It comes with that touch screen too?

muke31 · 9th May 2009, 21:01

Good review GTO.

This will be another volume player considering 1.3 DDIS and i am sure this may give better efficiency than Swift D.

my only question is if maruti is unable to reduce the waiting time for Swift Diesel and Dzire how they are going to provide the diesel Ritz without much waiting time? I am sure the demand for Diesel will be good

The AT -DDIS option would have created lot of interest among everyone considering the increase in traffic conditions. I am sure the FUTURE is for AT cars and no other car but Maruti Ritz AT DDIS is the best bet.

-MUKE

sharma_sanjeevi · 9th May 2009, 21:01

GTO, Thanks for the Fantastic Comprehensive review.

Just one query, why is the Music System Different, in the snaps posted by schitre, one snap it shows the standard Maruti Music System & in the other there is a JVC system.

Can you please throw some light on this.

ram_hyundai · 9th May 2009, 21:10

Oh an invite for our team,Wonderfull.Good review GTO and you have put it fantastically.Kartik no touch screen HU.Its the one which does duty in the swift ZXi which would be there.Yesterday some one from MSIL was in a discussion and the review of Ritz sprung up.I told him that its mixed one and Every one is sceptical of the price.Still no word that we were invited for the test drive.loz,surprised me on that.

ram

theMAG · 9th May 2009, 21:12

Its not going to win any beauty contests for sure. What it will do, due to its MJD, is to make the Indica, Vista, the tin box Marutis, Lxi-Vxi Swifts, Chevy Spark, Santro and i10 become extinct in varying degrees.

pranava999 · 9th May 2009, 21:29

the petrol engine seems like a really peppy one 85 ps @6000 rpm, not bad at all. The power to weight ratio should be pretty good.

GTO · 9th May 2009, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by karthik247

Does this come with that touchscreen HU which is seen in the pics??

Nope, that was an after-market. The stock system is integrated into the dash. Take a look at ACI's picture here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by luky_13

Quite a funny back side, not very attractive

You can say that again. But the car is immensely practical. I dont think the market will bother with the design (e.g. successes like the Santro & NHC).

Quote:

Ritz will make the process of decision making quite confusing.

Imagine how many testdrives a dude with a budget of 4 lakh rupees will take, in the same maruti showroom!

Quote:

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

BUT will maruti be able to satisfy the diesel engine demand -- considering that swift/dzire diesel have long waiting periods??.

Swift wait period now down to 1.5 months. Maruti is scheduled to increase the diesel engine production capacity to 3.0 lakh units per annum soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid6639

If they price it more than the Swift

I don't think they will price it higher than the Swift. One, its got a 1.2L engine (thus, excise benefits) and second, Maruti must want to retain the Swifts image as their premium hatch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thangu

GTO - Was it just you who did the test drive or were the others from the forum who accompanied you?

Yup, it was only me on this test-drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switch

I still don't understand why should one consider Ritz D over the Swift D. Why do you say its a more family car then the swift.

- Higher stance : Easier eggress / ingress
- New 1.2 petrol is infinitely better than the one in the Swift
- Better backseat
- Roomier interiors (high roof = lots of headroom)

Quote:

The AT -DDIS option would have created lot of interest among everyone considering the increase in traffic conditions. I am sure the FUTURE is for AT cars and no other car but Maruti Ritz AT DDIS is the best bet.

I brought up exactly this point in the press conference.

Jaggu · 9th May 2009, 21:29

Brilliant review GTO! Front end looks refreshing, rear end i think will need some time to catch up with my taste i guess

And finally some more colors! Thank you MUL!

How about the suspension, any tweaking or is it the same as the swift?

9th May 2009, 20:19	#16
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	This car is hideous. I first set sight on it at the 2009 New Delhi Auto Show and i shied away in sheer disgust. They should have announced this car as the replacement for the Wagon-R. It would have made sense to me. Not the way they're positioning it now as a premium hatch.Nice and comprehensive review of the car.
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 20:30	#17
srijit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 598 Thanked: 8 Times	Thank you for the comprehensive review. As mentioned by all the back does look a bit off, to me, too. Congrats on the invite from the manufacturer. Maruti do seem to go out of its way to please us, dont they?
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 20:34	#18
toiingg BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 640 Thanked: 303 Times	The rear tyres indeed make it look very wierd. A relative of mine was looking for a small car for the city. I had recommended the i10. I'll ask him to check this out before making his decision. PS: nice touch with the tbhp number plates. Professional.
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 20:34	#19
Switch BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Noida, India Posts: 221 Thanked: 55 Times	A nicely written review there GTO. I still don't understand why should one consider Ritz D over the Swift D. Why do you say its a more family car then the swift.
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 20:35	#20
pedrolourenco Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Margao, Goa Posts: 1,268 Thanked: 1,530 Times View My Garage	Not good if priced close to the swift. The petrol should be priced around Wagon R levels.
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 20:44	#21
guptad42 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 214 Thanked: 441 Times	Anyone for Vista QJD Vs Ritz Vdi Vs Swift Vdi? Thanks, GTO. Can you/ team-bhp do a detailed comparison? 1. ) Vista QJD Aqua Vs Swift VDi Vs Ritz VDi 2.) Swift Vxi Vs Ritz Vxi Vx i10 right model. Select models by a 25K or 50K price-range, rather than carmaker's positioning.
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 20:50	#22
Eddy Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 9,410 Thanked: 13,445 Times	A job well done by Maruti it seems. But no automatic internal boot release ? Is this across all models ? With super duper qualified security personell thinking that security checks mean a quick dekho inside the boot everytime you enter an office or a mall, the lack of this feature will be very troublesome !!
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 20:53	#23
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	Great review about a car yet to be launched. It comes with that touch screen too?
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 21:01	#24
muke31 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 191 Thanked: 21 Times	Good review GTO. This will be another volume player considering 1.3 DDIS and i am sure this may give better efficiency than Swift D. my only question is if maruti is unable to reduce the waiting time for Swift Diesel and Dzire how they are going to provide the diesel Ritz without much waiting time? I am sure the demand for Diesel will be good The AT -DDIS option would have created lot of interest among everyone considering the increase in traffic conditions. I am sure the FUTURE is for AT cars and no other car but Maruti Ritz AT DDIS is the best bet. -MUKE Last edited by muke31 : 9th May 2009 at 21:05.
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 21:01	#25
sharma_sanjeevi BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 598 Thanked: 113 Times	GTO, Thanks for the Fantastic Comprehensive review. Just one query, why is the Music System Different, in the snaps posted by schitre, one snap it shows the standard Maruti Music System & in the other there is a JVC system. Can you please throw some light on this. Last edited by sharma_sanjeevi : 9th May 2009 at 21:07.
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 21:10	#26
ram_hyundai Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calicut ,trisur Posts: 2,020 Thanked: 53 Times View My Garage	Oh an invite for our team,Wonderfull.Good review GTO and you have put it fantastically.Kartik no touch screen HU.Its the one which does duty in the swift ZXi which would be there.Yesterday some one from MSIL was in a discussion and the review of Ritz sprung up.I told him that its mixed one and Every one is sceptical of the price.Still no word that we were invited for the test drive.loz,surprised me on that. ram
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 21:12	#27
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,810 Times View My Garage	Its not going to win any beauty contests for sure. What it will do, due to its MJD, is to make the Indica, Vista, the tin box Marutis, Lxi-Vxi Swifts, Chevy Spark, Santro and i10 become extinct in varying degrees.
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 21:29	#28
pranava999 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 845 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	the petrol engine seems like a really peppy one 85 ps @6000 rpm, not bad at all. The power to weight ratio should be pretty good.
	() Thanks

9th May 2009, 21:29	#30
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,245 Thanked: 15,990 Times	Brilliant review GTO! Front end looks refreshing, rear end i think will need some time to catch up with my taste i guess And finally some more colors! Thank you MUL! How about the suspension, any tweaking or is it the same as the swift?
	() Thanks