Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXI+ AMT
Real Mileage – My Experience
Maruti Arena, Baner, Pune · Petrol AMT · Personal Test Drive
India's bestselling sedan just got even better. I recently visited the Maruti Arena showroom in Baner, Pune to personally test drive the all-new Dzire ZXI+ AMT and check its real-world mileage in city driving conditions.
The Dzire has always been a safe bet for Indian families — but does the 2026 generation with its new Z-Series engine and updated features justify the upgrade? Here's my honest, first-hand experience.
I walked into the Maruti Arena showroom in Baner on a weekday morning. The showroom had multiple Dzire variants on display, and the staff was prompt and knowledgeable. I was assigned a sales advisor who walked me through the ZXI+ AMT — the top petrol variant — in detail before handing me the keys for a test drive.
The showroom was well-maintained, and the test drive route covered a good mix of city traffic and a short highway stretch — perfect for evaluating real-world performance.
| Showroom | Maruti Arena, Baner, Pune |
| Variant on Test Drive | Dzire ZXI+ AMT (Top Model) |
| Waiting Period | 2–3 weeks (depending on colour) |
| Ex-Showroom Price (ZXI+ AMT) | Approx ₹9.31 Lakh |
The 2026 Dzire has moved well past its "Swift with a boot" image. The front is clean and confident, with a bold grille flanked by sleek LED projector headlamps and integrated LED DRLs that give it a genuinely premium look. The overall face feels more mature compared to older generations.
From the side, the Dzire looks proportionate and well-balanced — a big improvement over the older boxy design. The tapered roofline flows naturally into the boot without looking awkward. One thing to note though — tall passengers (6 feet and above) may feel slightly limited headroom due to this sloping roofline.
The 15-inch wheels on the ZXI+ look adequately sized for the car's proportions, though some may wish for a slightly larger rim.
The rear is where the Dzire really shines. The Y-shaped LED tail lamps connected by a chrome strip, combined with the boot-lip spoiler, give it an upmarket, premium feel that you wouldn't typically expect in this price segment. The overall rear design is the strongest angle of this car.
Step inside the ZXI+ AMT and the first reaction is — spacious and well-appointed. The cabin feels airy, and the beige interior theme keeps things looking fresh and premium.
- 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ floating touchscreen infotainment
- Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
- Electric Sunroof (segment-first feature)
- 360° HD Camera
- Automatic Climate Control
- 6 Airbags (standard across all variants)
- Cruise Control
- Rear AC vents & rear central armrest
- 5-Star Bharat NCAP Safety Rating
The rear seat space is genuinely comfortable for three adults, and the boot at 382 litres is one of the largest in its class — ideal for family road trips. The overall fit and finish is good, though some hard plastics are visible on closer inspection.
| Engine | 1.2L Z-Series Petrol (3-cylinder) |
| Power & Torque | 82 BHP & 112 Nm |
| Transmission | AMT (Auto Gear Shift) |
| ARAI Claimed Mileage | 25.71 km/l (AMT) |
The new Z-Series 3-cylinder engine is noticeably refined compared to its predecessor. Cabin noise levels are impressively low — you barely hear the engine at city speeds, which makes it a very relaxed car to be in.
The AMT gearbox works best in relaxed, city-paced driving. At slow city speeds and in light traffic, it shifts smoothly and is very easy to live with. However, under sudden hard acceleration — like when overtaking on the highway — you do notice a slight hesitation and jerkiness as the gearbox figures out what gear to drop to. This is a known characteristic of AMT systems at this price point and should be kept in mind if you are an enthusiastic driver.
For daily commutes and relaxed highway cruising, though, the AMT is genuinely comfortable and effortless to use.
Suspension tuning: Comfort-biased. The Dzire handles Pune's broken city roads well — it absorbs bumps and potholes without drama. On the highway, the car feels planted and stable at legal speeds. The light steering makes urban driving very easy, though it could do with slightly more feedback at higher speeds.
- AC ON Mileage18–19 km/l
- Driving ConditionsCity + Highway Mix
- TransmissionAMT (Auto Gear Shift)
- ARAI Claimed25.71 km/l
The instrument cluster showed a consistent 18–19 km/l during my test drive with AC on, across a mix of Pune city traffic and a short highway section. While the ARAI figure is 25.71 km/l, real-world mileage in a city like Pune — with its signal stops and traffic — naturally comes down. This figure is still very competitive for an automatic sedan in this price range.
For predominantly highway driving with fewer stops, you can realistically expect 21–23 km/l from this car, which is genuinely impressive for an AMT automatic.
Mileage observed during a short test drive. Real-world figures will vary based on traffic, driving style, tyre pressure, and AC usage.
👍 Pros
- Excellent real-world fuel efficiency
- Refined & quiet cabin at city speeds
- Spacious rear seat & large boot (382L)
- 5-Star Bharat NCAP safety rating
- Feature-rich ZXI+ — sunroof, 360° cam, cruise control
- Comfortable, comfort-biased suspension
- Best-in-class resale value
👎 Cons
- AMT can feel jerky under hard acceleration
- Slightly limited headroom for 6-footers
- Some hard plastics visible in the cabin
- 3-cylinder engine lacks excitement at high revs
Final Verdict
If you want a practical, fuel-efficient, feature-packed automatic sedan for daily city use and family trips — the Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXI+ AMT is one of the best choices under ₹11 lakhs in India today.
It's refined, comfortable, safe, and economical. The AMT suits relaxed drivers perfectly, and the 5-star safety rating gives complete peace of mind.
India's bestselling sedan — and for very good reason.
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