Maruti Suzuki Celerio 2014-2021

At the time of its launch, the interior of the Maruti Suzuki Celerio looked pretty modern. However, with time, the cabin has lost its charm and even feels a bit utilitarian. Step inside and you are greeted by a dual-tone black and beige colour scheme. The design of the dashboard is simplistic and taking the centre stage here is a 2-DIN music system that supports CD, Bluetooth, USB, Radio and Aux-in connectivity.

Features-wise, Maruti Suzuki Celerio gets manual HVAC function, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, 12V power outlet, 60:40 split rear seat, front cup holders, all-four power windows, electrically adjustable ORVMs, rear defogger, digital clock, steering mounted controls and much more. The fabric seats offer a sufficient amount of cushioning. The front seats offer good under thigh support while they are wide enough to accommodate heavily-built individuals over longer journeys. At the rear, you have a good amount of headroom, legroom and shoulder room. However, the under-thigh support is not that great when compared to what the front seats offer. The boot space, at 235 litres, is adequate for a large suitcase along with a middle-size piece of luggage.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio is powered by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine. This unit churns out 68 PS of maximum power and a peak torque of 90 Nm. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard and even gets an optional AMT. On paper, the power doesn’t look extraordinary but it is more than enough to make the Celerio a peppy performer in most conditions. The peak torque comes at 3500 RPM but the motor sounds gruff when revved hard. Maruti Suzuki Celerio is best enjoyed with a light right foot and is a perfect urban runabout.

The 5-speed AMT makes Celerio even more practical. Yes, there’s a slight lag in the gearshifts but it’s certainly among the better tuned automated manual transmissions in its segment. The two-pedal driving does help you stay relaxed on the congested roads, while on the highway, the K-series motor, coupled with the well-defined gear ratios, provide you with a sufficiently strong performance. One can even use the manual mode to have better control over the gearshifts.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio is also available in a CNG variant. This unit generates 59 PS of maximum power and 79 Nm of peak torque. There's a 10% drop in power and torque figures as compared to the petrol motor. The good thing, however, is that the ARAI certified economy is rated at an amazing 30.47 km/kg. What this means is that the CNG version rewards you with ultra-low running costs. The only downside here is the lack of boot space due to the presence of the CNG tank.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio has a decent suspension set-up and it absorbs the bumps and bad patches of roads easily. At lower speeds, the suspension easily irons out the undulations but big potholes easily upset the composure of the vehicle at high speeds. Also, the shock absorbers easily bottom out if you pass over an irregularity at even moderate speeds. With 165 mm of ground clearance, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio can easily take on the bad patches of roads and glide over most undulations at a low speed.

The steering of the Maruti Suzuki Celerio is light, which is something that will be liked by the drives on city roads. The turning radius of 4.7 metres allows one to easily park the car in cramped spaces and make quick 3-point turns. However, the steering stays light even at high speeds, which is something that doesn’t give the driver the required confidence to push this car hard into corners or even make sudden lane changes.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio is offered with dual airbags, an anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, a high-speed alert system, front seat belt warning, rear parking sensors, child safety lock and keyless entry. The dual airbags setup is not yet standard on the Maruti Suzuki Celerio and is available as an option. The standard fitment includes a driver-side airbag. This car is pedestrian, offset and side-impact safety compliant.

As of now, the Global NCAP rating of the Maruti Suzuki Celerio’s airbag-equipped version is not out, but in 2016, the non-airbag version of the hatchback had scored a 0-star rating in adult occupant protection and one-star in child occupant protection.