5 best Maruti cars ever

Most of the cars from India’s leading car maker – Maruti have been a success. However, there are some cars launched by this manufacturer that stand out, regardless of the volumes they sold. These were cars that changed the market and perception of buyers. In many aspects, these cars were a benchmark and many of the brands are still strong. We list out the 5 best Maruti cars ever. What do you think?

Maruti Zen

The Maruti Zen was a big step up for the company when launched in 1993. Based on the 4th generation Suzuki Cervo Mode, this jellybean shaped car was a departure from the Maruti 800 and was more premium in all aspects. It also came with a more powerful 1.0-litre all-aluminium engine and had excellent driving dynamics. The Zen was a slow starter. Initially it did not do so well, but later on it did catch up in the market and went on to be a favourite, mainly amongst urban car buyers. It was a refined car and had a sporty look which lived on for many years. It was hard to beat the Zen as it was a compact premium and fun to drive car. Hence, it makes it to the best ever Maruti list.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

This is the old Baleno sedan we are talking about. The reason it makes it to this list is that it was a fine car with excellent performance, coupled with good ride and handling dynamics. This was originally the Suzuki Cultus Crescent which received a facelift in 1998 and was launched in India in 1999 under the ‘Baleno’ brand name. It came with a 1.6-litre engine that had 94bhp of power, which was one of the highest in those times. The Baleno had soon become a favourite in car rallies and had gone on to beat its direct rival – Honda City. It was discontinued in 2007. Enthusiasts still miss this car which had set a benchmark in performance.

Maruti Wagon R

Introduced in 1999, the Maruti Wagon R deserves to be in the ‘best’ list, simply because it is unique in every manner. The fan following this car has, is unparalleled. There are many customers who replace their old Wagon R with a new one. This phenomenon is hard to find for any other car make. The Wagon R is the best option to buy if one is looking for an affordable and practical city car. The space it offers, the ease of getting in and out and also the all-round visibility is in a league of its own. The Wagon R still sells strong in numbers for almost two decades now and a facelift is expected soon.

Maruti Swift

The Maruti Swift cannot be kept out of this list as this is a car that moved the Indian industry. First launched in 2005, the Swift made its India debut within six months of its global launch, which was commendable. It came with a 1.3-litre petrol engine and was an instant success. The car was priced well and came with many first-in-class features. In 2007, Maruti introduced the Swift Diesel with a 1.3-litre Fiat Multijet engine and this proved to be a game changer for the brand. The Swift diesel became a favourite across the country as it offered excellent performance and fuel efficiency. The Swift had become the most popular car brand. Currently the new generation Swift is the top selling car in the country, combined with its sedan version – Dzire. It still offers excellent value, which is hard to beat.

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz

The Maruti Ciaz is also our favourite to make it to this list, as it is has its unique strengths. To begin with, it looks very premium and more expensive than it actually is.

This is the car that won Maruti a space in the highly competitive mid-size sedan space. The old Baleno, though a fine car did not quite make a dent.

The Ciaz is a well priced car and one of the most affordable mid-size sedans in the country. It offers good performance and the highlight is the rear seat space, which makes it an excellent option for chauffer driven customers.

The facelfit of the Ciaz has recently been launched and it now gets a new 1.5-litre petrol engine. The diesel engine is the same 1.3-litre unit, coupled with a hybrid technology. The Ciaz is sold from the premium Nexa Experience showrooms.