Burning Oil and Rubber
Maruti Suzuki also have a potent Ignis diesel with the automatic box: the Zeta AGS. The 1,248-cc turbo-diesel engine continues unchanged and delivers 75 PS and 190 Nm, more than enough for this 960-kg hatch. Performance is brisk and effortless and the automated transmission, though quite lazy in its response, uses the torque to get a move on in an unhurried manner and that means drivability won’t get you into trouble. It’s quite progressive and more suited to fuel efficiency than anything else. Priced at Rs 7.64 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune), it does translate into a hefty price-tag, even by today’s standards. The top-spec Alpha is only available with a manual transmission, so you have to forgo the LED DRLs, projector headlamps, auto climate and touchscreen system. The diesel Ignis range starts at Rs 6.54 lakh with the Delta as the base variant.
The fact that Maruti Suzuki have introduced the same five-speed AGS with the 1.2 petrol and the 1.25-litre diesel engines adds to the choice and makes life easier for those looking for a no-nonsense contemporary hatch which also stands out with its unique styling while also bringing all the practicality and affordability that Maruti Suzuki have become known for. Look forward to a detailed road-test review of both engine and transmission versions in the near future.
Need To Know – Maruti Suzuki Ignis DDiS Zeta AGS
Price: Rs 7.64 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune)
Engine: 1,248 cc, in-line four, turbo-diesel, direct-injection
Max Power: 75 PS at 4,000 rpm
Max Torque: 190 Nm at 2,000 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed, automatic, front-wheel drive
