Maruti Suzuki Ritz: The Maruti Suzuki Ritz may have been phased out, but it continues to be one of the memorable hatchbacks in the automotive history of India.
The Ritz was introduced in 2009 and had an edgy design, unlike the conservative design language that is prevalent in the compact cars segment.
It was a global model developed in cooperation with Suzuki and sold in various countries under various names.
The first Ritz book a general public trust of being utilitarian, fuel efficient and inexpensive without being an unattractive design. Even after the Ritz was replaced by the Maruti Ignis, the vehicle commands value in the used car segment.
Unconventional Though Practical Design
The first notable in the Maruti Ritz was its tall-boy construction. With its high roofline and squat, stubby rear, it was one car whose look divided opinions.
It was pointy in the front with pulled-back headlamps and a smooth grille, and had a slanted rear hatch that caught your eye in a sea of boxy cars.
Opinions differ on its looks but there was a reason for its winged shape—seats-up headroom and a commanding drive position.
Ingress and egress were also significantly eased by the tall stance and wide doors, which also were beneficial for aged persons.
And though strikingly unconventional, the design never felt out of place in the real world of budget-friendly hatchbacks.
Generously proportioned, everyday cabin
The Ritz was actually surprisingly spacious inside. The height led to excellent headroom, and the width of the cabin meant the passengers were afforded some shoulder space.
Two adults could fit snugly in the rear seat, and a third could fit in short jaunts. Legroom was fine for city runs, not to say a bit tight for some taller passengers on longer hauls.
The dashboard was just your basic arrangement and it had a centrally mounted digital tachometer to lend it a bit of a sports car feel.
Storage spaces were intelligently designed with a good glovebox, cup holders and bottle slots on door. The boot was 236 liters, sufficient for daily errands or luggage for a weekend.
Features-wise, the higher variants came loaded with steering mounted controls, dual airbags, ABS, integrated music system and electric ORVMs.
Less gadgety than contemporary hatchbacks, the Ritz was loaded with creature comforts for its generation.
Powertrain Options and Performance
The Maruti Ritz was offered with two reliable powertrains: a 1.2-litre K-Series gasoline and 1.3-litre DDiS diesel motor.
It was good for some pepish stuff for city use, Petrol enjoyed good high end though not a puller, making 85 PS’ish. She enjoyed a clean response and well-refined feel, especially at low revs.
The diesel, the latter shared with the Swift and other Maruti models, was appreciated for its torque-heavy driving quality and stellar fuel efficiency.
It was rated at 75 PS and 190 Nm and found favour with long-stretch commuters.
Both engines were offered with a 5-speed manual transmission, and an automatic was available for the petrol variant, the 4-speed torque converter version, attractive for urban drivers.
Ride Quality and Handling
The Ritz boasted of a well-tuned suspension system which munched potholes and bad stretches without any fuss. The ride was pliant and cushy, particularly at city speeds.
The car was steady on the freeway, there was slight body roll on account of the taller height.
Steering was easy, thanks to light effort that made city driving and parking simple. Its turning circle was small, and the car was good-looking, enhancing its city-cred.
Brake performance was adequate for the job with the front disc, rear drum setup, and ABS was welcome during our emergency situation.
Pros:
Tall-boy design allows excellent headroom plus seating comfort
Fuel-efficient and dependable petrol and diesel engines
Automatic is refined in the petrol variant
Easy to drive and maneuver on city streets
Pros Great build quality and longevity
Cons:
The reverse look wasn’t popular with all buyers
At high RPMs, diesel engine could become noisy
Not as much boot space as you’ll get with newer hatchbacks
Interior design has long been out of date at the end of lifecycle.
Maruti Suzuki Ritz: Final Thoughts
Maruti Suzuki Ritz might not have been the most eye-catching car in the market, but it was an honest, reliable and practicalist of a hatchback.
It combined comofort, efficiency, and ease of driving into a convenient package that suited families and city dwellers both.
Even now, the Ritz remains a useful purchase in the pre-owned car space for clients preferring a no-fuss hatchback with Maruti’s established service network and solid reliability.