Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo

The decade old Maruti Suzuki Zen has been replaced by a re-designed tall boy and rechristened as Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo. Zen is the first Maruti Suzuki to be officially discontinued from production, and the new Zen Estilo is designed to suit the Indian taste palate.

The Estilo's design has been borrowed from the Japanese MR Wagon that was phased out in 2005. All the dyes and casts that were used for MR Wagon are used to manufacture the Estilo. The name Zen is used to utilise brand popularity, but the new Zen Estilo has nothing in common with the phased out Zen. It uses the design of Japanese MR Wagon and the powertrain of the Indian WagonR. It falls between the Alto and WagonR segment, and appeals the young buyers in terms of design. It took 18 months for Maruti Suzuki Udyog Ltd. to design and bring out the new Zen.

After Maruti Suzuki Swift, the Estilo is the most talked about car in the market at present. It rolls out in three variants -- the base Lx, Lxi and Vxi; all the variants are powered by 1.1L in-line 4 cylinder engine. The top-end model comes with optional safety features like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and airbags.

The Zen Estilo is powered by the WagonR's 1.1L in-line 4 cylinder engine. Power is transferred to the front wheels by a 5-speed manual transmission. The 16 valve engine cranks out 64 bhp at 6,200 rpm and 84 Nm of torque is delivered at 3,500 rpm. The Estilo has enough sprinting power in the second and the third gears; in the third gear, it reaches a maximum of 100 kmph. The fourth and the fifth gears stabilize speed. The Estilo clocks 60 kmph in just 6 seconds and manages 100 kmph in 16 seconds, an all-time better than its stable mate WagonR.

The stiffened suspensions system does well during cornering and also on bad roads, when loaded. The electronic power steering is refined; it utilises least power and also cuts power off the pump, when speed of the car increases. It has a peppy engine with precise handling but the shifting throws could have been shorter and crisp.

The Estilo is a smart, elegant and contemporary car. It is carved on the Monoform Aerodynamic Design that allows it to cut through air current. The tall boy stance creates some drag but that seems to be minimal. The swept crafted headlamps are head-turners and offer maximum visibility while negotiating darker lanes.

The exterior styling combines drop-gorgeous front fascia that is stunning and has sleek lines. The car has been designed keeping in view the latest trends. The tail lamp cluster is an excellent design, making good use of curves, lines and space. The B and C-pillars, disguised in black, go well with tinted glasses.

The interiors are just not Maruti Suzuki type; they are quite upscale and plush. The dual-toned beige colour interiors give the impression of a luxurious sedan. The dash design is again appealing; the silver trim on the beige colour console looks quite stunning. The instrument cluster, the AC and the music system on the console are properly placed, adding convenience. The seats are ergonomically designed with shoulder support and adjustable head restraints for comfort. The design offers enough headroom and legroom. The car is available in nine colours: Brilliant Yellow, Virgin Blue, Sparkling Olive, Champagne Beige, Pearl Silver, Bright Red, Midnight Black, and Pure White.

The base Estilo Lx has minimal standard features such as power steering, power controls, body-coloured bumper, tachometer, remote keyless entry, power rear door opener, electric mirror adjuster and rear door defogger. Airbags and ABS are optional.