Saar: Apart from receiving a bunch of cosmetic changes, the Ciaz facelift will also come with a new, more powerful petrol engine.

India’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, will launch the mid-life update of the Ciaz on August 20, 2018. You can get one booked for yourself with a minimum token amount of Rs 11,000, which is totally refundable, as several Nexa dealers across the country have started accepting bookings for the Ciaz facelift unofficially.

Based on the teaser video, which was released last month, we can confirm that the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz facelift will get redesigned headlamp enclosures, which will have integrated LED DRLs and projector units, and a sleeker, chrome-rich front grille. Other design changes on the outside include tweaked front and rear bumpers, LED elements in the taillamps and a new set of alloy wheels. On the inside, Maruti Suzuki will offer faux wood inserts within several panels to liven the cabin a bit. The features list will be enhanced by with the inclusion of cruise control and a revised MID (multi-info display). A sunroof is still missing.

The biggest change will be in the engine department. The old 1.4-litre petrol engine will be replaced by a brand new 1.5-litre motor with SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) technology. The engine will produce 105PS/138Nm, which is 13PS/8Nm more than the smaller engine. SHVS tech, which is commonly known as the mild-hybrid tech, will play its role to ensure that petrol-powered Ciaz facelift is the most frugal amongst its competitors. As far as transmission options are concerned, it will be offered with automatic and manual units. The new engine is debuting with the refreshed Ciaz and is also expected to find a place in the second-gen Ertiga MPV, which will go on sale in India by the end of this year.

On the diesel front, however, there are no changes to report. The Ciaz facelift will come with the same, Fiat-sourced, 1.3-litre mill with 90PS/200Nm on tap and thanks to the SHVS technology, it will segment leading mileage figures. Unlike the petrol mill, the diesel will only be offered with a 5-speed manual transmission.

The refreshed Ciaz will renew its rivalry with the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Toyota Yaris, Skoda Rapid and the Volkswagen Vento. The Maruti product has always been the most affordable option amongst its competitors. Although the mid-life update will be dearer than the outgoing model by up to Rs 40,000 (expected), it will still maintain the position of being the least expensive of the lot.