Can you also squeeze 27.5km/l out of the all-new Suzuki Dzire Hybrid?
The all-new Suzuki Dzire Hybrid is the newest offering of the Japanese compact carmaker in the local market.
The vehicle was particularly introduced at the 2025 Manila International Auto Show held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City last April.
During the launch, Suzuki Philippines Incorporated (SPH) director and general manager for automobile division, Norihide Takei, said in a speech as likewise part of the brand’s milestone celebration of 50 years in the country: “We are proud to unveil the All-New Dzire Hybrid—a vehicle designed to give every Filipino a stylish yet practical driving experience. With advanced features, hybrid efficiency, and premium styling, it redefines what a compact sedan can be.”
Moreover, he also emphasized Suzuki’s continuing efforts to offer innovative, fuel-efficient vehicles tailored for the local market.
Now, for starters, hybrid vehicles are designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions by combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor. This allows for better fuel economy, all the while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The purpose of a hybrid vehicle is to provide a more sustainable and environment-friendly transportation option while continuing the functionalities of the traditional internal combustion-engined vehicles.
Actual testing in real-world driving conditions
Recently, this all-new Suzuki Dzire Hybrid was put to the test in actual real-world driving conditions.
The challenge? More than 30 media participants were pitted against each other onboard 16 Dzire Hybrid vehicles for one exciting fuel economy run from Manila all the way to Bataan.
The day first started at the Suzuki Auto dealership in Taguig City.
During his speech at the dealership, Takei underscored the key selling points of their vehicles.
For him, there are several things that make their vehicles stand out.
“Suzuki vehicles are compact and are perfectly fit for the Filipino. Not only this, our vehicles are reliable and we have a very good value-added proposition, which Filipinos love,” he shared.
“We also have good after-sales services.”
From there, he bid participants luck in their quest for a fun and safe drive as they pursue the best fuel-efficient drive among them.
After a hearty breakfast, participants, with their feather-light foot on the gas pedal, slowly made their way to their first stop in Balanga, Bataan–a good three-hour drive from the metro. Here, they then had their sumptuous lunch before again proceeding toward their final destination in Bagac.
The vehicles were then refueled at a gas station to determine how much fuel the participants were able to use. Of course, the participant with the least amount of fuel used over the distance traveled is determined as the winner.
After 188 km of driving through city traffic and the open road, the best fuel-efficiency achieved was 27.5 km/liter from the Power Wheels media outfit of Lester and Shawie Dizon.
Meanwhile, this writer, together with videographer, Tope Crisostomo, representing Inquirer Motoring, was able to squeeze out about 26km/liter over about the same distance. This is good enough to bag second place among all the participants.
The rest of the pool, on the other hand, were averaging 18-22km/liter during the whole duration of the trip.
The prowess of Suzuki’s newest hybrid offering
“This just proves the fuel-efficiency of our hybrid technology,” Takei then added during one of the interviews.
“I am proud and happy for all the participants.”
Under the hood of the Dzire is a new 1.2L Z12E three-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a hybrid system and a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
This system enhances both driving performance and fuel efficiency, while the hybrid system enables energy-saving features like auto start-stop and electric motor assist.
Other than the new engine system, this writer is likewise impressed by how this new Dzire looks from inside and out.
It dons refined and redesigned front fascia, chrome-accented grille, and multi-light LED headlamps. This goes along well with its sleek silhouette and sculpted body lines that flow seamlessly into its new rear combination lamps, giving it a bold and sophisticated presence on the road.
Inside, this panache spills over with its premium feel, paired with dual-tone interior accents, improved ergonomics, and a driver-centric dashboard layout.
The GLX variant, in particular, is equipped with a nine-inch touchscreen display audio system – compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Safety-wise, the vehicle has six airbags now standard across all variants—including front, side, and curtain airbags for comprehensive occupant protection.
It also comes equipped with an electronic stability program (ESP), anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), hill hold control, and rear parking sensors with a camera.
Combined with a reinforced body structure, all these features have earned the vehicle a well-deserved 5-star safety rating.
The new Suzuki Dzire comes in two options: the GL CVT Hybrid, priced at P920,000 and the GLX CVT Hybrid, tagged at P998,000.
Now, do you think you can beat the fuel-efficiency record done by our media participants? Go. Try it.
