The Dzire, which was initially labelled as 'undesirable' and quite prematurely so, has suddenly become very desirable, or at least that's what the sales figure suggest. Surprised? Well, it may look like an automotive depiction of one's obese ghee obsessed mother-in-law, but a wise man knows that looks can be very deceptive.

Out on the charm offensive, the Dzire has wooed one and all, which have cared to look beyond its rotund appearance. It is only fair to say that there couldn't have been a more worthy successor to the Esteem than the Dzire. Available in three variants of diesel and petrol each, the Dzire is an attractive buying proposition for anyone with Rs. 4 to 7 lakhs to spare and a yearning to own a sedan.

Dzire's 1.3-liter petrol and diesel units are both decent performers, but some more horsepower would have really been delightful. Where the petrol engine boasts a modest 88PS, the diesel can only come up with 76PS. The dearth in power however can be forgiven for the Dzire has its niche in the entry-level sedan segment, a segment where power takes a back seat to the likes of economy and practicality. The Dzire in spite of the want in power is quite a decent car to drive, thanks to its respectable driving dynamics, refinement, and reliability.

The Dzire's strong points are of course its frugal fuel economy and the impressive array of features that it carries, like an air-conditioner with climate control, dash integrated audio system with steering mounted controls, height adjustable power steering, power windows, power rear view mirrors, ABS and airbags. Suddenly Dzire's sales figure is starting to make a whole lot of sense.

While the petrol version is capable of delivering 12kmpl in the city, the Dzire diesel proves to be even more economical, returning a mileage of 13.5kmpl in the city.

For a price ranging from Rs. 4,67,006 (ex-showroom Delhi) to Rs. 6,88,007 (ex-showroom Delhi), the Dzire is very reasonably priced, thus ensuring a fine integration of economy, quality, practicality and spot on pricing.