More a ripple than a splash
Suzuki is unlikely to make waves in the market with its Splash, writes Mark Smyth
SUZUKI is not having a great week. On Monday one of its new Celerio models spectacularly failed an emergency braking test by Autocar magazine in the UK, and then so did the replacement vehicle Suzuki UK sent for the testing team to try again.
In a great PR move though, the UK operation immediately suspended all sales of the car and cautioned owners to park their cars, advising they would send a loan car while their car is taken away to be fixed. Great response by the company and we are currently awaiting news on whether cars in SA are also affected.
Coincidentally, Suzuki Auto SA also delivered a Celerio for the Motor News team to test this week. We might have to leave that one in the car park for a while longer but, in the meantime, we have been spending some time with the Splash which was launched late last year.
At launch, the press pictures showed the car in cool colours and in colourful locations. No funky colours for us though — the test unit was a rather unfunky brown, which is unlikely to attract the youthful set the company seeks.
Priced at R135,400 for the GL spec model we had on test, the Splash has some serious competition, not least of all from within its own stable. It has to be able to take on some major stalwarts such as the Chevrolet Spark, Kia Picanto, Renault Sandero and Toyota Etios and even the entry level Suzuki Swift.
This week Volkswagen is launching its cool new Up! with entry level models also in the same pricing bracket.
The styling carries some elements of the Suzuki corporate look, particularly at the front, while the rear has that huge slab look to it which makes it seem larger than it is. Inside, the design is more functional than anything although it does get a rev counter mounted on top of the dashboard in a bid to add a sporty element to it.
It also has a decent specification with electric windows, a multifunction steering wheel, CD/radio audio system and aircon. Nothing fancy but all the essentials.
The plastics are average and the cloth seats are comfortable. The layout is generally good and the driving position is also spot on. Unlike some of its rivals — and even others carrying a higher price tag — the boot space is pretty good and will cope with most things people need to throw into it on a daily basis or even for the weekend’s activities.
Then there is the drive. We had the manual version on test and, quite honestly, the engine is rather lacklustre. With only one person in the car it took almost a kilometre to reach the highway speed limit without making the engine scream. It will be perfect if your daily drive involves short hops on urban roads that are generally full of traffic, but I would be less inclined to take it on any long-distance trips, especially if they involve going uphill and if you are carrying more than one person.
I would also be inclined to avoid driving it in the wet. Despite its name, the Splash does not like water. It suffers dreadful understeer in the wet and had a tendency to aquaplane and become twitchy during Highveld thunderstorms when the water sits on the highway and you wonder if there is any drainage built into our new highways at all.
No doubt I will get a call from the Suzuki SA PR saying I am being mean about their little car, but its rivals relegate the Splash to the nearest puddle. The Picanto and Spark both look and handle better, and then there is the Etios, not usually one of my recommendations but it has a stronger 1.5l engine and loads of interior space.
The big problem for all of them though is the Sandero. Its 66kW turbocharged engine is absolutely brilliant and with the entry level Expression costing R129,900 it undercuts many of its rivals. It is bigger than the Splash and has loads of boot space. It also has a large interior and, frankly, it is the better-looking option too. The interior looks more upmarket than it is and the designers have put a great deal of effort into creating a car that not only looks stylish but also gives the impression that it costs more than its similarly priced rivals in the sector.
The VW Up! is going to be smaller, so I cannot comment on that one. We are driving it this week and will give you our impressions next week, but given its funky styling and VW reputation, it is also likely to give the Splash a run for its money, even if the spec on the entry level model is going to be lower than the Suzuki.
Suzuki is clearly trying to tap into as many areas of the budget market as it can but in the Splash it makes more of a ripple in the market than a splash.
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