Straight to the top of the class
ROAD TEST/ Suzuki’s latest offering seems to tick most entry-level car boxes and then some, writes Lerato Matebese
Consistent, cheerful and value for money are just some of the adjectives that one can level at the Suzuki brand and its automotive products.
Since the firms’s re-introduction to SA in 2008, it has consistently brought to the market an array of compact, entrylevel cars that on face value seem to have been well thought out and, more importantly, kind to one’s purse when it comes to purchasing and running costs.
In fact, save for the Swift Dezire sedan (mostly due to its odd proportions) I am yet to drive a model from the stable that has not at best exceeded my expectations or, at worst, met them. So it was not surprising that when the firm’s latest model visited our offices for a weeklong assessment, I jumped at the opportunity to see what the Japanese marque had mustered this time around.
The Ignis is the company’s latest contender in the Asegment of the market and with its petite proportions and pricing point (from R169,900) it takes the fight directly to the likes of the Toyota Aygo, Hyundai i10 and my firm favourite in the segment, the Volkswagen Up.
However, there’s now a new advocate in the form of the Ignis, which takes all the hallmarks that have made a success of many a product in its stable and packaged them in a more appealing proposition. With its slightly raised ride height of 180mm, roof rails and exterior design elements such as the contrasting roof and side mirrors, the model manages to meld entry-level hatch elements with the popular crossover look quite admirably.
The front end of the vehicle is cheery, thanks to the large headlamps replete with Ushaped LED daytime running lights. Then there are flared wheel arches and a C-pillar with three shark-gill like lines and, when viewed from the threequarter rear perspective, is slightly reminiscent of the Lancia Delta — without the performance, of course.
Cabin appointments continue the cool theme, thanks to the body colour plastic inserts on the transmission tunnel and door handles that will appease the young set. In addition, there is a floating audio system that can be controlled via remote buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.
Both leg and headroom are good and belie the compact exterior proportions (only 3.7m long) while boot space is a relatively good 260l.
Out on the road, the model felt sprightly despite the 61kW and 131Nm maximum outputs, Styling, packaging, features and price Limited steering column adjustment, lap belt only for rear middle seat A prime example of how to execute a budget car offering which one can attribute to the paltry 850kg weight of the model. The engine itself is fairly quiet. Even at the national speed limit it did not suffer from the buzzing, whizzing noise that afflicts many small capacity engines. On-road stability was also surprisingly good with only more severe road ruts making the ride choppy at times.
The relatively thin 175/65/R15 tyres, wrapped in gloss black alloy wheels, offer a surprisingly stable disposition to the vehicle out on the road.
Build quality is rather good, while steering adjustment could have a slightly wider scope as I found the steering wheel angle a little too high relative to my seating position and the lack of a conventional seat belt in the rear middle seat (only a lap belt) were the biggest oversights.
That aside, though, the model vindicated itself in most areas and, what sweetens the deal further, is that the manufacturer did not skimp on safety items with ABS, EBD, dual airbags and Isofix child seat anchorage points in the rear seats all being standard equipment across the range. In fact, the model even scored a credible three stars in Type: In line, four-cylinder Capacity: 1,197cc Power: 61kW at 6,0000r/min Torque: 113Nm from 4,200r/min Type: Five-speed manual Type: Front-wheel drive 0-100km/h: 11.6 seconds Top Speed: 165km/h Fuel Consumption: 5.1l/1.900km Emission: 119g/km the EuroNcap safety test, which should get the thumbs-up from first-time buyers.
As a package, the Suzuki Ignis seems to edge out the Volkswagen slightly on packaging and in the performance stakes, while the LED headlights are a welcome addition. Subsequent to this test, the Ignis moves to the top of my favourite budget car list.
WE DISLIKE: VERDICT: ENGINE TRANSMISSION DRIVETRAIN PERFORMANCE (claimed) STANDARD FEATURES
Multifunction steering wheel, sound system with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, air-conditioning, electric windows, central locking, LED headlights with daytime running lights, front foglamps, 15-inch alloy wheels, dual airbags, Isofix rear seat anchorage points
COST OF OWNERSHIP
Warranty: Three/100,000km Service Plan: Two-year/30,000km Price: R189,900 Lease*: R4,154 per month