Getting to grips with mini mystery machine

In a world of easy-to-define cars the Ignis is a characterful enigma,writes Matt Allan

Most modern cars are pretty easy to pigeonhole but every so often you get a car that doesn’t really fit into the traditional brackets. A car like the Suzuki Ignis.

Viewed from a distance you’d assume this was a serious SUV - an idea bolstered by its chunky design and Suzuki’s 4x4 pedigree.

But get up close and you realise it’s absolutely tiny and for all its rugged design, it’s powered by a 1.2-litre engine with just 82bhp and most versions are front-wheel-drive.

Suzuki says it is the world’s only ultra-compact SUV, which is stretching the definition of SUV but it’s hard to think how else to describe it. Its footprint is closer to a city car than a B-SUV but it looks and feels more rugged than many “SUV-inspired” models.

In a market dominated by bland, interchangeable bodyshells, the Ignis stands out for its size, its boxy shape and chunky yet cute styling. Like the Jimny it balances its small and lovable looks with an air of ruggedness and 2020 brought a new grille and bumpers.

The interior received a similarly subtle refresh with new trim and upholstery colours and a new instrument display. Those minor changes haven’t done much to raise the look and feel of the cabin, which is in keeping with the chunky styling of the exterior but can’t really back up the rugged image. There’s an appealing simplicity but, as in other Suzukis, the materials show where money has been saved.

What it lacks in material bling, the Ingis makes up for in practicality. At 3.7m long and 1.66m wide, it’s city car sized but manages to offer impressive room for four passengers, with rear legroom that some larger SUVs can’t rival. Even the boot isn’t tiny, with a respectable 267 litres.

If you face the kind of conditions where additional traction comes in handy, the Ignis even has the option of Allgrip permanent four-wheel-drive with hill descent and grip control.

While it can cope with a bit of the sticky/slippy stuff, the Ignis is still more at home in the city. The controls are light and the steering quick. On faster roads it feels settled enough but there’s still some wobbling in the corners and not a whole lot of feedback. More of an issue is the intrusive amount of noise at anything above 50mph.

There’s also the issue that it takes quite some time to get to those speeds. The 1.2-litre engine is a new mild hybrid with a 12V integrated starter-generator to offer a torque boost. With just 82bhp it feels like it’s working hard at higher speeds but it will return an easy 51mpg.

Most day-to-day equipment demands are met by the top-of-the range SZ5, although it doesn’t feel quite as technologically advanced as some similarly priced cars. Features such as cruise control, sat nav, auto air con and keyless entry set it apart from lesser models along with lane departure warning and electric windows all round.

The Ignis is a bit of a curiosity. It’s compact yet spacious, has four-wheel-drive and rugged looks but is far more at home in the city, and is well equipped but old-fashioned. If you can forgive its flaws, it’s a quirky alternative to the mainstream.