Suzuki is one of the fastest-growing passenger vehicle manufacturers in South Africa, with record-breaking sales month after month thanks to the broader range of reliable and affordable cars they offer. In this review, I take a closer look at the features and performance of the 2022 Suzuki Ignis GLX Manual and explore why it’s worth considering for your next car purchase.
The Suzuki Ignis has been a popular choice for budget-conscious drivers since its launch in 2016. It fits just between the Swift and Celerio. Since its introduction, it has proven to offer great value for money and impressive fuel efficiency, making it a practical option for city driving.
Exterior
The exterior of the Suzuki Ignis gives a sense of fun and adventure. The front end boasts LED headlights along with LED DRLS and a seamless chrome trim contouring them, which is quite pleasant.
The GLX trim benefits from a keyless entry system for both the front driver and passenger doors, as well as the boot.
To stand out even further from the GL trim, the Ignis GLX comes fitted with Black 15-inch alloy wheels, electric folding mirrors with built-in turn signal, and roof rails. The roof rails add extra practicality and storage/loading space for things such as surfboards, bicycles, or any other oversized items, using the appropriate roof rail mounts.
Interior
Inside, the cabin feels surprisingly roomier than you’d expect from its small and compact exterior size.
The Ignis comes with fitted cloth seats that are comfortable and supportive. They are also nice to look at, thanks to the graphics printed on the backrest.
The 7-inch touchscreen infotainment is fuss-free and functional. It supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. as well as AM and FM radio functionality. You’ll also find a Push Start/stop button, automatic climate control (with no rear passenger air vents), 1x USB and AUX port as well as a 12V power socket in front.
The driving position feels upright and elevated. It gives that commanding feel like you’re driving an SUV. With the driver’s seat being height adjustable.
Jumping to the rear, the rear passenger space feels generous. The leg room is adequate even for taller passengers at up to 183cm, as I tested by sitting behind the driver’s seat, set to my driving position. For long road trips, the rear passenger space can comfortably accommodate 2 adults at maximum.
One thing to remember is that this is a budget car. This means that the interior is mostly covered with plastics. The plastic used in the cabin feels durable and is also quite easy to clean.
Safety
To keep the occupants safe, the Ignis safety features list comprises of
2 Airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, and ISOFIX child seat anchor points as well as a revere parking camera with rear parking sensors,
Fun fact: The Ignis is one of the few budget cars below R300 000 to be equipped with ESP ( electronic stability program)
The Drive
Powered by a 1.2L four-cylinder petrol engine, that delivers 61kW and 113Nm of torque. The Suzuki Ignis isn’t the most powerful among Suzuki’s budget cars. I have found that the power is suitable for its size, it doesn’t struggle as much as the Celerio when going uphill.
The 5-speed manual transmission feels slick and is a joy to operate. The gear ratios are well-calibrated and engaging.
While the Ignis is lovely to drive around town, the engine noise weirdly peaks at highway speed with the revs sitting at around 3200rmp, which is a bit too high for 5th gear. The solution here will be to add a 6th gear to the transmission, but that will mean Suzuki will have to design a whole new transmission and that might add up to the price of the vehicle as well.
Practicality
With its 15” alloy wheels, the Suzuki Ignis stands 180mm off the ground as Suzuki Claims. This gives the Ignis a little bit of a rugged mini SUV like Stance. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as off-road ready as the Jimny, nor equipped with any kind of 4×4 modes. The Ignis proved to handle unpaved ( light gravel) roads with ease. Yes, it requires a bit of caution avoiding big stones and high wheel drops around the cape farms but it summed up to be a decent drive.
On the cool factor side, the Suzuki Ignis is pretty frugal. Fuel consumption sat between 5.5 and 5.7L/100km. This includes city driving (with load-shedding traffic) as well as highway drives. After some calculations, I concluded that most light-footed drivers will be able to achieve about 550-600km of driving range with one full tank of petrol.
The luggage capacity is claimed at 260 Litre, which is respectably spacious considering the amount of space you get in the cabin.
The boot capacity can be further expanded up to 947L by folding the rear seats, which can split into a (60:40) configuration. This will allow easy loading/storage of longer items such as bicycles, surfboards, or just some extra luggage.
Verdict
So who is this car for?
The Suzuki Ignis appeals to younger buyers, first-time buyers, small starting families, or just anyone looking for something compact, efficient, and budget-friendly.
It looks the part, the compact and quirky looks make it stands out from the crowd. Its 1.2L engine is frugal and cheap to run, with servicing parts readily available.
It’s a great value for money and is a little bit more well put together than its smaller sibling, Celerio. If you’re shopping for a new car on a budget, I’d highly recommend that you book yourself a test drive in one and add it to your shortlist.
Pricing
The Suzuki Celerio 1.2 GLX Manual will set you back R241 900
While the rest of the variants in the range are priced as follows
1.2 GL MT R208 900
1.2 GLX AMT R258 900
All the prices include a 5-year / 200 000km promotional warranty as well as a 2-year / 30 000km service plan
