I spent some time with the recently face-lifted Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX, a fun-looking compact budget hatch to see it really drives just as cute as it looks.
Quick Facts
- Model: Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX
- Engine: 1.2 Litre 4-cylinder N/A petrol
- Power & Torque: 61 kW & 113 Nm
- Transmission: 5-speed Manual
- Lugage capacity: 260 Litres
- Fuel consumption: 5.1Litre / 100 km (Claimed)
- Price: R229,900
Exterior
The Suzuki Ignis recently received a facelift, now showing off a revised front-end featuring chrome bits on the front grille, roof rails, skid plate both at the front and back as well as plastic classic around the flared wheel arches. The GLX model benefits LED projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, electric folding mirrors with integrated turn signal, keyless entry, an outside temperature gauge as well as black 15-inch alloy wheels.
Interior and Tech
Minimal but yet very stylish and well put together. Being a budget car the interior is made out of hard black and plastics which looks good but after few days of driving around I noticed the driver’s door panel became a bit squeaky and that noise can be a bit annoying when driving over speed bumps or uneven terrain in the long run.
The GLX model boasts features such as a push start button, a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system with integrated reverse camera, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB & AUX port, and a 12V power socket, height-adjustable driver seat. Not to forget electric windows all around, a multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel, with mounted controls for the audio system, and Phone hands-free Bluetooth control.
Practicality
Although its small compact exterior look, the Ignis turned out to be surprisingly spacious inside, both in front and back. The seats are set up quite high and comfortable even for long drives with a pretty good amount of storage cubbies around the cabin.
The luggage capacity is claimed at 260 Litre, which is respectably spacious considering the amount of space you get in the cabin. sitting at the back feels just as comfortable as the front with just enough head and legroom even for adult passengers. The boot capacity can be further expanded up to 947 L by folding the rear seats(60:40) split which will be very useful for larger/longer item storage such as surfboard, mountain bikes, etc…
Safety
For safety the Suzuki Ignis comes equipped with 2 front airbags for both driver and passenger with side seat airbags and side curtain airbags.
Also equipped with remote central locking, reverse parking sensors, ABS with brake assist, EBD, and ISOFIX child seat anchor are also available on the back seats.
the addition of ESP ( Electronic Stability Program) could be very useful.
The drive
The Suzuki Ignis is a nippy and easy car to drive around. Powered by a 1.2L four-cylinder natural aspirated petrol engine developing 61kW and 113 Nm of torque. The power figures can look quite shy on paper but they do however work for this particular use, especially for town drive. The engine lacks a bit of torque for steep inclines but a couple of downshifts via the 5-speed manual transmission will get you going without a breeze. Knowing that the car only weighs around 925kg. Hence it feels light and does not require a lot of power to get it going. (a bit too light) and you might sometimes find yourself battling with the steering wheel on windy days at highway speeds to keep the car in line. also noticeable is the slight edgy feel when taking corners at high speed, the car tends to lean a little bit.
Sitting at 180mm from the ground (Claimed), The Suzuki Ignis is no 4×4 buster but thanks to its ground clearance and height, it drives confidently on gravel roads/un-even train.
Another cool factor about the Suzuki Ignis is how practical and economic it is to live with. Light on fuel, during my weekly commute which included city and highway drives, I managed an average fuel consumption of 6L/100km over the 5.1L claimed.
Pricing and after-sales
The new Suzuki Ignis range is priced as follow
Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GL MT R198 900
Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX MT R229 900 (Test Unit)
Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX AMT R246 900
All prices include a 5-year/200 000 km promotional warranty and a 2-year/ 30 000km service plan.
Verdict
The Suzuki Ignis is a nippy and easy car to drive around town and even in long distances, with its catchy look that I believe will attract a lot of consumers. it’s competitively priced and ideal for anyone who is looking for a first car or a city car that can offer an exciting driving experience combined with good practicality and useful tech features for daily commute. The Ignisdeserves to be icluded in their shortlist.
To know more, book a test drive here
