Suzuki Ignis - 'It's back with a bang and winning space race'

Published on 29 January, 2017

Ignis is back, but everything except the name has changed.

Overview

Remember the Suzuki Ignis? It was not a bad car when it came on the scene nearly 20 years ago - unfashionable at the time with a sort of crossover look - reliable, but with dubious road manners. It disappeared from our roads about 10 years ago.

Now the name Ignis is back, but everything except the name has changed. A new platform, new engine and a new trendy crossover style. The result is a supermini with the best use of space we have seen recently and there is nothing dull about it. It is powered by a 1.2-litre Dualjet petrol engine with the option of a mild hybrid attachment to boost power and economy, and there is even the option of a four-wheel-drive.

This is a high-sided five-door supermini type crossover, so there is good headroom and for its size and remarkable front and rear legroom as the wheels are pushed out to the extremities with very little overhand. With six-footers up front, there is comfortable accommodation in the rear for two more six-footers, or three children. The top specification has only two seatbelts in the rear where the backrest is split, while the lower grade with a single rear backrest gets three seatbelts. Because of the high roof/high seating, the cabin does not feel cramped but the centre screen for the reversing camera and satnav looks like an afterthought, but in fairness this is a feature that can be found even in some executive grade models.

There are some hard plastics but overall the cabin is very well proportioned considering that the Ignis is a city car and will be used mostly for short urban journeys.

Like the bigger Baleno, which was launched last year, the Ignis is big on the kit list with the entry level SZ at €12,995 getting five seatbelts, six airbags, air conditioning, DAB radio and Bluetooth. The SZ-T, which will be the bestseller, comes with satnav, rear- view camera, 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, four-seat capacity, with individually sliding rear seats, is priced at €14,995, while the ST5 top grade adds auto air conditioning, Dual Camera Brake Support, keyless entry and start, all electric windows, LED headlights and foglights. The price here is €16,495 with the All Grip four-wheel-drive option with mild hybrid costing €17,995, and the automated manual shift version is also priced at €17,995.

The 1.2 dualjet engine uses two injectors per cylinder and has emissions ranging from 97g/km of C01 to 106g/km of C02. It provides adequate power for the Ignis. Suzuki plans to sell 200 Ignis models this year and its new Swift will be in showrooms by mid year.