2017 Suzuki Ignis

Driven in SA: Suzuki's sassy ‘lil Ignis

Suzuki has entered South Africa's baby-SUV wars with its new Ignis, a little urban adventurer that is pitched against rivals like the Renault Sandero Stepway, Toyota Etios Cross and Volkswagen Cross Up.

The crossover is available here in front wheel drive only (overseas there’s also an AWD) but it has a raised 180mm of ground clearance making it more suited to gravel roads than the average car.

At just 3.7 metres long and 1.69 metres wide it’s a compact but surprisingly roomy vehicle with plenty of head and legroom for four passengers inside, though the narrowness has occupants prone to touching elbows.

The boot, which has a full-size spare wheel, offers a rather tight 260 litres of cargo space but it’s expandable to 469 litres with the rear seats folded.

The little Suzuki’s styled with a youthful vibe that will catch the attention of the young (or the young-at-heart) with its chunky shape and pronounced wheel arches.

The trendy theme continues inside. At this price level you’re not going to get a soft-touch dashboard but the hard plastics in the Ignis are neatly finished, and the cabin’s glammed up with appealing touches of colour. There’s two-tone black and white treatment on the dashboard and doors, while the inside door grips and the centre console panels are finished in bright hues - including red, blue and titanium - depending on the exterior colour.

The Ignis is sold in three versions with a starting price of R169 900 for the entry-level GL 1.2 manual which comes standard with electric windows, remote central locking, air-conditioning, electric power steering, onboard computer, and an MP3-compatible two-speaker radio/CD sound system with USB port and 12V accessory power socket. Range-wide safety comprises dual front airbags and ABS anti-lock brakes.

The more comprehensively equipped 1.2 GLX - available in five-speed manual and five-speed automated manual - is styled up with 15” piano-black alloy wheels, wheel arch extensions, roof rails, and a black grille with chrome accents. The GL’s halogen headlights make way for projector-type LED designs with daytime running lights, front fog lamps, and exterior mirrors with turn signal repeaters.

The GLX also offers keyless starting and fully automatic climate control, rear park distance control, and a height-adjustable driver’s seat, while the radio/CD system is boosted to six speakers and gains Bluetooth connectivity with multifunction buttons on the steering wheel.

The black-and-white dashboard and colour accents remain the same, but the GLX’s air vent louvers, gear shift knob and interior door handles feature silver and chrome finishes, compared to the GL’s black execution.

Generous power-to-weight ratio

Digging into the Ignis options list gets you a centrally mounted colour touch-screen display which can be linked to iOS and Android smartphones, and then allows intuitive access to compatible apps such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An SD card slot can be used to deliver map data, which enables on-board, real-time navigation.

The engine under the cute nose is a modest normally-aspirated 1.2-litre petrol but the Ignis subscribes to the Lotus school of extracting performance through lightweight design instead of mega-muscle.

With the car’s kerb mass of just 850kg (10kg more for the auto version) the 61kW/113Nm engine doesn’t have a lot of bulk to lug around and this translates to a generous power-to-weight ratio, with a sea-level acceleration figure quoted at 0-100km/h in 11.6 seconds (13 secs for the AMT).

The little car felt surprisingly eager off the line when I drove it at the media launch in Cape Town, and if it feels even half as perky at power-draining high altitudes it’ll make for a very appealing commuter in Gauteng too.

Easygoing open-road cruiser

The Ignis isn’t confined to the urban streets and made an easygoing open-road cruiser at sea level, with a rated top speed of 165km/h and a slick five-speed manual that makes hustling through the gears an easy task. I didn’t get to drive the auto, which has a 155km/h top speed.

It’s a fairly refined car, with little wind noise and no annoying buzziness to reveal the presence of a small engine. The little four-cylinder was vocal but never sounded strained.

Fuel economy’s quoted at 5.1 litres per 100km for the manual and 4.9 litres for the AMT. The manual test-car I drove was averaging in the mid-sixes.

A cruise through the Western Cape’s urban streets, freeways and a short dirt section revealed this little Suzuki to be a competent all-rounder combining a comfortable ride with neat handling. Despite its short wheelbase the Ignis doesn’t have a too-choppy ride and it also felt self assured on dirt, with good bump-soaking ability from those high-profile tyres. The lightweight car didn’t feel tinny and cruised over bumps with a solid, rattle-free demeanour.

Verdict

With its funky styling, surprising spaciousness and eager performance, the well-priced Ignis is an endearing little crossover and Suzuki South Africa have themselves a definite Car of the Year contender.

PRICES

1.2 GX61kW/113NmR169 900
1.2 GLX61kW/113NmR189 900
1.2 GLX Automated Manual61kW/113NmR204 900

These include a three-year or 100 000km warranty and a two-year or 30 000km service plan.

RIVALS

Renault Stepway Expression66kW/135NmR174 900
Renault Stepway Dynamique66kW/135NmR189 900
Toyota Etios Cross Xs66kW/132NmR194 300
Volkswagen Cross Up55kW/95NmR196 800

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/latest-launches/driven-in-sa-suzukis-sassy-lil-ignis-9492422
 
Made-In-India Maruti Suzuki Ignis Launched In South Africa; Priced From ₹ 8.52 Lakh

Having commenced exports with Indonesia earlier this year, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis is now heading to South Africa from the Indian automaker's Gurugram facility and was recently launched there.

Sold as the Suzuki Ignis in South Africa, the hatchback is priced between South African Rand 169,900-204,900 (around ₹ 8.52-10.27 lakh) and competes with the likes of Mahindra KUV100, Hyundai Grand i10 and Volkswagen Up!

Much like India, the car is available with the 1.2-litre petrol engine and two transmission options.

Suzuki does not have the Nexa premium chain of dealerships internationally and the Ignis is sold via the automaker's standard showrooms.

The hatchback is being in two variants - GL and GLX, with the GLX also getting the Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) option.

The GL trim gets power windows, remote central lock and 2-DIN system in place with USB connectivity.

The GLX trim, meanwhile, adds the fancy bits including 15-inch piano black finished alloy wheels, projector lights with LED DRLs, chrome accents, wheel arch extensions and roof rails.

In South Africa too, the Ignis and Grand i10 compete head on

The range-topping Suzuki Ignis GLX also adds auto climate control, start-stop button, height adjustable driver's seat, Bluetooth connectivity, four extra speakers and additional chrome finish.

Unlike India, the touchscreen infotainment system is optional on the Suzuki Ignis for South Africa.

Thankfully though, either variants gets dual airbags and ABS as standard, while you also get a 3 year/100,000 km warranty and a 2 year/30,000 km service plan.

With respect to power, the South African Suzuki Ignis uses the 1.2-litre K-Series petrol motor tuned for 82 bhp of power and 113 Nm of torque. Transmission include the 5-speed manual and AMT options sending power to the front wheels.

Launched in January this year in India, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis has been selling at an average of 5000 units every month.

The millennial car - as Maruti likes to call it, has found a liking in the country for its spacious cabin and long list features including the touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as the choice of AMT on both petrol and diesel.
Click to expand...

https://auto.ndtv.com/news/made-in-...south-africa-priced-from-rs-8-52-lakh-1704828
 
We need a local publication to do a review of the ~R7k extra infotainment system. I want to see if it's the exact same one as the fitted as standard to most specs of the Euro cars.
 
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Very quirky looking thing but a live rear axle ??? That is horrendous
 
Suzuki ignites mini-crossover market with new Ignis

Suzuki’s strength has always been its ability to produce compact and efficient cars with its Swift its best-selling model in SA for many years.

The Japanese automaker has been steadily expanding its range including with addition of its Celerio and Baleno.

Its latest model, the runner-up in the 2017 World Urban Car, has arrived in SA - the new Ignis.

Built on a shortened version of Suzuki’s lightweight platform used in the Baleno, the Ignis’ first weapon in its budget arsenal is its excellent power to weight ratio giving you 72kW/ ton. This platform also provides surprisingly good road-holding and handling prowess.

Past and present

From a design perspective, the Ignis borrows styling cues from Suzuki models, both past and present.

Head-on, I can see a shrunken version of the current Vitara. The clam-shell bonnet is a cue from the first Vitara and the three 'fake' gills on the C-pillar hark back to the real cooling gills on the Fronte Coupe from the early 1970s.

The Ignis has been launched with three derivatives all powered by a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder engine that performs duty in the Swift. With 61kW/113Nm powering only 850kg, good performance plus excellent economy are easy to achieve. Your choices are an entry spec GL in 5-speed manual guise only or GLX in either 5-speed manual or Suzuki’s own 5-speed AMT (automated manual transmission).

All versions sport similar safety levels offering two airbags together with ABS braking. The GLX tops the GL with items such as projection headlights with Daytime Running Lights (DRL), mag wheels, roof-racks and rear park distance control on the outside.

There are also some interesting colour options that include contrasting roof colours and maybe your own choice of some trim details to really make your new crossover your own.

Stepping inside to an interior that I can only describe as “funky” there are many stand-out features. Starting with colour-coded interior door panels and different bars instead of door handles (these can even be colour-coded to the exterior colour).

Features

Then you look at a very different facia with a large radio unit in the centre and a barrel styled air-con system which changes to full climate control in the GLX spec. GLX also gives you keyless-go and a start button plus electric windows all round. An upgrade available on all models is the touch-screen similar to the Baleno GLX and you can add this for R6500 plus VAT.

An aspect that stands out is the space inside, from the added interior height created by the crossover design to the excellent rear seat space as well, even with the driver’s seat set well back.

The steering column also offers height adjustment to help you achieve a perfect driving position. Another inspired “trick” is the extra wide opening of the rear doors. This may sound simple, but creates exceptional ease of entry and egress that amazes both young and old.

For a small, A-segment crossover, boot space at 260 litres is another surprise. This can be easily expanded by dropping the rear seats in a 60:40 split as well, and there's also a full-sized spare wheel.

On the launch, we drove GLX manuals and within the first few minutes I was impressed by the smoothness of the drivetrain and the ride. Small cars have a tendency to be 'bouncy' and choppy but not this latest Suzuki. It handles well along Du Toits Kloof pass, taking on hills and corners in its stride.

The extra ground clearance of 180mm proved itself on dirt-roads. Freeways are handled with ease and stability at the national speed limit on the chase back to the airport to catch our flight home.

The Ignis is launched into a fairly crowded segment although there is a lack of automatic transmission options among the competitors. A 3-year or 100 000km warranty and 2-year or 30 000km service plan are included with all models.

Prices

Ignis 1.2 GL Manual - R169 900
Ignis 1.2 GLX Manual - R189 900
Ignis 1.2 GLX AMT - R204 900

http://www.wheels24.co.za/Columnists/suzuki-ignites-mini-crossover-market-with-new-ignis-20170606
 
Watched the Ignition TV review. Lindsey was really impressed with the overall package & the character of the car.

The panel of experts then all agreed the 1.2 N/A works very well in the 850kg body; the R20k more for the GLX is totally worth it; plastics are hard but still solid; good safety features & spec & lastly the R15k extra for that robotized auto is not worth it.

All in all everybody was impressed with the charm of pricing of the new Suzuki newcomer.
 
Was at a Zuzuki dealer. They told me that the back seats can not move forward (to make more boot space). Are ours different from the overseas models in this respect?
 
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