Suzuki S-Presso

REVIEW | SA's most affordable car finally empties its tank - Here's how much distance we covered

'R100, please'

As mentioned, the S-Presso is an all-round budget beater. And while it's true, the fuel return is a bit of a head-scratcher. Suzuki claims that its S-Presso 1.0-litre engine will return 4.9-litres for every 100km, and, on the 27-litre fuel tank, you should realise a range of 551km. Impressive figures, right?

Only we never realised it. After a month, the quirky S-Presso covered 318km on a full tank of fuel. This translates to an average fuel return of 8.5-litres/100km, not exactly a match for Suzuki's claim. One could put it down to city-driving, doing the essential shopping run, though. This means shorter stop-go trips, instead of longer driving on the highway which could result in a more frugal fuel consumption return.

So it's important to note that one's individual driving style, and conditions, plays a big role on your actual fuel consumption reading, and claimed automaker figures are always only a guide obtained from the most suitable conditions to produce low readings.

The upside, however, is that the significant drop in fuel prices accommodates your wallet more than you might think. With prices around R13.50, a R100 of fuel will add roughly 135km to this car's range.

Depending on how the lockdown plays out, we're hoping to take the S-Presso on a proper trip before returning the key.

Price: Suzuki S-Presso GL+ - R139 900

 
As mentioned, the S-Presso is an all-round budget beater. And while it's true, the fuel return is a bit of a head-scratcher. Suzuki claims that its S-Presso 1.0-litre engine will return 4.9-litres for every 100km, and, on the 27-litre fuel tank, you should realise a range of 551km. Impressive figures, right?

Only we never realised it. After a month, the quirky S-Presso covered 318km on a full tank of fuel. This translates to an average fuel return of 8.5-litres/100km, not exactly a match for Suzuki's claim.

One could put it down to city-driving, doing the essential shopping run, though. This means shorter stop-go trips, instead of longer driving on the highway which could result in a more frugal fuel consumption return.

The upside, however, is that the significant drop in fuel prices accommodates your wallet more than you might think.

With prices around R13.50, a R100 of fuel will add roughly 135km to this car's range.

Depending on how the lockdown plays out, we're hoping to take the S-Presso on a proper trip before returning the key.

Price: Suzuki S-Presso GL+ - R139 900


So, this 2020 Indian bargain-basement econobox is actually NO more fuel efficient than my 2008 Tata Indica LXi, which over the 4 & 1/2 years I have owned it, driven a total of 56,652 kms & used 4,923.31 litres, has returned the following fuel consumption figures:

Best: 6.92 litres/100 km (highway driving at 120 km/h)

Average: 8.64 litres/100 km (mix between city & highway driving)

Worst: 11.28 litres/100 km (city driving - around 3 hours to do 18 kms from Rivonia to Edenvale, during a monsoon-level thunderstorm, coupled with flooded roads, subsequent detours & power outages causing traffic lights to be non-operational for about 90% of the journey - I left at 15h20 & arrived home at around 18h10)

:whistling:
 
REVIEW | SA's most affordable car finally empties its tank - Here's how much distance we covered

'R100, please'

As mentioned, the S-Presso is an all-round budget beater. And while it's true, the fuel return is a bit of a head-scratcher. Suzuki claims that its S-Presso 1.0-litre engine will return 4.9-litres for every 100km, and, on the 27-litre fuel tank, you should realise a range of 551km. Impressive figures, right?

Only we never realised it. After a month, the quirky S-Presso covered 318km on a full tank of fuel. This translates to an average fuel return of 8.5-litres/100km, not exactly a match for Suzuki's claim. One could put it down to city-driving, doing the essential shopping run, though. This means shorter stop-go trips, instead of longer driving on the highway which could result in a more frugal fuel consumption return.

So it's important to note that one's individual driving style, and conditions, plays a big role on your actual fuel consumption reading, and claimed automaker figures are always only a guide obtained from the most suitable conditions to produce low readings.

The upside, however, is that the significant drop in fuel prices accommodates your wallet more than you might think. With prices around R13.50, a R100 of fuel will add roughly 135km to this car's range.

Depending on how the lockdown plays out, we're hoping to take the S-Presso on a proper trip before returning the key.

Price: Suzuki S-Presso GL+ - R139 900


Something just does not gel.
During lockdown I've driven my Swift Sport gently and carefully. No rush, no traffic congestion and with a fair mix of freeway and city bowl traffic.
I filled up yesterday and the consumption was 5,8l/100km.
My YTD consumption averages at 8,40l/100km and that includes some serious hooligan driving.
 
Well, at least the Fiat Multipla has finally been dethroned.
 
Though it looks fugly, it's got a kind of funky look to it, I think it's more aimed at the younger generation.
 
Though it looks fugly, it's got a kind of funky look to it, I think it's more aimed at the younger generation.

You mean it's aimed at those with really bad eye sight?
 
You mean it's aimed at those with really bad eye sight?
Hahaha :) nah younger people seem to like the look, which isn't too bad, I mean compared to thirdGen Micra or Multipla this isn't too bad, if you've ever seen the mean streets diecast car toys in the shops that look like this.
 
5 New Cars Under R3 000 p/m

Here are 5 new cars on sale now for under R3 000 per month over 72 months.

Times are tough and as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to thrash the local economy, many consumers have lost incomes and buying power. This will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the automotive sector going forward but there are also many consumers who are looking to buy-down in an effort to reduce costs. If your income is intact then now may be the best time to buy a new car as new car prices are expected to rise substantially in coming weeks months due to the continued weakening of the Rand. It's also worth noting that the reduction of the repo rate in April 2020 will boost car-buying incentive in the short to medium-term while also encouraging sales from consumers who were previously unable to make a purchase.

If you are a buyer looking for a new car priced under R162 000 and can afford to pay up to R3 000 per month over 72 months (6 years) then this list is for you.

As a minimum safety requirement, we have only included vehicles that feature a minimum of 2 airbags and ABS as standard, which conforms to the safety requirements for our #CarsAwards budget car category. The monthly repayment of R3 000 is calculated over 72 months with no deposit, no residual and the interest rate set at 10%.

1. Suzuki S-Presso - From R134 900

2. Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GA / GL – From R144 900

3. Mahindra KUV100 NXT K2+ – From R148 999

4. BAIC D20 1.3 Comfort – From R149 990

5. Renault Kwid 1.0 Expression - R150 900


 
Here's why the Suzuki S-Presso is a justifiable budget-beater in SA

After little over a month, the Suzuki S-Presso S-Edition departed from the Wheels24 garage.

In all, it's been an interesting time living with the newest edition to the South African new car market, and it has shown the spotlight on several points this car has to address.

The S-Presso, with its upright design, was launched in South Africa just a few days before lockdown came into effect. It was an enticing event, albeit one that took place on the automaker's social media channels.

The S-Presso was marketed as the new budget-beating car in South Africa, and with pricing starting at R134 900, it is difficult not to agree with Suzuki.

Five models make up the range, and we had the chance to sample the S-Edition manual. At R147 900, it is the second most expensive model in the range after the S-Edition automatic.

In summary

The S-Presso is a welcome addition to the market and will surely speak to an audience who wants a new car without breaking the bank. Does the S-Presso speak to that audience? The answer is a resounding yes!

From a financial point of view, the car ticks all the boxes without bringing a sub-par product to market. Build quality at this price-point is fair and should not rub new owners up the wrong way. The drivetrain - engine and gearbox - does not fall short in terms of what its competitors offer.

So, where does the car rank? The Renault Kwid is the sales leader for cars in this segment, but the S-Presso offers a more comprehensive package at a lower price. As more buyers become aware of the Suzuki and what it offers, there is every chance that it could surpass the Kwid as the number one choice.


Suzi 1.JPGSuzi 2.JPGSuzi 3.JPG
 
Here's why the Suzuki S-Presso is a justifiable budget-beater in SA

After little over a month, the Suzuki S-Presso S-Edition departed from the Wheels24 garage.

In all, it's been an interesting time living with the newest edition to the South African new car market, and it has shown the spotlight on several points this car has to address.

The S-Presso, with its upright design, was launched in South Africa just a few days before lockdown came into effect. It was an enticing event, albeit one that took place on the automaker's social media channels.

The S-Presso was marketed as the new budget-beating car in South Africa, and with pricing starting at R134 900, it is difficult not to agree with Suzuki.

Five models make up the range, and we had the chance to sample the S-Edition manual. At R147 900, it is the second most expensive model in the range after the S-Edition automatic.

In summary

The S-Presso is a welcome addition to the market and will surely speak to an audience who wants a new car without breaking the bank. Does the S-Presso speak to that audience? The answer is a resounding yes!

From a financial point of view, the car ticks all the boxes without bringing a sub-par product to market. Build quality at this price-point is fair and should not rub new owners up the wrong way. The drivetrain - engine and gearbox - does not fall short in terms of what its competitors offer.

So, where does the car rank? The Renault Kwid is the sales leader for cars in this segment, but the S-Presso offers a more comprehensive package at a lower price. As more buyers become aware of the Suzuki and what it offers, there is every chance that it could surpass the Kwid as the number one choice.


View attachment 839721View attachment 839723View attachment 839725

In a previous report Wheels 24 was rather perturbed about the fuel consumption.
And yet not a mention of this or anything about fuel consumption in this report.

Let's wait and see what Car magazine has to say about the S-Presso's fuel usage in the comparison test in the July edition.
Just as an interesting aside: Car magazine has never mentioned anything about the S-Presso in any of its earlier publications - never in the monthly "Upcoming models" of recent months, not in their annual "Next years new models feature" (December 2019) nor in the April 2020 edition that features Car Top 12 footnote of Budget Car <R185,000.
 
Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition (2020) Review

Fast Facts

Price: R147 900 (May 2020)
Engine: Naturally-aspirated 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol
Power/Torque: 50 kW / 90 Nm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Fuel economy: 4.9 L/100 km (27-litre tank)
Load space: 239 litres

Price and warranty

The Suzuki S-Presso range starts at R134 900, with this test unit costing R147 900. The new Suzuki S-Presso is sold with a 5-year/200 000 km warranty, 2-year/30 000 km service plan and 1 year's comprehensive insurance.

Verdict

In the budget-car market, car brands strive to offers products that offer consumers great value for money – with as few obvious compromises/feature-deletions as possible. We could write reams of copy about firms stiving for economies of scale and the intensive use of cost-cutting materials to keep unit-costs low. The attention to detail in efforts to save money on entry-level models is quite astonishing and the little savings all add up. For example, in the case of the Suzuki, there's just a single spray jet for the windscreen.

What's the best cheap new car in South Africa? The Suzuki S-Presso is not necessarily the answer; it has its share of faults, but at this price point, one cannot expect perfection and besides, most of its rivals have similar shortcomings. While the standard spec is good, it's only on par with its rivals. The 1.0 S-Edition has an enthusiastic little engine, which is certainly a boon, but is it great to drive? Good, yes. Great? Not quite. While it's adequate, it doesn't have quite the nice-to-drive characteristics of the Hyundai Atos.

Suzuki does have a pair of significant factors in its favour: the compact-car brand has a reputation for offering excellent after-sales support. As a 2-time Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank Brand of the Year winner, the Japanese marque offers commendable brand support/customer service, which is a big plus for first-time buyers.

What's more, the new S-Presso undercuts its competition on price. When you compare the 1.0 S-Edition to its direct rivals below, you'll find it's significantly more affordable than its opposition. Once we're in a position to do so, you can bet we'll line up a rumble between South Africa's cheapest cars to find out which one is best.


Suzuki-SPresso-12.jpgSuzuki-SPresso-10.jpgSuzuki-SPresso-13.jpgSuzuki-SPresso-14.jpgSuzuki-SPresso-16.jpgSuzuki-SPresso-1.jpgSuzuki-SPresso-8.jpgSuzuki-SPresso-5.jpgSuzuki-SPresso-2.jpg
 
Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition (2020) Review

Fast Facts

Price: R147 900 (May 2020)
Engine: Naturally-aspirated 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol
Power/Torque: 50 kW / 90 Nm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Fuel economy: 4.9 L/100 km (27-litre tank)
Load space: 239 litres

Price and warranty

The Suzuki S-Presso range starts at R134 900, with this test unit costing R147 900. The new Suzuki S-Presso is sold with a 5-year/200 000 km warranty, 2-year/30 000 km service plan and 1 year's comprehensive insurance.

Verdict

In the budget-car market, car brands strive to offers products that offer consumers great value for money – with as few obvious compromises/feature-deletions as possible. We could write reams of copy about firms stiving for economies of scale and the intensive use of cost-cutting materials to keep unit-costs low. The attention to detail in efforts to save money on entry-level models is quite astonishing and the little savings all add up. For example, in the case of the Suzuki, there's just a single spray jet for the windscreen.

What's the best cheap new car in South Africa? The Suzuki S-Presso is not necessarily the answer; it has its share of faults, but at this price point, one cannot expect perfection and besides, most of its rivals have similar shortcomings. While the standard spec is good, it's only on par with its rivals. The 1.0 S-Edition has an enthusiastic little engine, which is certainly a boon, but is it great to drive? Good, yes. Great? Not quite. While it's adequate, it doesn't have quite the nice-to-drive characteristics of the Hyundai Atos.

Suzuki does have a pair of significant factors in its favour: the compact-car brand has a reputation for offering excellent after-sales support. As a 2-time Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank Brand of the Year winner, the Japanese marque offers commendable brand support/customer service, which is a big plus for first-time buyers.

What's more, the new S-Presso undercuts its competition on price. When you compare the 1.0 S-Edition to its direct rivals below, you'll find it's significantly more affordable than its opposition. Once we're in a position to do so, you can bet we'll line up a rumble between South Africa's cheapest cars to find out which one is best.


View attachment 840685View attachment 840687View attachment 840689View attachment 840691View attachment 840693View attachment 840695View attachment 840697View attachment 840699View attachment 840701
Yup the Triber and Kwid also only have one nossle for the windscreen. My Cruze as well :-( only because the other was blocked 90% of the time though.
 
Has anyone on this forum bought an S-Presso.
I would love to read an actual experience of an owner.
In fact has anyone driven one of these?
Seven pages of paste.

Guys, i'm not trying to be awkward. I bought a Swift Sport and there is more than enough of my posts as to why I enjoy the car.
There are so many opinions of the S-Presso and yet there is no member who has driven the car or owns one.
Are we we here simply to view what journalists have to say about the car?
Go and drive the fcuking thing and tell us what you think of the car.
 
Last edited:
Has anyone on this forum bought an S-Presso.
I would love to read an actual experience of an owner.
In fact has anyone driven one of these?
Seven pages of paste.

so i haven't bought one, or driven one, but i went to view one - when investigating it i was quite impressed, but when viewing it i was a little bit underwhelmed. Imo you would have to go for the s-edition if you want the look and the bluetooth etc, which means it is R148k, not R135k, and that is before other fee's.

the build and finish left a bit to be desired, looked and felt plasticy and cheap. The trade in we had in mind was our picanto for the spresso, and frankly i think the picanto is better. only thing that really grabbed me was the "space" inside
 
Has anyone on this forum bought an S-Presso.
I would love to read an actual experience of an owner.
In fact has anyone driven one of these?
Seven pages of paste.

Guys, i'm not trying to be awkward. I bought a Swift Sport and there is more than enough of my posts as to why I enjoy the car.
There are so many opinions of the S-Presso and yet there is no member who has driven the car or owns one.
Are we we here simply to view what journalists have to say about the car?
Go and drive the fcuking thing and tell us what you think of the car.
Fiesta and others do us a great favour by posting car news etc on this here forums and save many of us the time of surfing the Web or possibly missing any updates.
I praise their efforts.

You are offcourse free to get off your lazy fat arse and test drive one.... Just saying.
 
Fiesta and others do us a great favour by posting car news etc on this here forums and save many of us the time of surfing the Web or possibly missing any updates.
I praise their efforts.

You are offcourse free to get off your lazy fat arse and test drive one.... Just saying.
Just saying... I would like to hear the actual opinion of someone who has driven one or who has bought one. Just like Steamy Tom has posted.
I'm very weary of motoring journalists opinion because they are there for a free lunch and drinks.
 
Fiesta and others do us a great favour by posting car news etc on this here forums and save many of us the time of surfing the Web or possibly missing any updates.
I praise their efforts.

You are offcourse free to get off your lazy fat arse and test drive one.... Just saying.

I agree that Fiesta does a fantastic job keeping us up to date.
I also wish we could have a few M&T subforums. Let @FiestaST handle the news, and then have a subforum for DIY, modifications, general banter...
 
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