• Funky looks. • Very customisable. • Generous equipment levels.
• Ride not totally unruffled. • GLX loses middle-rear seat. • Divisive rear-end.
Suzuki reimagines the compact-hatch.
The first Suzuki Ignis, which came about in the year 2000, was a weird little thing that no one could quite understand. It was hatchback small, but had chunky styling like an SUV. It also rode higher, like a crossover, but had the dimensions of a compact 5-door. So what was it? It was a great idea that came too soon.
The new Ignis, with its cool-as-cucumber looks and perk dimensions, seems to be exactly what buyers in this segment demand: Elevated driving position, great practicality, a compact exterior, and enough customisation options to ensure your little crossover isn’t like anyone elses. This might just be one of the most interesting new cars of this year, so let’s take a look in what exactly the new Ignis is.
Exterior
“Style is core to the Ignis' appeal. Following in the footsteps of the larger Vitara, the Ignis offers a range of dress-up trims for the grille, fog light bezels, and alloy wheels in white, orange, or blue plus mirror caps in white, orange, blue, red or black to allow customers to design an Ignis that is uniquely theirs.” - Drive
Funky, bright, and fresh, the Ignis will definitely stand out in any shopping mall carpark. The lights, set into a full-width grille, give it an ‘Emoji’ sort of face. The grille inserts, fog lamp surrounds, and even the headlight surrounds can be changed to suit your preferences, which can make the car look even cheekier. Door mirror caps can also be changed for further individualisation.
The design of the Ignis actually carries links to other Suzuki models: The clamshell bonnet is from the Vitara, the blacked pillars from the Swift, and the tri-slat C-pillar design is from the Fronte sports car. All in all, it’s an adorable little thing; So benign is its design that if one were to tailgate you, you’d likely smile than lose your temper at it. It’s too cute.
Engine & Drivetrain
“The only engine available for the 2017 Ignis is a 1.2-litre four-cylinder atmo petrol engine. It can be mated with a CVT transmission across both specs, while the five-speed manual is only available in the base-model GL.” - Wheels
At present, the sole engine of choice for the funky Suzuki is a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder, that offers 66kW and 120Nm. All that power gets sent to the front wheels, either through a five-speed manual or a continuously variable (CVT) transmission (both available on the entry-level GL, while the GLX is automatic only).
While it may not seem like much, the Ignis’ 865kg weight means that it’s more than enough for most uses. Around town, the engine is willing and peppy, though it can get a little noisy when you’re on the motorway. The CVT automatic may be a bugbear for some, but in this application (granted with a few driving style changes) the infinite-ratio transmission is an ever-willing companion.
Interior
“The effect is mix-and-match style like you’d find in a Mini at a fraction of the price, and with all parts dealer-fitted rather than built on the production line a customised Ignis can be yours in a matter of weeks, rather than waiting months for a car to be shipped from the factory.” - The Motor Report
The very best cars on this end of the segment have, largely, been sharply-priced cars that don’t feel like they’re too value-driven. These cars have to do their best to offer a posh, plush cabin without the prices that come with such things. And one of the tricks that manufactures have discovered is that offering a good degree of personalisation usually increases the feel-good factor in a card exponentially.
That is certainly the case in the Ignis. While the materials employed are of the hard-wearing but tough-feeling variety, the cabin design is funky enough to never have you feeling shortchanged. Standard equipment is generous, though the GLX does offer niceties like a cool-looking digital climate control system. The personalisation options available here are pretty good do, with would-be owners able to personalise different panels in the car in different colours to express their individuality (or add a dash of colour to the black/white colour scheme).
Behind the Wheel
“It’s an engine that has no issue with being pushed… Mind you, the rest of the car isn’t so keen.” - Autocar
There’s a certain agility in the Ignis that’s due in part to its short wheelbase. The ridiculously low weight also makes it seem a little pointy, though it’s not going to win any awards. That said though, the Ignis has a ride that makes it feel more like a bigger car on the road. It handles undulations and bumps with a poise you don’t usually get in this class, which makes it a surprisingly strong candidate for small, young families.
If you want a fun driving experience behind the wheel, we suggest you look elsewhere. Like the rest of the Ignis, it’s clear that it’s taken a very practical approach to motoring, making it the perfect all-rounder. It also has a ridiculously small turning circle, and when matched with its tiny overhangs, it’s supremely easy to park. It’s a city car, and it excels as such.
Safety & Technology
“Curiously, the GLX has just two seats in the back, while the entry-level GX offers seating for three (no doubt uncomfortable) rear passengers.” - Drive
As the Ignis is very new, it has yet to be awarded an ANCAP rating. However, the safety equipment list is long, so we’re guessing it’ll do well. Six airbags, electronic stability and traction control, seatbelt pretensioners, and a rear-view camera come as standard, while the CVT models come with hill-hold assist. There are ISOFIX tethers in the back on the outer seats; Speaking of which, the smart 50:50 folding, sliding, and reclining rear seats in the GLX model means that it’s a strict four-seater, while the entry-level GL can (just about) make room for 5. Logical reasoning, or just quirky? You decide.
All Ignis variants come standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit (replete with smartphone mirroring), Bluetooth connectivity, and a three-year 100,000km warranty. The GL gets four speakers, while the GLX boasts six.
Verdict
When the Ignis nameplate once stood in place of the Swift, the new car sets itself apart. The Ignis is about youth, adventure, and personality, and while the Swift is hardly a humdrum-mobile, it certainly seems so in this company. Unique traits like the raised ride height and excellent visibility means that the Ignis is almost peerless, but it realistically has to compete with more traditional hatchbacks in the segment, like the Holden Barina and the Toyota Yaris. And if it’s a little funk you’re after, the Ignis won’t disappoint.
Our pick of the range is the generously-equipped GL automatic, which tacks on just about all the things you could need out of this funky ‘light crossover’ without breaking the bank. Of course, the GLX has more visual flair (both inside and out), and if that’s your bag, it’ll serve you brilliantly.
Drive - 70/100 - “There's a very real chance that as buyers turn away from traditional hatchbacks, Suzuki will have a future hit on its hands - but more than just its SUV looks, the Ignis will delight with cool styling, a range of personalisation options, and a comfy and well built interior. Match that with decent handling, and Suzuki's reputation for hard-wearing quality and the sensibly priced and well featured Ignis should lure plenty of value-focussed buyers looking for an added dose of style and practicality compared to your average light hatchback.”
Wheels - 60/100 - “The Suzuki Ignis has charming first-impressions thanks to funky good looks on the outside and a well packaged interior. However, digging a little deeper exposes some holes in the light SUVs façade where Suzuki hasn’t quite been able to connect the dots.”
CarAdvice - 80/100 - “On first impression, the Suzuki Ignis does a lot of things very well. It’s a little pricier than you might think, but it offers great infotainment, a cool and flexible cabin, crossover-style ground clearance and an edgy design in a range of bright colours that’ll turn more heads than a Fiat 500.”
WhatCar UK - 90/100 - “The Suzuki Ignis is a dinky SUV that’s well-priced and neatly packaged. Only its stodgy handling and so-so interior quality let it down.”
AutoExpress UK - 80/100 - “The Suzuki Ignis is a likeable and stylish little crossover no matter what spec, and this 2WD 1.2-litre version the sweetest of the lot. Revel in the distinctive looks and the amount of space, equipment and fun you get for such a small outlay.”
Autocar UK - 80/100 - "It doesn't quite live up to any of [its] rivals' on-road dynamics, interior quality or infotainment systems. Yet if you bear in mind the Ignis's very generous standard equipment and outstanding space and practicality, it certainly has something they don't. We await official prices and NCAP crash results, but for now, this little Suzuki is a far bigger deal than it might first appear.”
Car Magazine - 60/100 - “The new Ignis doesn’t move the game on in any demonstrable way, but its main advantage is its price. There aren’t too many cars around that offer this blend of low running costs, realistic space for four and a list price that’ll even keep Dacia honest. Just don’t expect the thrills to match up with the fun styling.”
