Suzuki Ciaz, the business sedan on a budget
"Business sedan.” Not really what springs to mind when you hear the word Suzuki, now is it? Well, it should be, if you're money-savvy and perhaps saving for a deposit on an apartment or house. Who needs a premium sedan if you can get by with something decent that will cost you much less every month?
Pros
- Upmarket looks
- Plenty of comfort spec
- Massively spacious on the rear bench
Cons
- No ESP
- Only two airbags
- Only a lap belt on middle rear seat
Styling
A fresh new look and engine was bestowed upon the Ciaz with its facelift in April. New headlamp clusters with automatic LED headlamps and integrated daytime running lights were added on the GLX model. (The GL has new halogen projector headlamps.) The elongated headlamps that 'flow' into the painted black grille creates a visually sleek and purposeful look.
On the GLX variant, the trapezoidal air intake is flanked by LED fog lamps with decorative chrome garnish. 16-inch polished chrome alloy wheels are standard on the GLX models. At the rear, the GLX's integrated LED combination lamps remind me of the 2016 BWW 3 Series models. The Ciaz is a good-looking car and it has a more expensive look and feel to it than you'd expect in this price range.
Related: Suzuki Ciaz vs. VW Polo sedan vs. Nissan Almera
Interior
The Ciaz is truly massive on the inside and supremely comfortable, even if the driver's seating position feels a little high at first (and adjustment is limited). The front fascia is dominated by the screen of the Smartphone Linkage Display Audio system which offers Miracast, Mirrorlink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto screen mirroring functionality.
The plastics and trim in the cabin are of good quality — the only budget bits are the two slightly flimsy-feeling air-con dials underneath the screen. The leather steering wheel has satellite buttons for cruise control, voice control, and making calls via your selected phone app or bluetooth.
The leather-covered central armrest cubby is quite small but sufficient for keys, ID books, or a phone.The binnacle underneath the air-conditioning switchgear has a 12V powers socket but only one USB port. I would immediately purchase a USBto plug into that socket, as a singular USB port just isn't practical anymore, even for one person.
All in all, the cabin is straightforward, functional, and quite a comfy space to spend time in. I did not want for anything except that extra USB port, so I could plug my Mi-fi in for music streaming while using Spotify on Apple CarPlay.
Space and comfort
The Ciaz is ideal for traveling long distances, even with unnaturally tall passengers on the rear bench. Even with the driver's seat moved all the way to the back, there was still around five centimetres between my knees and the seat back in front (and I am 1.72 cm tall). The GLX models have standard leather seats; a feature not often seen in this segment — it sure isn't standard in the Polo sedan. I wish there had been a three-point seatbelt in the middle, because there is plenty of space for another adult passenger in-between as well as leg/head/elbowroom for miles. The door cards in the front and back have plenty of space for a large bottle and other bits and bobs, even a paperback novel or notebooks for drawing. The boot is a lovely large 480 litres vs. the Polo sedan's 454.
Related: Safety comparison: Nissan Almera vs Toyota Corolla Quest
Safety
The Ciaz is fairly well-equipped (but not quite as well as I had hoped), with two airbags, ABS, EBD, and brake assist, which helps you to brake harder in emergency situations. There's no traction/stability control which is unfortunate — The Polo sedan 1.6 Comfort line (From R260 800) has this feature as standard. Hill-start assist is optional in the Volkswagens but absent in the Ciaz range. The Polos all have four airbags as well. In the rearview camera/park distance control department, the Ciaz wins. It's standard in the GLX while it's optional in the Polo sedan.
Related: Is the VW Polo good for families?
Drive and performance
The Ciaz's new non-turbo 1.5-litre engine is refined and feels more punchy than its 77kW figure suggests. Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, it's perfect for city driving, and not even at highway speeds did I feel frustration at the lack of a sixth gear. I did miss hill-start assist when pulling away at Cape Town's steep inclines, though.
Fuel economy
One of the Ciaz's best features is its light drinking habits. Your fuel goes a long way in the Ciaz so if you want to save even more money every month, it's definitely a car worthy of your consideration. Our trip computer showed an average of 5.9 litres per 100 km on the day I returned the Ciaz to Suzuki's kind people. If you mostly drive around in town, 600 km from a tank is about the going rate. When travelling further and at the national speed limit of 120 km/h, 800 km from one 43-litre tank is attainable. Your driving style will ultimately dictate the Ciaz's fuel consumption, but it's never going to burn a hole in your pocket, even if you do have a heavy right foot.
Related: How to work out your car's fuel consumption
Price
The handsome Ciaz is often overlooked as most people shopping in this price range usually opt for the Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline with a starting price of R216 300 and the above-mentioned 1.6 Comfortline. The Ciaz is perhaps not quite as safe as the Polo but it has more standard mod cons and a standard 3-year/100 000 km warranty and 3-year 60 000 km service plan. (The Polo has a 120 000 km warranty but a 3-year/45 000 km service plan is optional.)
Related: You can still find the now-discontinued Polo Vivo sedan in our used car section here.
The verdict
The Ciaz is a fabulous first or second car for a young professional who values budget but who doesn't want to skimp on quality, and it looks a little different from everything else that's out there. Definitely one to shortlist.
Related: Honda Ballade vs Hyundai Accent vs. Suzuki Ciaz
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