Baby Suzuki ignites my fire

Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX MT road test

By Ané Theron

The Latin word ‘Ignis’ translates to ‘fire’ - yet this quirky little newcomer from Suzuki only displaces 1197cc. How fiery can the new Suzuki Ignis be, then?

The little Ignis is Suzuki’s answer to petite city-SUVs such as the Volkswagen Cross Up!, Renault Sandero Stepway, and the upcoming Fiat Panda 4x4, which, as the name suggests, promises actual off-road capability… but the proof of the pudding will be in the driving.

To me, the ‘Tinsel Blue’ Ignis’s most endearing feature is its little blunt-nosed face, with its friendly-looking grille-integrated headlamps , and LED ‘eyeliner’. In my brain, the Ignis immediately conjures up images of a spunky little ‘car’-toon character, going on intrepid adventures and getting into (and out of) all sorts of non-mechanical trouble.

As for the rear view, I am still making my mind up about that. It seems bottom heavy, like those gym-bunnies who grow the perfect set of glutes (wheel arches in this case) and hamstrings, but forget about the torso. I’m not saying it’s unattractive. It just pales in comparison to the funky and sophisticated front-end.

On the inside...

I took one peek inside the fresh and youthful cabin, and was promptly smitten. The linear layout, shiny and colourful finishes, tubular air-con controls, decent quality plastics and dual colour scheme had me ooh-ing and aah-ing. My mom (who drives a previous-generation Polo Vivo) loved it so much she immediately went online to look for demo models.

Tech & Spec

Being the higher-spec manual model, the 1.2 GLX MT comes loaded with kit. It gets alloy wheels (15-inch), roof-rails, LED projector headlamps with daytime running lamps, front fog lamps, rear parking sensors, satellite controls on the steering wheel (for the 6-speaker audio system with Bluetooth), folding mirrors, climate control, height adjustment for the driver’s seat and a keyless start button. Full specs can be viewed .

I struggled to pair my phone at first (Bluetooth is standard in all derivatives) but eventually I got it right, and that was that. But using the Ignis’s system to search for and call my contacts proved frustrating - it is very finicky accessing menus via the buttons on the radio fascia. Eventually I just asked Siri (on my iPhone) to call people on my behalf, which worked well.

Driving the Ignis ‘round town and beyond

What a pleasure piloting the cheeky Ignis around the city! It’s stable but light-footed, nimble yet also planted, plus you can almost park it with your eyes closed, thanks to its compact dimensions and rear sensors. Weighing in at a waif-like 850 kilograms, the 61 kW /113 Nm 1.2-litre engine makes the Ignis sufficiently swift, and the tiny powertrain’s audacious growl adds even more character. Steering wise, the feel and feedback is quite the opposite of what I expected, being on the heavier and more meaty side (it’s electrically assisted). It didn’t bother me at all when flitting through traffic, and maneuvering in and out of narrow parking spots - this is how I prefer it to feel, anyway.

Fiery spirit

Driving to Cape Town, I always take the scenic route and the Ignis acted like quite the little go-kart! An annoying Golf GTI-driver on my tail overtook me on a solid line, and then tried to shake me off over twisty Clarens Drive, but was unable to. It was partly because he’s a bad driver who can’t corner properly, but at the same time, it did sing the praises of the gymnast-like abilities of the little Ignis. You’d think the ride would be wallowy because of its 180mm ground clearance, but it’s not.

Spatial abilities

Even though the Ignis can’t quite compare with the interior dimensions/boot size of the Sandero Stepway, it’s still roomy for a little city-slicker, and has a full-size spare wheel in the decently sized (260-litre) cargo area. (The Stepway’s boot offers 292 litres.) As for the rear bench - only 2 primary school kids rode in the back for the week, but medium-sized adults won’t moan about lack of legroom. The middle seat only has a lap belt, though, while the Toyota Etios Cross (R194 300) has a three-point seatbelt in the centre.

Staying safe

Safety wise, there’s ABS with EBD (electronic brake distribution) and brake assist, as well as outer Isofix child seat anchorage points. 2 airbags are standard. The competition fares better in this department; the VW Cross Up (R196 500)  gets 4 airbags as standard, and the top-spec Stepway Dynamique (R194 444) as well. Both of these cars have traction and stability control too , which I think is very necessary, especially if you’re a new driver.

The 1.5-litre Toyota Etios Cross (with 66kW and 137 Nm) has pretty much the same safety spec as the Ignis: 2 airbags, ABS with EBD. Overall, the Ignis GLX has more convenience equipment, making it a better buy than the Etios Cross by quite a large margin. The Sandero Stepway Dynamique wins the spec race with its integrated touch-screen with TomTom satnav.

The final say

The Ignis is just so darn cute, and an absolute hoot to drive. If you’re not put off by the lack of traction/stability control and you’re happy with 2 front airbags only, by all means, go and test drive it. You’ll probably fall in love with it, and be willing to overlook the few faults that it has .

The numbers

Name: Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX MT

Price: R 189 900

Engine: 1.2-litre, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Power: 61 kW

Torque: 113 Nm

Seats: 5 persons, but 4 will be more comfortable

Fuel tank: 32 litres

Realistic fuel consumption: 5.8 - 6 l/100km

Luggage Volume: 260 litres

Ground Clearance: 180 mm

Warranty: 3-year/100 000 km

Service Plan: 2-year/30 000 km

Also consider: Renault Sandero Stepway, VW Cross Up!

Want to know more about the Ignis? Read Chad Lückhoff’s first drive impression here.