TMW - The Suzuki Ignis, another brilliant small car from Suzuki, the brand that specialises in small cars.

Well, today seems to be the era of SUV and small cars, an area that Suzuki dominates, the small car range is one of the best that you can buy, from the Celerio, Swift, Baleno and this the Ignis, a name that’s from its past, but placed onto a brilliant new car, and one that deserves to take the sector to new heights.

This car is not very big from the look of it, but it is really like a TARDIS, for those Dr Who fans, there seems to be so much room inside, that five adults CAN sit in reasonable comfort, or four adults for a longer journey, at less than 4m long and less than 1.8 m wide, you can quite clearly see that it is a small car, but that’s not just its IP.

This car can come with a mild hybrid system, and a four wheel drive set up too, with auto and manual, and a 1.2litre engine as fitted to our car.

Let’s start with the exterior, it is different, and vastly likeable, it looks chunky and capable, which it is, the oversized headlights, LED projector are like a pair of eyes, the lines of the car flow through to the back where there is a louvered look to the C-Pillar, it gives the car a different look and one that suits it very much.

it then follows around to the back where the boot is sharply cut off, which unfortunately gives the boot a small amount of room, an extra inch or two would have made all the difference, but this is what you get for the money, and at £14,464 for the top of the range with optional paint, you get a lot of car for that money.

The nice and well suited black alloy wheels along with the white paint really go together very well, once inside, the dashes of orange break up a dark interior, an interior that's well positioned with lots of toys and kit.

The seats we found are very comfortable, but our only concern is the side bolsters are not supported, they feel like they are just shaped foam, which over time will go flat and make the seat covers floppy, but as a loan car, they are very suitable and comfortable.

You can manoeuvre the seats and steering wheel enough to get you a near perfect position, once there everything is at hand, you do not need to stretch for buttons or switchgear, and the touchscreen tablet, which is similar to Mercedes, in the way it is just attached to the dash rather than be a full part of the dash, has everything near and handy, and very easy to use.

The sat nav is a little slow; well to be honest the entire tablet is very slow with PIONEER on screen for ages before it comes to life, once there all is good, with plenty of options onscreen to play with.

The rear seats are suitably comfortable, and four can sit there in comfort for longer journeys, with five able to sit for shorter ones, anything longer and the three adults in the back would get uncomfortable, quickly.

The boot space is ok, it can take a couples weekly shopping, or with the seats down you get far more room to put bigger amounts of luggage etc.

Once on the road the 1.2 litre can easily keep up with motorway traffic and can overtake with ease too, the car has a top speed of 106mph, but at 11.4 seconds to 62mph, it is a tad slow, but once wound up, it’s a great car, it has a raspy engine note that sounds very sporty, but once in top gear, and you are cruising, that note seems to disappear and it becomes a nice quiet environment, the fuel consumtion of the 1,2 litre is

·       Urban 57.6mpg

·       Extra Urban 70.6mpg

·       Combined 65.7mpg

Are these achievable, well, no, no matter how I drove the car I could not get the in-car display to get anywhere near the indicated figures, but I did get an over all of 50.4mpg, and that included local, city and motorway driving, as well as a long distance journey to the SMMT event at Millbrook.

The clutch is very, very, light, I struggled for the first couple of days to get the biting point just right without slipping it too much, but by the time it came to give the car back, I was able to change gear nicely.

The car has a vast array of standard kit and equipment, to make it a safe and easy car to drive, these include but not limited too

·       AllGrip Four Wheel Drive

·       16” Black Gloss Alloys

·       Rear Privacy Glass

·       Wheel Arch Extensions

·       Navigation System

·       Bluetooth

·       Steering wheel Controls

·       Auto Air Conditioning

·       Automatic Light

·       Automatic Wipers

·       LED Daytime Running Lights

·       Double height luggage area floor

·       DAB Radio

·       Twin USB Socket

·       Electric windows all round

·       Information Display

·       Keyless entry and start

·       TPMS

·       Engine auto Start/Stop

·       Cruise control

·       And far, far, more

The Ignis is a brilliant car; there is no getting away from that, Suzuki really does know what they are doing when it comes to design and implementation of small cars and SUV’s, the Ignis generated a number of comments from other journalists and even one of my neighbours come across to enquire about it, and thought it was a really nice car.

CONCLUSION

Ok, it’s not short of issues, with the main one being the tablet, it is just far too slow, ignore that and you have a car capable of doing everything you need of it, even going off road, not in the style of a Land Rover but its able to take rough ground in it’s stride and just waft over it.

It’s a car that will suit a number of people, from the single person, couples, or even with kids, its not a full five up long distance cruiser, the rear seats passengers would not be that comfortable for long.

I have had a number of cars and the Ignis is one I miss, it was fun, even when the car stopped it’s self because some moron walked out into the road, the car braked and stopped before I had the opportunity to think about it, and that was amazing, all cars should have this fitted as standard, it would stop a lot of rear end shunts and pedestrian accidents.

END OF YEAR UK - SUZUKI - a large increase in sales means teh brand beats 2015 by a significant margin.

Suzuki is very pleased to announce a record year of sales in the UK with a closing figure for 2016 of 38,190 units, surpassing an already healthy 2015 figure by over 3,700 cars and almost doubling its UK sales volume of just five years ago. Suzuki currently has a 1.42 per cent market share and sits just outside the top 20 manufacturers in the UK.

Sales of the Vitara Compact SUV reached more than 11,500 units for the year, this was largely due to the major success of Suzuki’s ongoing TV campaign with Ant and Dec together with the addition of the S model with 1.4-litre Boosterjet engine. The S model accounts for over 18 per cent of Vitara sales in the UK.

Celerio was 10 per cent ahead of expectation for the year with sales of 8,400 units, this was bolstered by the addition of the SZ2 model at £6,999 and with low Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) rates available from just £79 per month.

Dale Wyatt, Director of Automobile comments: “We are really pleased with our record figures for the year and this proves once again the ever growing popularity of the latest range of cars and the strong relationships our 158 strong dealer network has with our customers. Our ongoing research shows that more than 65 per cent of prospective customers who visit a showroom and take a test drive will buy a new Suzuki.

The future looks bright for 2017 too with the launch this week of the stylish IGNIS Compact Crossover as our latest and most technically advanced model in the range, we are aiming to sell more than 6,000 units as incremental volume, attracting new buyers to the brand.”

Standard equipment for all IGNIS models in the range is comprehensive and the SZ3 model includes six airbags, air conditioning, DAB radio with Bluetooth, 15-inch wheels, body coloured door mirrors, front electric windows and five seat capacity.  IGNIS is available in 11 colours with full personalisation options available for both exterior and interior trim.

IGNIS is available with SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) which lowers CO₂ emissions to 97g/km and also offers ALLGRIP ‘AUTO’ four wheel drive on the SZ5 model. First introduced for the Swift, this is a well proven and simple fully automatic and permanent four-wheel drive layout which transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required via a viscous coupling.   

As an additional safety feature on the SZ5 model, Dual Camera Brake Support (DCBS) is fitted which utilises stereo cameras located on each side of the drivers interior rear view mirror. These function in a similar way to the human eye and detect lane markings as well as objects ahead (including pedestrians) and also their distance away. This new feature has enabled the IGNIS SZ5 to be awarded Five Stars in the latest NCAP tests

Suzuki launches the All-New Ignis in the UK and Ireland, and expands the brands new model presence.

• All-new IGNIS compact crossover model – on sale in the UK and Republic of Ireland from January 2017.
• Available in SZ3, SZ-T and SZ5 grades; priced from £9,999 for SZ3, £11,499 for SZ-T and £12,999 for SZ5 with two wheel drive.
• 90hp 1.2-litre four cylinder Dualjet engine offers CO₂ emissions of 104g/km and combined fuel consumption of 61.4mpg.
• Available with Suzuki’s SHVS mild hybrid system (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) offering latest technology with CO₂ emissions of 97g/km and combined fuel consumption of 65.7mpg.
• Available in 11 colours with full personalisation options available for both exterior and interior trim.
• Six airbags, Air conditioning, DAB Radio and Bluetooth fitted as standard on all IGNIS models.
• SZ-T adds sliding rear seats, satellite navigation, rear view camera, wheel arch extensions, side mouldings and roof rails and 16-inch alloy wheels.
• SZ5 adds auto air conditioning, LED headlights with LED DRL, Dual Camera Brake Support and Cruise Control.
• SZ5 available with ALLGRIP ‘AUTO’ 4WD system.
• UK sales plan of more than 6,000 units in 2017 – 35,000 for Europe.

Suzuki Motor Corporation unveiled the new IGNIS for Europe at the 2016 Paris Motor Show as its new global compact crossover and it clearly demonstrates convenience and comfort in a stylish new exterior. It exudes Suzuki DNA from every pore, while at the same time introducing an entirely new design with unique character.

In addition to its stylish exterior design in a compact size of just 3,700mm long, the IGNIS features excellent visibility, a spacious cabin and ample luggage space. The development goal was to create compact crossover styling that is undoubtedly Suzuki.

Under the ‘SUZUKI NEXT 100’ plan announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015, Suzuki  developed a new platform strategy for its future models and the IGNIS is the second model (following Baleno) with this new generation platform to be introduced in Europe.

This new platform targets the reduction of weight as well as further increased rigidity and the lightest IGNIS model has a kerb weight of just 810kg.

Exterior design

The impressive shape of the IGNIS body begins with the distinctive front face that integrates the striking gaze of the LED headlamps and the strong lines of the front grille. It continues with the robust shoulders that suggest strength whilst utilising a simple design that at the same time presents a familiar, lovable expression. It also inherits the first-generation Cervo’s (SC100 Whizzkid ) slit-like ‘C’pillar design cues and also the Swift’s distinctive blacked out ‘A’ and ‘B’ pillar design.

Interior design

In addition to its simple yet unique design, the characteristic image of the IGNIS is further enhanced by its interior ambience. The round shape of its air-conditioning system’s panel and the advanced feel of its distinctive instrument cluster design combine to give the cabin environment a futuristic look.

Depending on the choice of exterior colour, orange and metallic titanium accent colours add an extra touch of quality to the cabin and help establish an active image that befits a crossover.

Capacity

Adopting Suzuki’s new generation platform strategy minimised the size of the engine compartment which has enabled maximising the space available for cabin occupants and luggage. Within its compact body size, IGNIS features a roomy and comfortable cabin with ample space between occupants, ample headroom and legroom contributing to its relaxing environment.

Another feature is large-capacity luggage space of 267L (SZ3), (204L for ALLGRIP model utilising a rear differential). It also adopts sliding rear seat functionality that, combined with the ability to fold down the rear seatbacks, makes it possible to accommodate a wide variety of luggage.

Specification Highlights

Standard equipment for all Ignis models in the range is comprehensive and the SZ3 model includes six airbags, air conditioning, DAB radio with Bluetooth, 15-inch wheels, body coloured door mirrors, front electric windows and five seat capacity. 

SZ-T adds satellite navigation, rear view camera, 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, wheel arch extensions and four seat capacity with individually sliding rear seats. SZ5 adds auto air conditioning, Dual Camera Brake Support, keyless entry and start, rear electric windows, LED Headlights with DRL and front foglamps.

IGNIS is available in one solid colour, five optional metallic colours and five two tone colours whereby the roof colour on all is Super Pearl Black Metallic.  

Pricing - UK

Model	Transmission Type	CO2  Emissions	OTR Price	Metallic Paint Single-tone	Dual-tone Paint	VED Band	VED 1st Year
1.2 Dualjet SZ3	5-speed manual	104 g/km	£9,999	£465	£650	B	£0
1.2 Dualjet SZ-T	5-speed manual	104 g/km	£11,499	£465	£650	B	£0
1.2 Dualjet SZ-T AGS	5-speed automated manual	104 g/km	£12,299	£465	£650	B	£0
1.2 Dualjet SHVS SZ5	5-speed manual	97 g/km	£12,999	£465	£650	A	£0
1.2 Dualjet SZ5 AGS	5-speed automated manual	104 g/km	£13,799	£465	£650	B	£0
1.2 Dualjet SHVS SZ5 ALLGRIP	5-speed manual 4x4	106 g/km	£13,999	£465	£650	B	£0

Pricing – Republic of Ireland

Model	Transmission Type	CO2  Emissions	RRP	Metallic Paint Single-tone	Dual-tone Paint	Road Tax
1.2 Dualjet SZ3	5-speed manual	104 g/km	€12,995	€370	€750	€190
1.2 Dualjet SZ-T	5-speed manual	104 g/km	€14,495	€370	€750	€190
1.2 Dualjet SZ-T AGS	5-speed automated manual	104 g/km	€15,995	€370	€750	€190
1.2 Dualjet SHVS SZ5	5-speed manual	97 g/km	€16,495	€370	€750	€180
1.2 Dualjet SZ5 AGS	5-speed automated manual	104 g/km	€17,995	€370	€750	€190
1.2 Dualjet SHVS SZ5 ALLGRIP	5-speed manual 4x4	106 g/km	€17,995	€370	€750	€190

1.2-litre Engine and SHVS.

Suzuki first introduced its 1.2-litre Dualjet technlogy (K12C) in 2014, initially in the Swift, and then utilised in the Baleno SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) in June 2016. In summary, Dualjet incorporates Suzuki’s engine technology and uses twin fuel injectors for improved fuel economy. Dualjet design positions the fuel injectors very close to the engine inlet valves which allows for a finer fuel atomisation (or mixture).

Available on the SZ5 manual model, the SHVS mild hybrid is a compact and lightweight unit that incorporates an Integrated Starter Generator (known as ISG) which acts as both a generator and starter motor, the ISG is belt driven and assists the engine during vehicle take off and acceleration and also generates electricity through regenerative braking.

The SHVS system only uses its conventional engine starter motor when first started from cold, under all other conditions it uses the ISG unit to allow smooth and quiet engine restarts.

The energy assistance provided during acceleration enables the SHVS to be known as a mild hybrid system which is ideally suited to a compact car and adds just 6.2kg to the overall weight. In the new IGNIS the SHVS system helps Suzuki reach a top class CO₂ emissions figure of 97g/km plus achieve a fuel consumption figure of 65.7mpg on the EC combined cycle for the 2WD model.

4WD (ALLGRIP AUTO)

The new IGNIS adopts Suzuki’s ALLGRIP ‘AUTO’ four-wheel drive system and is available on the SZ5 model. First introduced in Swift, this is a well proven and simple fully automatic and permanent four-wheel drive layout which transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required via a viscous coupling.   

Enhancements to the IGNIS ALLGRIP system include Hill Descent Control and Grip Control. Grip Control activates on slippery surfaces at speeds of less than 18mph. Once switched on by the driver, it focuses torque on the driven wheels that have grip and will quickly apply braking to the wheel that is spinning.

Safety equipment

The IGNIS adopts Suzuki‘s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) concept that provides a high level of collision safety. Some of the features include collapsible structures that absorb impact energy in the event of a collision, a frame structure that effectively disperses impact energy, and rigid cabin structure.

As an additional safety feature on the SZ5 model, Dual Camera Brake Support (DCBS) is fitted which utilises stereo cameras located on each side of the drivers interior rear view mirror. These function in a similar way to the human eye and detect lane markings as well as objects ahead (including pedestrians) and also their distance away. This new feature has enabled the IGNIS SZ5 to be awarded Five Stars in the latest NCAP tests.

Convenience

The IGNIS SZ3 model has a fixed rear seat and the luggage area has a capacity of 267 litres (VDA) with the rear seat in its upright position. On SZ-T and SZ5 models the two individual rear seats can slide 165mm to provide either greater luggage capacity or more rear passenger leg room; additionally, the seat backrests have a two position recline function. The luggage capacity increases to 514 litres with both rear seats folded and can be as high as 1,100 litres if fully loaded to the roof line.