As you are probably aware I tested the Suzuki Baleno which was good car but the looks were…’interesting’. As well as bring the Baleno name back, the Ignis is back as well and I have to say it looks good. It looks fun and cheeky like a Suzuki Swift, it just looks happy.
In fact, the styling has actually been inspired by the last generation of the Swift as well as the first generation Cervo and first generation Vitara. The new Ignis is a compact crossover which has been built on newly developed suspension to help deliver excellent handling and Suzuki knows something about handling – see the Swift for details.
Offered from next year, the Ignis will be powered by a 1.2 litre DUALJET which is coupled with Suzuki’s Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki to offer greater fuel economy. Customers will be able to choose either a five-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed Auto Gear Shift (AGS) transmissions. Four-wheel drive is also available if you fancy taking this cheeky chappy in to the rough parts of the land – no I mean the countryside, not Brixton.
As well as new suspension, the Ignis uses a platform of lightweight and strong high-tensile steel to offer a high level of rigidity whilst offering a dynamic driving experience. Safety is also one of Suzuki’s priorities – features such as Dual Camera Brake Support, lane departure warning and weaving alert come as standard on the new Ignis.
Also standard, is a touchscreen display which can offer navigation (once a sim has been installed), Bluetooth, smartphone integration and USB ports. Air conditioning is also on offer but let’s face it, a car that doesn’t come with air con is almost unheard of nowadays. 14 body colours are available, including three new shades – Flame Orange, Neon Blue and Helios Gold. It looks pretty good in the white though if you as me.
Prices are yet to be confirmed but Suzuki expects to get this happy-go-lucky compact crossover in showrooms early next year.