Automotive & Transport

ROAD TEST – Suzuki Ignis Hybrid

Suzuki Ignis Hybrid

By Ian Strachan

Suzuki’s small crossover vehicle – the compact Ignis – has always been frugal on fuel. But in its latest hybrid iteration it’s even more economical, with CO2 emissions well below 100 grams.

The Suzuki Ignic Hybrid has a petrol-sipping 1.2 litre unleaded engine, helped by an electric motor which kicks in when your foot is off the accelerator. The result is fuel economy of almost 66 miles to the gallon in mixed driving.

The Ignis uses light, high-tensile steel to keep weight, and therefore fuel consumption, down to a minimum, even without the electric motor. But despite its small car frugality it sits quite high on the road, giving it a purposeful ready-for-anything stance.

The Ignis I tested was powered by a four-cylinder 1.2  90 bhp petrol engine, which, even without electric assistance, has good economy and range and sprightly performance.

The engine, linked to a five speed manual gearbox, never feels overworked or in need of a sixth cog. It’s as brisk as you need and will take just over 11 seconds to propel you from 0-60 mph.

The Ignis has a crisp, well laid out and comfortable interior with a splash of colour on the door handles. It’s large, light and roomy. Seats are comfortable and supportive and instruments are clear and well laid out. The whole of the interior feels spacious, pleasant and light – a nice place to be. It’s one of those cars which feels bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside.

The Ignis gives you a stable and safe ride, with little or no body roll on cornering despite its height. The car feels glued to the road, but still provides light handling and driver involvement. I tested the front wheel drive version – an all-wheel drive variant is also available.

Equipment levels on the Ignis in the SZ5 trim level I tested are high, with all-round electric windows and door mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, automatic air conditioning, navigation system with touch screen display, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and USB sockets, rear parking  camera, cruise control, steering wheel-mounted controls, 50/50 split rear seat, automatic headlamps and front fog lamps. The Ignis 1.2 SHVS in SZ5 trim level comes at £14,499.

All in all this is a good package which looks the part and can certainly turn heads despite its compact size. Plus you get the satisfaction of miserly fuel consumption.

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