| Suzuki Alto
Suzuki all-new Alto differs in many respects to its predecessor. The new 1.1-litre engine offers more power and better fuel efficiency. It gives a respectable return of over 57 mpg for the combined cycle. Standard equipment includes twin airbags, front electric windows and central door locking, reclining and sliding front seats; split, foldable rear seats; green tinted windows, Halogen headlamps, manually adjustable outside mirrors, and immobiliser. As with all Suzuki vehicles the new Alto is covered by a 3-year/60,000 miles warranty and a 3-year roadside assistance programme. The old model sold around 50 units a year: Stars: N/A |
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| Suzuki Ignis
This is NOT the AWD it makes shapes to appear. But it hasn’t done too badly for a niche model here, and it might do better if they drop the Swift and offer the one-litre engine as an option, it could become a reasonably hip and roomy entry-level chariot for young people on their way to persuading insurance companies not to rip them (and their arms and their legs) off. Alto won’t attract them, neither will Wagon R+, but this could keep them going until they can rise to a Jimny? Stars: 4/10 |
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| Suzuki Wagon R+
It’s a square box, but that’s the most efficient shape for carrying things or people, and this little mini-MPV is just great in such endeavours. It comes from a joint venture with its GM partner. At the moment there are 1- and 1.3-litre petrol options, that first an economical power unit, but if you go for the bigger one you’ll get much more pep and not a lot of penalty. We can expect sometime in the coming year that the 1.2-litre diesel coming out of another GM joint venture with Fiat will be added to the list, and certainly on mainland Europe is bound to be a winner. Brits don’t like it, but it sells steadily here in the mini segment. I prefer the Opel version. Stars: 5/10 |
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| Suzuki Swift
Seems to have been around since the car was invented, doesn’t it? And its 3-cylinder 1-litre engine, once fairly up with the technology, must now be feeling its age. Yet the power unit is still quite economical, and people I know who have driven them for years swear by them. Maybe, though, they’re getting fewer, because sales are well down. But it is even cheaper than the new Alto, and gives you a bigger car for the money, so you never know. I don’t think I want to, though. Stars: 3/10
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| Suzuki Liana
Now here both in four-door and five-door, the former replacing the Baleno at rather a price premium over the old saloon. The specification for the 1.3-litre GL model includes dual airbags, electric windows and mirrors, and central locking, while the 1.6-litre GLX model has, in addition, side airbags, air conditioning and ABS as standard. for both 4-door models are the same as the hatchback models. The saloon particularly is quite a tidy performer, especially if you go for the larger engine. But the price then is too close to a Corolla or Focus saloon, and it takes a Suzuki aficionado to go for the Liana. There are enough of them that there will always be a customer. Stars: 6/10
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| Suzuki Jimny
Jimny is the smallest of Suzuki’s 4x4s, of which kind of vehicle it is the biggest manufacturer in the world, and looks cute in an 80s kind of way. Its performance in the mudlands is pretty OK, though, and at the same time it doesn’t drink your wallet dry in normal driving. The 1.3-litre engine is tough and reliable and very willing, while the price puts it in the affordable for fun class. A diesel upcoming, that 1.2-litre Fiat/GM unit we’ve mentioned many times recently. Stars: 4/10 |
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| Suzuki Grand Vitara
If Suzuki was to be in the motor business for no other reason, this is it. There are 3- and 5-door body styles available, the former being short and better for the boulevard than long trans-terrain travelling, though we reckon it will likely take you anywhere you want to really go. The 5-door suffers somewhat from a cramped rear passenger area, though there are some others around which have similar problems - a longer version is on the cards as soon as it comes available with a diesel. Engines are 1.6- and 2-litre petrol, and a 2-litre turbodiesel. Although I like it, it does show its age when driven on the road, with a jiggly ride that used to be the mark of all these things though most have since found new suspension parameters. Stars: 6/10 |
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