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8<br />
Thursday <strong>March</strong> <strong>14</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
Tiny SUV packed with pep and personality<br />
ALONG WITH the new<br />
generation Jimny and the Ignis<br />
are the funky, fun and affordable<br />
members of the otherwise staid<br />
Suzuki NZ model line-up.<br />
They are the smallest new<br />
SUVs sold but have giant sized<br />
personalities. Alongside the<br />
popular Swift hatch, they are<br />
driving the brand’s continuing<br />
strong sales growth.<br />
With a unique design and<br />
trendy, yet slightly retro,<br />
appearance, the Ignis made a<br />
triumphant return in 2016 after<br />
a long absence, having an almost<br />
immediate and positive impact.<br />
Distinctive SUV looks, a<br />
roomy cabin, plus sharp pricing,<br />
meant it ticked a lot of boxes for<br />
those on a budget.<br />
Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />
The Ignis gets runs on the<br />
board right away with its cute<br />
front end, chunky wheel arches<br />
and eye catching angled roofline.<br />
I like how the styling touches<br />
pay homage to previous Suzuki<br />
models from the mists of time.<br />
These include the “C” pillar<br />
slits from the 1970s Giugiarodesigned<br />
Fronte coupe, while the<br />
clamshell-shaped bonnet and<br />
guard garnish are a nod to the<br />
original 1988 Vitara SUV.<br />
The three-strong model lineup<br />
leads off the $22,990 GLX<br />
manual with a $1500 premium<br />
for the automatic. The higher<br />
spec LTD reviewed here is only<br />
available as an automatic sells for<br />
$26,500.<br />
A 1.2 litre 4-cylinder, 16-valve<br />
Ratings out of 10: Performance 6 Handling 7; Build Quality<br />
7; Comfort 6; Passenger and Load Space 6; Styling 7; Value<br />
for money 7; Safety – No ANCAP crash rating.<br />
Overall points out of 10: 7<br />
Incorporating<br />
best motorbuys<br />
www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />
double overhead camshaft engine<br />
is common across all three<br />
models. This multi-point fuel<br />
injected power plant has variable<br />
valve timing technology and<br />
produces 66kW and 120Nm of<br />
torque at 4400rpm.<br />
Dualjet engine technology<br />
engine reduces emissions. It does<br />
this brilliantly, with the manual<br />
producing just 107 grams per<br />
litre of CO2, and the automatic<br />
slightly more at 1<strong>14</strong> grams per<br />
litre. These figures better several<br />
hybrids costing considerably<br />
more than the humble Ignis.<br />
While these aren’t the<br />
ingredients for fire breathing<br />
performance, the engine<br />
has sufficient flexibility and<br />
responsiveness to satisfy most<br />
owners without sending their<br />
pulses racing.<br />
Acceleration is lively and the<br />
motor shows far more tenacity<br />
than its modest capacity would<br />
suggest. However, at higher revs<br />
it does become coarse and lumpy.<br />
The automatic in the test car<br />
proved smooth and efficient in<br />
lower speed urban driving. At<br />
open road pace it’s less agreeable,<br />
proving slow to kick down under<br />
hard acceleration when you need<br />
that extra burst of power.<br />
The cabin is modern, inviting<br />
and offers a decent amount of<br />
space for a diminutive hatch.<br />
There is plenty of head and leg<br />
room for both front and rear<br />
occupants, while good ground<br />
clearance makes it easy to enter<br />
and leave.<br />
The LTD is well appointed<br />
with cruise control, power<br />
steering, electric windows and<br />
electric mirrors. A computer<br />
displays fuel consumption, sixspeaker<br />
audio system, Bluetooth<br />
audio-streaming and hands-free<br />
calling.<br />
Playful and surprisingly<br />
composed road holding are<br />
a good fit with the vehicle’s<br />
effervescent personality.<br />
However, being taller and<br />
narrower than other cars in<br />
this class, body lean enters the<br />
handling frame sooner when<br />
nudging things along through<br />
tight corners or over undulating<br />
terrain. This only becomes worse<br />
if you continue to unreasonably<br />
push the vehicles handling<br />
limits. A plus for urbanites is<br />
the vehicle’s excellent turn-ona-dime<br />
4.7 metre turning circle,<br />
that makes light work of U-turns<br />
in narrow streets.<br />
Vaughan Pirie<br />
owner operator<br />
027 565 5577<br />
vpbaeries@gmail.com<br />
www.vpbaeries.co.nz<br />
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