Suzuki Ignis - little can do a lot
The past year has been a special one for the Suzuki brand. First, the premiere of the Baleno, then an updated version of the popular SX4 S-Cross and, finally, a new incarnation of the Ignis model. Recently, we were among the first to see this car. How it works?
Suzuki calls the Ignis an "ultra-compact SUV". Perhaps the term "SUV" would be a bit more appropriate, because aside from the number of wheels, the Ignis doesn't have much in common with an SUV. Its appearance is sure to cause controversy. If you were born at the turn of the 80s and 90s, then you probably remember a not very developing cartoon called "Motor Mice from Mars". Why am I mentioning this? One look at Ignis and the fairy-tale character is enough to see some similarities. The smallest player of the Japanese brand seems to be wearing a mask a la Zorro, in which one of the cartoon characters paraded. While the front end of the Ignis looks a little funny, you have to admit that it looks nice and original. Despite the size of the dishwasher, it tries to be massive, at least visually. The effect can hardly be called impressive, and it is unlikely that anyone will run away from a Japanese SUV. However, the LED headlights (only available on the Elegance trim level) give the front end a modern and, above all, interesting look. And the Zorro hood that some people see on the front of the car is definitely a factor that makes the Ignis memorable to some extent.
While the designers had enough inspiration and finesse in the front of the car, the farther to the rear, the worse it gets. There is nothing to cling to the B-pillar. But behind it we find an almost rectangular door, like an oven, and in the back of the car ... Hmm, what? Triple embossing (contrary to the first associations) is not the Adidas logo, but the hallmark of the Suzuki Fronte Coupe, a sports car produced in the seventies. The rear of the ultra-compact SUV ends almost vertically. It's like someone just cut off a piece of his back. However, the honor of the car is protected by LED rear lights, which, however, will again only be available in the Elegance variant.
Four or five people?
Suzuki Ignis is actually an ultra-compact car. It boasts a very small turning radius of 4,7 meters, which makes it comfortable in crowded cities. Despite being 15 centimeters shorter than the Swift, the passenger compartment offers very similar space. The rear seat may not be conducive to long-distance travel, but the 67-degree tailgate will certainly make it easier to access the second row of seats. From the Premium package, we can choose the Ignis in a four-seater version (yes, the basic version is five-seater, at least in theory). Then the rear seat is split 50:50 and has a system of independent movement of both seats. Thanks to this, we can slightly increase the space in the rear of the car, due to the already small trunk, which in the front-wheel drive version is only 260 liters (all-wheel drive will take almost 60 liters of additional volume). However, by choosing to fold down the rear seatbacks, we can get up to 514 liters, which will allow us to carry more than just a shopping net.
How did Suzuki take care of safety?
Despite the funky looks and size of the XS, the Suzuki Ignis boasts quite decent equipment. Power windows, heated front seats, satellite navigation or a multifunction steering wheel are just some of the goodies to be found on board this little one. The brand has also taken care of safety. The Ignis is equipped with, among other things, Dual Camera Brake Support, which helps avoid collisions by detecting lines on the road, pedestrians and other vehicles. If there is no response from the driver, the system issues warning messages and then activates the brake system. In addition, Ignis also offers an unplanned lane change assistant and a system that detects uncontrolled vehicle movement. If the vehicle moves from one edge of the lane to the other (assuming the driver is tired or distracted), a warning chime will sound and a message will appear on the instrument panel. In addition, the Ignis was equipped with an emergency brake signal that would use hazard lights to warn other drivers driving behind.
We are on our way
Under the hood of the Ignis is a 1.2-liter DualJet naturally aspirated gasoline engine. The four-cylinder engine was capable of generating 90 horsepower, which very willingly set in motion a baby weighing only 810 kilograms. The maximum torque of 120 Nm, although it does not make the heart beat faster, but the car accelerates quite briskly. In the all-wheel drive version, acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h takes 11,9 seconds. Front-wheel drive only - 0,3 seconds longer. In fact, behind the wheel it is felt that the atmospheric unit eagerly accelerates the light body. Interestingly, even at highway speed, you don't get the impression that Ignis is about to take off the ground. Unfortunately, segment A cars are often quite unstable at high speeds. In Ignis, there is no such problem - regardless of the speed, it rides confidently. Turning faster, however, is like turning a boat. The softly tuned suspension, combined with the high ground clearance and narrow track, doesn't make for quick cornering.
The question may arise - why is this funny little car from the A + segment generally called an SUV? Compact or not. Well, Ignis boasts a considerable ground clearance of 18 centimeters and an optional AllGrip all-wheel drive. However, Marek immediately warns him - Ignis is a roadster, like a ballerina from Pudzianowski. In fact, taking this kid to any more difficult terrain would be doomed to failure. The added drive, however, comes in gravel, light mud or snow, giving the rider more confident handling and peace of mind. The mechanism is simple - the viscous coupling transmits torque to the rear axle in the event of a slip of the front wheel.
Finally, there is the question of price. The cheapest Ignis with a five-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive and Comfort version costs PLN 49. By opting for AllGrip all-wheel drive and the richest version of Elegance (including LED lights, sat-nav, automatic air conditioning or Dual Camera anti-collision braking support), we already have a significant expense of PLN 900. From January, the offer will also include the 68 DualJet SHVS hybrid variant, the price of which will be PLN 900.
