Suzuki Ignis 2017 car review

Some of you may already be familiar with the Ignis but don’t worry if it doesn’t ring a bell. Back in 2006, the Ignis design and framework contributed towards a popular 3 door sport and 5 door hatchback.

Incorporating design cues from then and way back, there is absolutely no doubt that the all-new IGNIS stays strong to the Suzuki heritage. The slits in the C-pillars are styled from the 1970’s Fronte coupé and the headlight positioning is inspired by the first generation Cervo. Blacked out A and B-pillars are inherited from the Swift, while the clamshell-shaped bonnet and guard garnish reference the original 1988 Vitara SUV.

The Ignis is very light but strong and it’s all thanks to the new chassis design which boasts a 10% increase in rigidity over similar sized vehicles. The 1200cc Dualjet engine pushes the vehicle along nicely while using very little fuel. This is due to the genius twin injector, double overhead cam, variable valve technology.

Comfort and features galore

Two models are available – the GLX and LTD. The GLX has five seats while the LTD gives you four - the two rear seats instead offering sliding and reclining capabilities. This shouldn’t affect many buyers and it was actually nice to experience sitting in a rear seat with plenty of extra space.

Standard features for the GLX are as you’d expect, with the inclusion of cruise control, speed limiter and Bluetooth connectivity. For an extra $2k, the LTD model adds climate control air conditioning, keyless entry with push button start, Bosch touch-screen with Sat Nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a reversing camera. In addition to this, you also get auto-levelling LED projector dusk-sensing headlamps, LED daytime running lamps and privacy glass for the rear windows and glass hatch. So, by spending the extra cash, you do get quite a healthy return on investment.

Bring on the funky

Customers can personalise both the exterior and interior of the Ignis with blue, grey, orange or red interior colour accents, which can be applied to the lower centre console, door trim and air vents. A two colour, interior finish is complemented by a glossy body colour. If you pick a red or white LTD model, you can even opt for a black roof.