By Malusi Msomi

Suzuki Auto South Africa its newest panel van, the all-new Suzuki Eeco. The model is designed for the efficient and safe transport of goods and is already a market leader in India, with close to a million units sold since launch. The new Eeco offers upgraded performance, design and safety features. The vehicle is 3,675mm long, 1,475mm wide, and has a wheelbase of 2,350mm. The Eeco is equipped with a 1.2-litre petrol engine that delivers 59 kW of power at 6,000 rpm and 104 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm.

The Eeco comes with a large roof-to-bumper rear door that opens upwards and two side sliding doors that can be operated independently. The load bay is wide and flat, offering a loading length of 1,620mm from the rear door to the start of the steel grid partition that is fitted as standard between the loading bay and cockpit. The vehicle has a certified load-carrying capacity of 615kg with two passengers and a full tank of fuel on board. The Eeco has a MacPherson strut front suspension and a three-link rigid rear axle for durability under load.

In South Africa, the Eeco is sold with two airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESP), rear parking sensors, a high-mounted stop lamp, an anti-theft immobiliser, side-impact steel beams in the front doors and three-point retracting seatbelts for both driver and passenger. Inside, the vehicle has a digital instrument cluster, a large polyurethane steering wheel, an air conditioner and a 12V power socket for charging phones and GPS devices. Two speakers and an antenna are provided in preparation for a radio.

For convenience, the Eeco has has wide-opening side doors, a wide rear luggage door and a low sill for easy loading and offloading. The focus on comfort has translated into large and easily adjustable side mirrors, large and wide front side windows for easy navigation in compact spaces and a high seating position. Suzuki says maintenance is easy, with the K12N engine well-known for its uncomplicated design and easy access to maintenance items.

The Eeco model is exclusively available in white and carries a price tag of R199 900, which includes a warranty covering three years or up to 100 000 km, and is sold by Suzuki’s 95 dealers across Mzansi.