By Clive Funizwe

Compact SUV! An oxymoron – that if you sit in the updated Suzuki Ignis GLX MT that we were in recently – will be clearer than the misty cold mornings we have been finding ourselves waking up too. The first thing you notice when you look at the Ignis is the tall body with a straight roofline. This allows for ample head rood for both the front and rear passengers. Doors open to an almost right angle which is very wide and practical, especially for parents who will be fitting in a car seat or loading large items in the car. Enter the rear and you’ll notice that the front seats are raised which allows the rear passengers to slide their feet and stretch their legs reaching underneath the front seats without any hassles. The seats maybe a touch softer – but overall, they are supportive, and the cloth upholstery feels robust.

Interior

Upfront the interior is also roomy and ergonomically laid out that pleases the muscle memory of any driver who has been driving for some time. Everything is where it should be, barring the screen that is slightly off-centre in relation to the centre console. If you have OCD like some of us – it might make you feel a little twisted. Either than that small niggle, the interior, remains fresh and practical. Its contours line up perfectly along with how the upholstery and overall finish fits together. This is not to say you won’t find plastic materials which are ubiquitous in the automotive space as they are here, but you do get a brilliantly executed cabin and reassuring build quality. There is a sense of occasion in how everything is laid out and functional. We are very pleased with this model.

The car is well spec’d too. As stated above, we are in the GLX MT which is priced at R216,900. The derivative comes with a touchscreen, multi-functional steering, hands-free phone control, gear shift indicator, key-less entry and push start system, driver seat-belt reminder, front electric windows and rear-view camera and parking sensors. The Ignis also comes with Smartphone linkage display audio through USB + Bluetooth. Safety features include a security alarm, SRS front dual airbags, ABS and EBD, all of which we were lucky to not have tested.

Drive

Driving the Ignis is a joy and a relaxing experience. The 1.2L is good for 61kW, which feels more than adequate in the 1280kgs weight of the updated Suzuki Ignis. Gear shifts are smooth and paddle feedback has the right amount of weight. Road noise and ride quality is amongst the best in the class. We manged a healthy average of 20.1kms/per litre (4.9l .100kms).

There is no doubt that the refreshed Ignis is a top contender in its segment. It feels like it has a lot of life in it and that any to be buyer will be hard pressed to look else where to top the value proposition of the Ignis.