Suzuki Ignis drive by Steve Rogers
Imagine England taking the field for the Euros final with just seven players,
It didn’t work out with 11 on the pitch but would have been a nightmare with four of the best players watching from the sidelines.
So spare a thought for Suzuki which has been forced to drop four models from its line-up. The problem is the UK’s strict zero emission rule which forces manufacturers to ramp up EV sales between now and 2030 when they must hit 80 per cent. In the meantime there is a £15k hit for every ICE car outside the limit.
Suzuki has not enough hybrid models to meet the target so Ignis, Swift Sport, Swace and Jimny are being phased out, possibly by the end of the year if the stocks are gone.
UK director Dale Wyatt told me the move will make room for EV growth from the end of next year. For now the sales focus is on new Swift and the three SUV models, Vitara, S Cross and Across.
Axing the funky Ignis is a big blow. It has been a favourite since arriving here in 2017 winning loads of awards and could easily have survived another decade or more. It is the standout model of the Suzuki range with character and charm, as well as being remarkably roomy for a car with tiny dimensions. Definitely a mighty midget.
My friend who is just shy of six feet could not believe the amount of legroom in the back seat for a car that looks so small. There is a bit of flexibility here because the back seat is on runners so take your pick of max legroom or more space in the boot. As a small SUV Ignis gets that little bit of extra height so headroom is generous as well.
The eye-catching body styling is mirrored in the cabin. The biggest moan will be the swathes of hard black plastic, which marks too easily, but Suzuki has cleverly introduced visual features to pep up the overall look the best of which is the full width ivory indent along the dashboard.
Against the opposition, which numbers the likes of Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen UP, the little Suzuki fares well, even stealing a march on its rivals with a four wheel drive model. The Allgrip system is highly efficient but it pushes the price up to £20 grand, quite a lot for a small car, so unless you live on a snow-capped mountain I would opt for the cheaper front wheel drive. It also eats into boot space losing 56 litres to the two wheel drive.
Ignis has upgraded the hybrid system with a 12V electric motor giving a small increase in acceleration, lower engine emissions and smoother stop/start system. It can’t match the 60 plus economy of some hybrid rivals yet it made a good fist of it. My average over 450 miles in the Allgrip model was 59.6mpg, way ahead of the official figure.
Drop a 1.2 litre into a car weighing just 895kg and you could reasonably expect sprightly performance but Ignis is a bit underwhelming. It needs to be worked in the gears especially on hills where it quickly runs out of puff.
On the road is a mixed bag. The short wheelbase, narrow track and 16in wheels means it can be unsettled on poorer surfaces and there is a good bit of road noise, yet it is still fun to drive.
Equipment across the range is good with keyless entry, rear camera, smartphone links, and LED headlights on the list (unusual at entry level). Some of the safety features, like lane departure and collision alert are warings rather than interventions.
Push the boat out for the range topping SZ5 and you get navigation, cruise control and automatic air conditioning.
I have been recommending Ignis since my first drive in 2017 and will be sorry to see it go. Of course there will be used Ignis on the forecourts but if you want a new one best to get the order in soon.
Fast facts
Ignis SZ5 Allgrip
£19,949 (starts £17,949)
1.2 litre petrol; 83bhp
0-62mph 12.8secs; 103mph
52.4mpg combined
121g/km. 1st VED £210
Insurance group 15
Boot: 204-1086 litres
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