Suzuki Ignis Review 2024

Suzuki Ignis At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
With some clever engineering, the Suzuki Ignis offers a decent amount of interior space for a little car that looks like a scaled down SUV. And if you opt for the AllGrip 4x4 version, it'll also deliver the goods off-road as well as happily buzzing round town.

+Distinctive styling. Low running costs. Available with all-wheel drive. Surprisingly spacious rear seats.

-Some flimsy interior plastics. Currently expensive compared to rivals. Poor infotainment system.

New prices start from £16,249
Insurance Groups are between 11–18
On average it achieves 93% of the official MPG figure

With its distinctive styling, cleverly packaged interior layout and economical 1.2-litre hybrid petrol engine, the Suzuki Ignis is a surprisingly sensible alternative to city cars like the Volkswagen Up. But it also provides an extra bit of crossover character and - surprisingly - the option of all-wheel drive for those who need a small 4x4 with some (but not lots of) off-road capability. 

Despite being very compact in size, the Suzuki Ignis has a spacious cabin. There's enough head and shoulder room in the back row for a couple of adults to sit in reasonable comfort and boot space is respectable for such a little car, at 267 litres. That's enough for trips to the shops, plus the rear seats can be folded to increase capacity to 1100 litres - though they don't fold flat.

The Suzuki Ignis originally came with a 90PS 1.2-litre 'Dualjet' petrol engine that's shared with the Swift, but in 2020 this became mated to a mild-hybrid system. It adds an integrated electric motor that helps with acceleration and delivers a fuel economy of 56.9mpg. The little 83PS unit is a fun, revvy and surprisingly economical engine with a good reliability record. 

It might be a perky performer, but the steering isn't great and there's some body roll through bends. The suspension provides a reasonable level of ride comfort, but over rougher and broken road surfaces it can feel harsh and bouncy. It's not bad, but nor is the Suzuki Ignis as sharp or as fun to drive as the Volkswagen Up and its counterparts from Skoda and SEAT.

Suzuki's dropped the entry-level SZ3 from the range since it launched back in 2017, leaving just the SZ-T and higher-spec'd SZ5. The SZ-T comes with manual air-conditioning, DAB radio, 7-inch touchscreen, USB connectivity and Bluetooth, while the SZ5 builds on this with luxuries like keyless entry, climate control and cruise control, along with active safety technology.

If you want to avoid the typical small car choices, the Suzuki Ignis is a quirky-looking alternative with more character than its rivals. But it's also well-equipped and cheap to run, so as outside choices go it's very sensible. It might not be quite as good to drive as an Up, but there's still plenty to recommend it.

Ask Honest John

How can I keep my new car in the best condition?

"This month, I’m taking delivery of my first ever brand new car - a Suzuki Ignis. Thanks to Suzuki’s seven year or 100k warranty, subject to T and Cs, involving getting the car serviced from an authorised dealership, I plan to keep it for at least seven years. My question is what steps should I take, both inside and outside of the car, involving protection applications, to keep it as much as possible, in its new car status? "
Other than sticking to the servicing schedule to ensure the warranty remains intact, the best thing you can do to keep your Ignis in the best condition is to keep it garaged when not in use. Paint protection can delay the signs of paint ageing but it is not as effective as keeping the car out of the elements completely.
Answered by David Ross

What's the best car for poor condition roads as well as a motorway commute?

"I live in a rural location which means lots of rough roads and potholes, but I commute a 70- mile round trip to work on a motorway, often at rush hour. I don't do much city driving. I want something around four years old, economical and small that can cope with the bad roads but has speed to overtake for around £12,000. I initially looked at SUVs and test drove a Diesel Dacia Duster 1.5 dCi but it felt light and not in touch with the road. It was a bit lacklustre. Now I think i want a small car like an Aygo, an Ignis or Citigo but I am overwhelmed by the varying reviews. Can you advise?"
This is quite a difficult set of attributes to find in a single car. You say you want something small and economical like a Toyota Aygo or Suzuki Ignis, but cars like this don't tend to come with powerful engines for overtaking, nor are they best-suited to motorways and rough rural roads. We would suggest a small SUV with a diesel engine, giving you the ability to cope with rough roads but with a useful turn of speed and good fuel economy. For your budget we would look at the Mitsubishi ASX, as it is relatively compact, comes with a choice of two- or four-wheel-drive and 1.8-litre or 2.2-litre diesels engines depending on the year. Alternatively you could try the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross, which is also available with a diesel engine and is well equipped. if you want something smaller, look at a Suzuki Ignis.
Answered by David Ross

Can you recommend a small automatic car for an older driver?

"Due to limited shoulder mobility my mother (in her late 70s) needs to replace her beloved 2008 Fiat Panda manual with an automatic car. She's never bought or chosen a car as her late husband always did this. And she hasn't driven any other car for over 10 years so any change will be a challenge. Her replacement car needs to be as small as possible (she's very used to being able to manoeuvre the Panda in small spaces) but five-door, with a high driving position and easy (not low) to get in and out of. Plus, reliable, simple and comfortable to drive - and, of course, economical. Ideally, as many safety tools and toys as possible e.g. cameras/sensors etc. Although she doesn't have or use sat-nav at the moment she can see its benefits and could be persuaded/taught to use it, if it was built in and very easy to use. Most of her driving is now short daily journeys on country lanes but this car needs to be economical and safe on faster roads too. (Ultimately, once she stops driving this may become the 'learner' car for her grandchildren.) Should she stay with petrol? Or consider a hybrid/electric? Or is that too unreliable living in a rural area with cold mornings for most of the year? Do you have any advice or suggestions on what make/models to look for or avoid? "
If you are buying used, the Suzuki Ignis auto. It is 3.7 metres long and just 1.7 metres wide, so it'll feel quite similar to your mother's Panda. What's more, with the Ignis sitting higher from the road than a normal hatchback, it's easy to get in and out of. A mid-spec SZ-T comes with touchscreen navigation and a rear parking camera. The Hyundai i10 is another impressive small car that's offered with an automatic gearbox. It's a comfortable small car that's well-equipped as standard and backed by a five-year warranty from Hyundai.
Answered by Dan Powell

Replacement car ideas for my 21-year-old Corolla?

"I have had my car, a Toyota Corolla, for 21 years. And much as I would like to keep it, it is coming to the end of its life. To this end, I was hoping that you could advise me as to what replacement would be suitable. I now live in a fairly rural area that is subject to large puddles in heavy rain and would like something that is a bit higher off the ground to cope with these - not in the Land Rover class though. My current car is a manual drive, an aspect which I would like to keep. I now drive a lot less than I used to, approx 2000 miles a year, but would like to keep to a petrol model and not higher than 1.3cc. Something that could take all-weather tyres would be good as well. I don't think I would be able to afford a new car, but do have a budget of up to £8500. What do you recommend I buy? If I haven't complicated any suggestions you would make by my list above, I look forward to hearing from you. Andrea"
We'd recommend a Dacia Sandero Stepway. It's a hatchback with a raised ride height and punchy 0.9-litre petrol engine. It represents excellent value for money, with your budget stretching to a 2017 or 2018 model. Also take a look at the Suzuki Ignis – it's smaller than the Sandero, but a quirky little car with a relatively high seating position.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Suzuki Ignis cost?