Suzuki Celerio (2015 – 2019) Review

There was certainly a lot of value packed into the Suzuki Celerio city car when it was launched in 2015. There wasn’t any pretence at this being a premium model, and its key selling point was its affordability, which still holds true as a used purchase. However, the Skoda Citigo and clever Honda Jazz do the same with more appeal. Read on for our full Suzuki Celerio review.

On the face of it, there’s very little to say about the Suzuki Celerio. It is ordinary to look at and doesn’t grab any headlines – other than when it suffered a problem with its brakes not long after launch that was quickly resolved.

But delve a little deeper and you will start to find the appeal, because this little car comes with everything most drivers need and not a lot else.

Standard equipment on the base model included a CD player with DAB radio, Bluetooth and a USB port, along with alloy wheels, electric windows and even air-conditioning.

There is space in the back for two adults and an impressively sized boot for such a small car. 

The main engine is a 1.0-litre petrol with 68PS. This was joined by a revised Dualjet engine from April 2015, which has the same power figure but with improved economy and lower emissions. 

However, the Suzuki Celerio has its flaws – the engine is coarse when driven hard and there is a noticeable amount of wind noise at motorway speeds.

It is easy to see where costs have been cut inside. The dashboard, indicator stalks and air-conditioning controls feel dated and less durable than they do in other models from the brand, such as the Suzuki Swift.

Still, the major controls are feather light and road manners are good. There’s plenty of grip and ride quality is decent.

Factor in the generous standard equipment, and it’s easy to make a case for the Suzuki Celerio as an excellent-value used car.

It might not be a class leader among city cars, but for those who want sensible motoring at a good price it could be just the ticket.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar’s Suzuki Celerio review here.

The ride quality in the Suzuki Celerio is generally good. The suspension is compliant and comfortable over most surfaces, although sunken manhole covers or potholes do intrude rather noisily into the cabin.

The handling, meanwhile, is safe and predictable, with more than enough grip from the front wheels.

The Suzuki Celerio isn’t really at home on motorways, though. Speed isn’t the issue – a downchange frees up enough power to overtake trucks – but the wind and engine noise can quickly prove tiresome.

A short dual carriageway trip won’t be a problem, but long-distance journeys at high speed really aren’t its forte.

As you would expect, it is much more comfortable in town where the light steering, easy gearchange action and small size come into their own, making the car easy to park.

It is happy on B-roads, too, with enough pep to keep up with a 60mph limit. It’s only above that speed that things get loud.

All Suzuki Celerio models get a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with 68PS.

Initially this engine offered 65.7mpg, but from April 2015 that figure improved to 78.4mpg thanks to a new Dualjet version, which was offered alongside the existing unit.

They might not be especially powerful, but the engines are peppy enough for town work or accelerating up to motorway speeds.

The smooth, light clutch and gearlever make the Suzuki Celerio effortlessly easy to drive, but the engine does make a fair amount of noise when pushed hard.

For those who need an automatic transmission, there is an automated manual called AGS, which offers the same emissions and economy as the standard manual.

It is a little cumbersome compared to a traditional automatic, however, so is best avoided unless you really must have it. 

When Euro NCAP tested the Suzuki Celerio in 2014, it achieved a middling three-star rating overall.

The car was mostly let down by its safety assist score of just 38 per cent, reflecting the fact that it does without many of the safety systems that were standard or optional on its rivals.

As standard, all models are fitted with six airbags – driver and passenger ones, plus side and curtain airbags. But there is no knee airbag for either of the front occupants.

There are two Isofix points in the rear seats, plus seatbelt pre-tensioners and load-limiters for those in the front.

ESC traction and stability control is standard across the range, but automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition or lane assist are not available at all, even as options.

When the Suzuki Celerio was introduced to the UK, a problem with the brake pedal was detected on the first batch of cars, leading to an immediate recall for remedial work.

All cars sold will have had the upgraded parts fitted or been rectified at the factory, but it is worth checking with a dealer for complete peace of mind.

The Suzuki Celerio is not the first car you think of when considering towing, and for good reason.

It can pull up to 400kg, but that’s your lot, so it’s really only useful for a quick trip to the local tip.

The Suzuki Celerio’s five-door-only body means access to the back row of seats is good, and they offer plenty of legroom and headroom, even for adults.

The simplicity of the exterior design frees up plenty of space within for passengers and luggage; it might not make it especially pretty, but it pays dividends when you’re actually putting stuff in it.

Up front, it’s the headroom that impresses most, with the high roofline making it possible for almost anyone to get comfortable.

There’s plenty of adjustment for the front seats so you can stretch out and get comfortable. Shoulder room is a little less generous, but that’s hardly a surprise given that this is a relatively narrow car.

Getting a good driving position should be easy for almost anyone though, with the gearlever mounted unusually high up in the centre console, putting it nice and close to the steering wheel, while the pedals are well spaced too.

The Suzuki Celerio actually has three rear seatbelts, but fitting three adults in the back might be a stretch. Children old enough not to need kiddy seats should be able to fit, though.

Legroom and headroom are also good back there – the roofline barely dips down towards the rear of the car, which is a big plus. It’s certainly one of the most spacious city cars around.

The good news continues when you get to the boot too, with 254 litres of capacity available with the rear seats in place. Drop the rear seats and this goes up to 726 litres.

It’s easy to see where the costs have been cut, with cheap switches, flimsy plastic door coverings and a dashboard less durable than is typical of Suzuki models.

You can tell this is a car that has very much been built to a budget. 

There’s a single infotainment system available on the Suzuki Celerio. The basic provision is a CD radio with DAB (plus FM/AM) and Bluetooth, so you can stream audio as well as make and receive phone calls.

On Suzuki Celerio SZ3 models, this system comes with just a pair of speakers, but if you go for the higher-spec Suzuki Celerio SZ4 variant you get an extra pair of speakers to bring the total to four.

There are basic buttons on the steering wheel for operating the phone set-up, but the biggest issue is the display and the control system.

Whether it’s trying to find a DAB station or scrolling through a playlist from your phone, using buttons and switches to do this while looking at a small display is a frustrating experience.

A budget of £4000 will comfortably see you driving off in a Suzuki Celerio that is nine years old and has covered fewer than 60,000 miles.

For a five-year-old example, you will pay up to £9500 for a Dualjet-powered version with a very low mileage. Reckon on 10,000 miles at this price point.

Whether you choose the 1.0-litre petrol engine with the manual or automatic gearbox, the Suzuki Celerio claims combined economy of 65.7mpg.

Our Real MPG data shows the manual gets close to this with 61.6mpg, but the auto is almost bang on target with its 64.9mpg.

Opt for the 1.0-litre Dualjet and it claimed up 78.4mpg; our info says it can reach 70.2mpg. That makes for undeniably cheap motoring.

What’s more, all Suzuki Celerios have sub-100g/km carbon dioxide emissions. For cars put on the road before 1 April 2017, this means there is no road tax to pay at the time of writing. For later cars, the road tax burden is £190 per annum.

When it comes to insurance, the Suzuki Celerio sits in group 7 (out of 50) regardless of which model you choose.

And servicing promises to be cheap, whether you visit a Suzuki dealer or a trusted independent garage.

The Suzuki Celerio SZ3 comes with a tyre pressure monitor, remote central locking, electric front windows, rev counter, gearshift indicator, 12-volt socket, manual air-conditioning, USB connection, DAB radio with two speakers, Bluetooth and 14-inch alloy wheels.

The Suzuki Celerio SZ4 trim adds polished alloy wheels, four-speaker audio, body-coloured door mirrors, chrome grille trim, front fog lights, electrically adjustable door mirrors and rear electric windows.

In 2015, the Suzuki Celerio SZ2 model was added to the range, but still included electric front windows, ESC and a DAB radio with CD player.

Later the same year, the Suzuki Celerio City model was also introduced, based on the SZ2 and adding alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and black exterior details.