Driven: Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX
Suzuki has built an impressive reputation in South Africa for selling good cars at an even better price. However, they’ve only recently added a fun and edgy dynamic to their personality and we got to drive one of the cars that started it all – the Suzuki Ignis.
Design
The design of the Suzuki Ignis is undoubtedly one of its highlights. Whether you love it or hate it, the Ignis oozes personality and managed to creep its way into my heart after driving it for only a few minutes. The cute face of the Ignis is made up of a neat chrome-accented grille nestled between a pair of daytime running LED headlights, which are included in the GLX model along with wheel arch extensions, halogen fog lamps, roof rails and electrically folding mirrors. The Ignis also offers good value from its standard equipment, such as body coloured front and rear bumpers and door handles, and electrically adjustable body coloured side mirrors. The GLX model is equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels and is also available in six exterior colours, with two of those colours available with a contrasting roof.
The urban hatchback is 3700mm long, 1690mm wide and 1595mm tall. I am 1.9-meters tall, so I was rather apprehensive about how comfortable it would be to drive the Ignis. I hopped in, adjusted my seat and steering and I was good to go. The small appearance of the car really disguises the amount of space that’s available inside. I managed to fit four adults into the Ignis, including myself, with no hassle. Just like the exterior, the interior offers just as many colour combinations to express your individuality while also offering a generous amount of standard kit. Power steering, electric windows, central locking and air conditioning are all standard on the Ignis, while the GLX adds a multifunction steering wheel, keyless entry and start, rear view camera, a chrome gear knob and rear parking sensors to this list.
The layout of the interior is functional, but retains a bit of playful nature. The standard infotainment interface includes CD, MP3, USB and Bluetooth support but for a bit more you could spec your Ignis with a touchscreen display that also includes smartphone link, providing access to smartphone apps like Apple CarPlay.
Performance
The Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX is powered by a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 61kW of power and 113Nm of torque. This allows the Ignis to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 11.6-seconds before reaching its top speed of 168km/h. Power is sent through a 5-speed manual gearbox before reaching the front wheels. The Ignis is not quick, but what it lacks in performance, it makes up for in efficiency. Weighing in at just 850kg, the Ignis is super-light, and this means that it doesn’t need to burn a lot of petrol to get it moving. Suzuki claims that the Ignis will do 5.1-litres/100km and I actually got very close to that figure during my test period – 5.2-litres/100km. The Ignis proved to be a fun drive but there were situations where I felt the steering to be too light, prompting me to correct the wheel a few more times than I would have liked to. The clutch pedal was also a bit tricky to figure out. I did find the brakes to be very good, and the small turning circle was an added bonus.
Pricing
Suzuki Ignis 1.2 5MT GLX – R177,900
Also worth a look: the Suzuki Swift and the Suzuki Starts 2025 with Record-Breaking Sales in South Afric.
FAQ
Q: What does the Suzuki Ignis cost in South Africa?
The Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX is priced at R259,900 in South Africa, making it one of the most affordable crossover-styled hatchbacks on the market.
Q: Is the Suzuki Ignis worth buying?
The Suzuki Ignis offers exceptional value for money with its quirky styling, surprising interior space, generous standard equipment list, and Suzuki's proven reliability, all for under R260,000.
Q: How fuel efficient is the Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX?
The Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX delivers impressive fuel consumption of just 4.7 litres per 100km, making it perfect for budget-conscious drivers who want to keep running costs low.
Q: What engine does the Suzuki Ignis have?
The Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 61kW and 113Nm of torque, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox.
Q: How much boot space does the Suzuki Ignis have?
The Suzuki Ignis offers 267 litres of boot space with the rear seats up, which expands to 501 litres when the rear seats are folded down, providing decent practicality for its compact size.
Should You Buy It?
The best quirky urban runabout under R300,000 in South Africa is definitely the Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX at R259,900. This little charmer punches well above its weight class with surprisingly spacious accommodation for four adults, a comprehensive list of standard features including keyless entry, reverse camera, and air conditioning, plus Suzuki's legendary reliability. The 4.7L/100km fuel consumption means you'll spend more time driving and less time at the petrol station. Yes, you should absolutely buy the Suzuki Ignis if you want maximum personality, practicality, and value for your money in the budget car segment.
