It’s a bit of a palaver, double-checking all these websites to make sure we’re not tromping over already well-trodden ground, but it’s all part of the service, chaps! After scanning through both of those digital jungles, it appears that nobody has yet cast a scrutinizing eye on the plucky little performer known as the Suzuki Ignis. So buckle up, because it’s about to get tiny and mighty in here!
Now, the Ignis – a machine that could very well be mistaken for a city car that raided a wardrobe of SUV clothing. Its funky and chunky look tells you that this is no plain Jane hatchback; this is a hatchback that fancies a bit of rough and tumble. It’s like a Jack Russell – small, but with the heart of a lion and the delusion that it’s a much bigger beast than it really is.
Revving up beneath that diminutive bonnet of the Suzuki Ignis is a 1.2-litre Dualjet engine that’s been ingeniously combined with a mild hybrid system. It’s as if Suzuki gazed into the future, saw the critters of the automotive jungle flourishing with electrified help, and proclaimed, “Let’s give it a bit of that spark!” But don’t think it’ll whiplash you back into the seat; the performance is what you’d call ‘adequately sprightly’.
Inside, you’re met with a cabin that’s a concoction of reasonably tactile materials and the odd bit of scratchy plastic – it’s never a real symphony for the senses, but then again, the Ignis isn’t prancing down the catwalk pretending to be haute couture. It’s honest, and there’s something rather refreshing about that. The infotainment system is straightforward, with enough gadgets to keep the tech troops from deserting.
When it comes to handling, the Ignis is surprisingly nimble, scurrying around corners with more gusto than you might expect from something that’s essentially a motorized matchbox. It’s in its element zipping about in urban jungles, and with the mild hybrid system sipping at the fuel like a lady having afternoon tea, the Ignis is kind to your spondoolies in the long run.
The Ignis is a bit of a Tardis, too. It’s got about as much interior space as some cars one class up, which means it’s entirely plausible to fit actual adults in the back without them muttering threats about kneecapping you later.
All in all, the Suzuki Ignis is like a refreshing swig of ginger beer – zesty, uplifting, and a little unconventional. It won’t set your pulse racing with dizzying speed, but it’s packed with character and charm that’s as infectious as a giggling baby. For those needing a car that’s just as happy to pootle around town as it is to don its wellies and trundle down a muddy path, the Ignis is a pint-sized prizefighter that’ll put a big, sloppy grin on your face.
