Automotive Business Review February 2015 | Page 35

Vehicle Launch

The Complete Car
If there was a car of the year award
for the most pleasant surprise, then
the revamped SX4 would get my vote.
Launched in 2014, the latest SX4 is a
massive improvement on the previous
SX4, not that the original SX4 was not
a good car. The previous SX4 was a
very good car, with a no nonsense road
manner, but the latest SX4 is a revelation,
and it is my belief that Suzuki should
have given it a new name, something
like the Suzuki Complete, because it
ticks all the boxes. It is a good looking

car, practical, affordable, and
fun to drive. Its fuel efficient
1.6 litre engine performs like
a 2 litre engine, the car is
spacious and well specced,
and very comfortable. It has all
the necessary safety features,
and the overriding impression
is one of exceptionally high
build quality. I drove the flagship
model fitted with the innovative
AllGrip four-wheel drive system,
and I was blown away.

➲ The Suzuki SX4 – ticking all
the boxes

Small but Extra Large

➲ The XL small car
The all new Suzuki Celerio, in its small
car segment, reprises the SX4 box ticking
exercise. It delivers best in class interior
space, best in class luggage space,
and best in class fuel consumption (4.6
l/100km in its AMT (automatic manual
transmission) version, and 4.7l/100km in
its manual version. Suzuki tells us that
the Celerio, which replaces the Alto,
“has been created to provide buyers of
small cars with a generous and enjoyable
motoring experience. The newcomer
proves that compact doesn’t need to be
cramped, and that space and style don’t
have to cost a fortune.”

Exactly, and it confirms
Suzuki’s reputation for coming
up with small cars that break
the mould. Defined as a mini
hatchback, the Celerio breaks
the mould by increasing
the width and height,
increasing both passenger
and luggage space. And I
just love the sound and pep
of three-cyli