Lightweight, easy to drive and frugal with fuel; the all-new Suzuki Celerio is a little city car perfect for day-to-day driving. Modest numbers all around, the 1,0-litre, 3-cylinder engine that delivers 49 kW and 89 N.m of torque can also manage a whopping 4,2 L/100 km with an automatic transmission writes CAR intern, Siya Mdabuli.
The new Celerio is a little bigger and a little wider when compared to the car it replaces. Its no longer boasts bold and boxy proportions either but now comes with curves and a rounded new grill making it easier on the eye and more appealing to its target audience. A perfect starter pack for first-time buyers or new drivers on our roads; the Japanese hatch boasts seamless manoeuvrability in traffic and smooth gear shifts while the fast responding motor puttering around at low speeds is ideal for city driving. The Suzuki Celerio has an auto stop-start engine feature that comes in handy in a bid to save fuel by switching the car off while stationary with the greatest claimed fuel efficiency coming from the automatic derivative while the five-speed manual can still achieve a commendable 4,4 L/100 km.
Inside, the compact hatch has a 7-inch touch screen with a Sony infotainment system capable of phone mirroring on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Celerio has a surprisingly sufficient head and leg room with enough space for 5 adults although 4 passengers would be more applicable for anything longer than a commute. Suzuki offers a modest cabin design, with modern features including centre-console mounted electric window switches, power steering, electrically adjustable side mirrors, rear parking sensors and most importantly a stability control safety feature. The Celerio’s steering wheel is not as basic as other entry-level vehicles either, with mounted controls for remote audio and Bluetooth phone control.
On the road, the Celerio handles well considering its purpose although howling wind might mean that its small dimensions and lightweight stature get tossed around. The hatch does have its shortcomings though with the suspension being the main culprit. Lacking damping to fully absorb road bumps, the overall ride can become rather jarring fuel. Despite this, the Celerio’s starting price is R174 900, which makes it one of the best small hatchbacks you can buy for under the R200 000 mark.
