Suzuki has a great reputation for making fun, affordable small cars and this latest model,
called the Celerio, replaces both the Alto and Splash, making for a more streamlined
line-up.
Unlike the Fiat 500 and Twingo, the Celerio majors on substance rather style.
It’s a laser-focused approach which means this small Suzuki has a rather utilitarian
look and feel and ensures you get a lot of car considering it’s priced from under £7,000.
The Celerio might only be 3.6 metres long, but it’s also surprisingly tall and has
wide-opening doors, so it feels quite spacious in the front.
The seats are fairly comfortable, even on longer trips, and surprisingly DAB radio and
Bluetooth are both fitted as standard.
There are some disappointments though, the steering column only adjusts for rake and
the driving position is slightly offset.
The plastics for the dashboard are also nowhere near as classy as you’ll find in a Hyundai
i10 or Skoda Citigo, but everything is easy to use.
We also like this cubby, which is just the right size for your phone, along with two
decent cup holders.
With five doors as standard, getting in the back is no problem, but there’s no getting
away from the fact this is a small car.
As you’d expect, there’s space for two adults, but headroom and overall comfort back
here are limited.
With a three stars out of five in EuroNCAP crash tests, safety may be a concern for some.
However, UK cars do get side airbags as standard, which Suzuki says could have bumped this up
to four stars.
Suzuki describes the 254-litre boot as class-leading, and access is far better than the Alto, which
had a rather narrow opening.
Most competitor’s boots are just a few litres smaller though.
With 67bhp, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine can get you from 0-62mph in 13.5 seconds.
OK, it’s not quick, but around town its characterful noise and enthusiastic response
makes it feel nippy enough.
Even at motorway speeds you won’t feel completely out of your depth.
Even more impressive is the ride, which is able to deal with large bumps admirably, making
the Celerio more comfortable than you’d perhaps expect.
It also feels very secure, with plenty of grip and weighty steering.
Parking is particularly easy and should you take a wrong turn, it can u-turn like a London
Taxi.
It’s in towns, cities and along country lanes where the Celerio feels at its best.
On the motorway its engine is commendably quiet, but a lack of sound proofing means
lots of wind and tyre noise enters the cabin, which makes long journeys a bit of a chore.
Tempted by the Suzuki Celerio?
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To watch reviews of its rivals, click on the links at the end of the video.