Used Suzuki Ignis Hatchback 2016-present review

Cast your mind back to your elementary Latin lesson, and you’ll no doubt remember that ‘ignis’ is the word for ‘fire’. A bold name for a car, you might think – but rather than a comment on its flammability, the Suzuki Ignis is so-named because its maker thought that it’d set your heart alight.

That was the intention of the deliberately head-turning styling, anyway. From its big, googly eyes to its wide stance and angular, chopped-off tail, the Ignis has always stood out in any crowd. And that’s good, because it has two crowds in which to mix: it’s priced and sized in contention with city cars such as the Volkswagen Up and Kia Picanto, and yet its high-riding stance and the option of four-wheel drive mean it has the feel of a diminutive SUV a shade below the Dacia Duster and Citroen C4 Cactus in size.

You initially got a choice of two petrol engines – well, to be more precise, it’s just the one option, a 1.2-litre petrol, but you could have had it either with or without assistance from a very small electric motor, making it a mild hybrid, which Suzuki calls SHVS.

The model range starts with the SZ3 version, which has the basics but little else, but moves up through the SZ-T and SZ5 versions, which are more generous. There’s also a rufty-tufty Adventure version, based on the SZ-T, with chunky body styling and side stripes making this Ignis even more extrovert.

The Ignis is quite an appealing thing inside, too. With its two-tone colour scheme and attractive lines, the dashboard is more interesting than many city cars’. True, it’s built out of hard, cheap-feeling plastics, but crucially the bits you touch regularly, such as the indicator stalks and switchgear, feel high-quality. Shame about the aftermarket touchscreen system fitted to SZ-T and SZ5 versions, though; it’s fiddly, complicated and none too easy on the eye.

Happily, there’s a useful amount of space in the Ignis, with seating for four adults perfectly feasible – a rarity in a car this small – and the boot’s a practical size too. Keep in mind that the SHVS has a smaller boot, though, as that’s where Suzuki’s had to find space for the extra electrical gubbins.

So what’s the Ignis like to drive? Well, a mixed bag, to be honest. There are some good bits here – for example, both engine options feel eager and keen to rev, which makes the Ignis feel perky around town. They sound good, too.

Meanwhile, good control of body lean and impressive grip make it agile in corners, despite its high-sided stance, and in the four-wheel-drive version, you can tackle muddy fields and slippery hills in confidence. And over larger bumps, the soft suspension cushions you rather well.

The trouble is, smaller bumps and potholes on town roads pose the Ignis a problem, as it jitters and fumbles over them. Other issues include the vague steering, which takes the shine off your fun in corners, and the wind and road noise, which build up at high speed, making long journeys rather tiresome. On the whole, though, while flawed, the Ignis is a characterful little car to drive.

If you're interested in buying a used Suzuki Ignis or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Prices start at around £6500 to £7000 for the earliest cars. Spend between £8000 and £10,000 to secure a good 2018 or 2019 model, possibly an early 2020 car, and between £10,000 and £12,000 should net you a 2021 or 2022 model. You won't spend much more than that on a 2023 car.

MPG

No matter which model of Ignis you choose, fuel economy doesn’t drop below a combined average of 60mpg in the older official NEDC tests, with the most efficient variant, the SHVS, getting more than 65mpg, or 56.9mpg when tested under the latest WLTP system.

That's certainly on a par with most rivals, though the most efficient versions of the Volkswagen Up are even more frugal on paper. However where the Ignis really scores is out on the road, where it gets incredibly close to those figures, and that's rare in this day and age. Indeed, in 2018, we gave it our True MPG award, for the car that got closest to its official figures in our real-world tests.

Road tax

For cars registered before April 2017, road tax is determined by CO2 emissions. Those registered after that date will attract a flat fee, currently £180 per year.

Insurance, servicing and warranty

Insurance groups are generally in the high teens (out of 50). Servicing costs should be reasonable, even if you choose to conduct it through a main Suzuki dealer.

If you buy an approved used car from Suzuki, you'll get a 12-month warranty – as long as the vehicle isn't older than eight years old and doesn't have more than 80,000 miles on its clock.

A small range makes picking the perfect Suzuki Ignis relatively easy. Although initially available with a non-hybrid version of the 1.2 engine this model was dropped in 2019. Both engines are impressive but there are more of the hybrid version on the used car forecourts so that's the one we'd recommend.

And we reckon SZ-T offers the best blend of equipment and value; handily, it’s also the most popular version of the Ignis, which means it’ll be the easiest to find.

Our favourite Suzuki Ignis: 1.2 Dualjet 12V Hybrid SZ-T

If it’s a city car you’re after, check out the Volkswagen Up. It lacks the Suzuki’s quirky character, but in place of that you get a grown-up feeling car with a high-quality interior and smart styling.

Alternatively, there’s the Hyundai i10, which is almost as spacious as the Ignis and just as well equipped, but comes with a longer warranty – and it doesn’t cost anywhere near as much to buy.

Or, if it’s an SUV you’re after, why not try the Citroen C4 Cactus? True, you don’t get the option of four-wheel drive, but you do get more space than the Ignis, and the styling is just as eye-catching.

However, if four-wheel drive is a must, the most viable alternative is the Dacia Duster. It isn’t as good to drive as the Ignis, though, and neither is it any cheaper to buy, but you do get a little more space inside.

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If you're interested in buying a used Suzuki Ignis or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.