Road Test: Suzuki Ciaz a spacious, affordable sedan.

A big car with a worker’s heart, the Suzuki Ciaz sedan is the newest addition to Suzuki’s ever growing brood.

From the outset the Ciaz was never going to win any accolades in the looks department. Admittedly it is rather difficult to get sedans to look like runaway models in the first place. But, in saying that, Suzuki has done a great job in modernizing, the often boxy sedan profile, as it shares a similar look to its bigger brother, the Suzuki Kizashi – particularly in the front and side silhouette.

The front looks soft and cute, with a few modern lines that complement the Suzuki’s grille perfectly. But what will grip you is the Ciaz’s sheer size. Walking alongside the car, it measures in at a very decent 4490mm long and 1736mm wide – certainly quite a catch considering the Suzuki Ciaz is larger than many of its competitors, which can only be a good thing for its customers.

With such a well-proportioned body, climbing inside the vehicle delivers exactly what one would expect – a roomy cabin with enough legroom to seat a giraffe. I do like the fact that the “big car” factor has been incorporated into the Suzuki’s interior as well. That said I did battle to find a comfortable seating position. Given my height, it would’ve been a nice touch if I could lower the seat as I was uncomfortably close to the roof lining when sitting upright.

Besides my head almost brushing the roof, the interior is spacious. The rear occupant room is abundant and the boot space phenomenal. Particularly if you in the sales line of business, which requires you to carry your product, the Suzuki Ciaz will be more than willing to accommodate the goods in its 495 litre trunk.

In terms of standard features, Suzuki has always been rather generous and it’s no different with the Ciaz. It’s packed with niceties like Bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control and a multi-function steering wheel – all the necessities you’ll need to keep you smiling on the road.

Fire power

There’s been a lot of mention in the media that the Suzuki Ciaz is lacking a meaty 1.6-litre engine. To a point, I’ll agree. But the guys at Suzuki obviously did their research and found the 1.4-litre normally-aspirated petrol motor will be more than adequate in our market. Given our high volume of traffic, and the need to keep costs down, it’s an understandable decision.

The 1.4-litre engine boasts 70 kW of power and 130 Nm of torque.  The overall performance is good, with a nippy kick on pull-off and comfortably reaching the 120km/h mark, the Ciaz does exactly what it is designed to do. Offering capable performance and like the rest of the Suzuki line-up, frugality at its best. Thanks to the help of its 1020kg body.

During our time together, economy was never on my mind as I constantly squished the gas pedal against the floor mat and worked the five-speed manual gearbox. But clearly one of us has a reputation to maintain, as the Ciaz returned impeccable figures of 5.7 litres per 100km, not far off Suzuki’s claimed 5.4 litres per 100km.

Road warrior

In terms of fit and finish, the Suzuki Ciaz is there with its competitors and on the road it drives well. The higher suspension means it’s better equipped to handle Joburg’s crater ridden roads but the suspension does feel a bit rigid.

Conclusion

The Suzuki brood is constantly growing and thankfully offering decent products at competitive pricing. The Ciaz is no different and will surely find a home on our roads, if consumers accept it. It’s a tough segment and Suzuki Ciaz has positioned itself well with spaciousness and a decent start price of R179 900 plus a 3-year/ 60 000km service plan.

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