FirstDrive/Suzuki Splash:Suzuki gives a pleasant surprise with the new Splash, reports Paddy Comyn
Surprises in the car market are hard to come by these days, but one of the few is the Suzuki Splash.
Originally, I really didn't even want to get out of bed to get the flight to go and drive the Splash. Mainly because I thought of it as the replacement to the Wagon R, which looked like it was designed for a teletubbie and was truly awful to drive.
So I really wasn't expecting much from this 1.2-litre supermini/MPV at all. I did know that it is going to be a sister car to the new Opel Agila, but the last Agila was nothing to write home about either. However, with the Splash, Suzuki was at pains to point out that it is not a replacement car, but rather is aimed at a European market.
The Splash is large enough to seat five, with two front passengers enjoying generous leg and headroom and the rear seat passengers, if they are children, likely to be very happy too. The cabin is very straightforward with few switches in the centre console, apart from the standard air conditioning and a rev counter, which sits on the top of the dashboard.
Power comes from a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 86bhp and this will be the first engine to arrive in Ireland in the summer, although it is likely to be joined by a 65bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. Suzuki is still considering whether to offer the third engine, which is a 75bhp 1.3-litre common rail diesel engine.
The Splash sits on the same platform as the excellent Suzuki Swift and despite its tall roof, the handling is pretty good, with minimal body roll even if there is plenty of understeer in evidence if you push hard.
This is a really simple car to drive, and it feels just about powerful enough with the 1.2-litre engine. Six-airbags and the option of ESP make it safe too. The likely buyer of this car will be an older one, as these buyers favour the easy access afforded by the high roofline, but the new styling and the perky character might just open the doors to a wider audience.
Expect the car to come to Ireland in the summer for under €15,000, helped by its low CO2 emissions, especially in the 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre diesels which are both 120g/km. The 1.2-litre GLX will have standard air conditioning and is likely to cost less than the Swift and sit under that model in the Suzuki range. At this price it will be a good value, easy to live with, city runabout.
FACTFILE
Price:expected to start around €15,000
1-LITRE 65BHP PETROL
Max speed: 160km/h 0-100km/h: 14.7 secs
Fuel economy: 5 l/100km
CO2 emissions: 120g/km
1.2-LITRE 86BHP PETROL
Max speed: 175km/h 0-100km/h: 12.3 secs
Fuel economy: 5.5 l/100km
CO2 emissions: 131g/km
A 1.3-litre 75bhp diesel model may be added in 2009