Suzuki Ignis Hybrid Review 2023

Introduction

‘Good different’ - that’s how Suzuki likes to describe the Ignis. And having enjoyed some time with one, that’s as good a summary as any.

It’s a car that stands apart from rivals by somehow managing to find a new niche in the already crowded supermini leasing market.

It’s small, yet has a high ride height like an SUV, offering a commanding view of the road. It’s compact, yet there’s a Tardis-like amount of space in the rear, while sliding seats in the back eke out every last drop of boot capacity.

And despite being one of the most affordable cars to lease right now, it comes positively loaded with kit and tech while also being a hoot to drive.

It’s a frugal mild-hybrid, too. Fair play, Suzuki, fair play.

At a Glance

Let’s start this review by talking about one of the main reasons to lease a Suzuki Ignis - and that’s price. You can get behind the wheel of one with Select Car Leasing from around £210 per month*.

So, to find out how much bang you’re really getting for your buck, we requested to test the cheapest, entry-level model - the SZ-T with a manual gearbox. There's a Suzuki Ignis automatic and a Suzuki Ignis 4x4 available, too. 

First impressions are good. This reviewer’s young son instantly rated the Ignis’ looks as an ‘eight-and-a-half out of ten’, which is praise indeed. Another one of the first things you notice is the Ignis’ height - with the hatchback-SUV being taller than you might expect and offering generous amounts of interior room because of it.

And the Ignis really does look the part. The Adidas-style three stripes on its rear haunches, the roof bars, the skid plate, and the plastic body cladding - they all work to give the Ignis a sense of presence while ensuring it won’t look amiss among adventurous types who love the great outdoors.

Key Features

The cheapest models still get chunky black alloys wheels and all the rugged, off-road styling you can see here in these pics. Compare that with a rival like the Dacia Sandero, on the other hand, and entry-level models come with steel wheels with hubcaps and not nearly as much pizazz.

One of the key weapons in the Ignis armoury is the gadgets in the interior. A 7 inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, as well as a sat-nav, comes as standard. You even get a DAB radio.

The system worked seamlessly during our review week and it’s a doodle to get set up and running, too. It’s another huge tick for the plucky Suzuki.

The Ignis is also packing clever driver assistance and safety tech. A ‘Dual Camera Brake Support’ system is standard fit, and essentially works to identify impending dangers - like cars ahead, pedestrians or road junctions - before sounding a warning or, as a last resort, automatically deploying the brakes.

The range-topping ‘SZ5’ trim level - which sits just above the entry-level SZ-T - also gets lane departure warning and a drowsiness detection alarm, which sounds if you’re weaving around in your lane.

If we had to be picky, the cheapest SZ-T Ignis doesn’t come with cruise control. You need to jump to SZ5 if you want it. That might be a bit of a drag if you spend time on the motorway.

Performance & Drive

The Ignis is no hot-hatch and nor is it pretending to be. And if you temper expectations accordingly, you’ll have a fun time behind the wheel.

Whichever Ignis you choose, it’s powered by a 1.2 litre four cylinder petrol engine with power of 83 PS and 107 Nm of torque.

You’ll reach 62 mph from a standstill in around 12.3 seconds and the manual Ignis has a top speed of around 103 mph.

It’s not quick, and can be a bit slow to respond, but once you get the engine spinning it picks up pace easily enough.

Body roll is kept to a minimum in the bends and the Ignis feels agile enough.

The two big plus points in terms of the drive is the suspension and the turning circle. Crank that wheel round and the Ignis will almost spin on the spot, like a black cab. Meanwhile the Ignis eats potholes for breakfast.

The suspension set up - MacPherson struts at the front, torsion beam at the rear - was heavily upgraded back in 2018 to add more ‘travel’ - ie, more play in the system.

It meant that during our review the Ignis simply shrugged its shoulders while gliding over the deepest, darkest, wheel-obliterating road craters the highways of Cheshire could throw at it.

Running Costs

The Ignis shouldn’t hit your wallet too hard.

The 1.2 litre engine features 48 volt mild-hybrid tech that works to improve efficiency while also keeping CO2 emissions down.

It means the Ignis will return around 57 miles per gallon with the manual gearbox, or around 53 mpg if you got a model with the CVT automatic gearbox. Either way, that’s not too shabby.

Meanwhile the Allgrip four-wheel drive Ignis will also still return 53 mpg, while offering better traction during the UK’s darker, slippier months.

Interior

This is another strong point for the Ignis.

There are hints of the iconic Suzuki Jimny SUV in the cabin, especially the chiselled dash in front of the passenger seat.

You can also expect shiny door grips and a central console surround, finished in either blue (which comes as standard) or in silver (which is a no-cost option).

And while there’s no mistaking that the Ignis has been built to a budget, it’s a pleasant place to be and the driving position is more than comfy.

We’re not sure how Suzuki’s engineers managed to bend the space-time continuum, but they have done. For a compact car, the room in the back is almost laughably generous.

Your humble Select Car Leasing reviewer is, as near as dammit, six foot tall, but still had loads of legroom - even with the driver’s seat left in the same position he vacated it.

The rear seats also slide backwards and forwards on rails, giving you either more or less legroom and unlocking extra space in the boot.

It’s a nifty trick that again trumps other rivals. There’s a maximum of 267 litres of boot space, which is more than you get with either the Toyota Aygo X, Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10.

Tinted privacy windows are also par the course.

Safety

Okay, this is an important bit - so listen up.

Back in 2016, the Ignis was put through its paces by Euro NCAP - the industry-standard safety assessors - who awarded the Ignis a score of three out of five. That isn’t particularly glowing.

However, when Euro NCAP re-tested an Ignis which was fitted with the ‘Dual Camera Brake Support’ (DCBS) system, the car was awarded the full five stars.

What’s important to note here is that the DCBS system is now fitted on all Ignis models as standard - so it’s a five star car whichever one you get.

When tested with DCBS, the Ignis also scored a healthy 87% for adult occupant safety, and 79% for child occupant safety.

Options

The Ignis range is a fairly simple one, so there aren’t loads of options.

As mentioned above, there are two trim levels - the base SZ-T or the range-topping SZ5.

The SZ5 gets extras like cruise control, lane departure warning, weaving alert, keyless entry and start, leather steering wheel, electric rear windows, and automatic air conditioning.

The ‘Flame Orange’ paint is a no-cost option, or you can choose from colours like red, black, white, khaki or metallic blue for an extra few quid a month.

You can also choose the colour of the door grips and centre console - with blue or silver your two options.

Rival Cars

The Suzuki Ignis doesn’t lack competitors, but the nearest vehicle in terms of looks has to be the similarly high-riding and off-road styled Toyota Aygo X.

The Aygo X (below) makes do with a smaller 231 litre boot while the Toyota’s 1.0 litre petrol engine also offers less power than the Ignis.

The Volkswagen Up! can be leased for similar amounts of money but offers less interior space and - to our eyes at least - is less exciting in terms of design than the Ignis.

The Citroen C3 Aircross (below) is worth a look, and comes with an SUV-like stance and roof bars. It’s slightly more expensive to lease, however, beginning at around £230 per month.

Meanwhile you might also opt for more traditional hatchbacks in the form of cars like the SEAT Ibiza, Renault Clio, or Vauxhall Corsa, all of which boast sophisticated interiors for the money.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a lease car with more personality than your run-of-the-mill hatchbacks, a Suzuki Ignis lease is an absolutely must-consider.

Suzuki says it’s ‘proudly different’, and that’s no bad thing at all when some of its rivals are vanilla to the point of being forgettable.

The Ignis’ SUV styling makes it distinctive, rugged, and playful, while the spacious interior and sliding rear seats offer a level of versatility you don’t expect at this price point.

Combine all of that with a boat-load of kit as standard and modern mild-hybrid tech under the bonnet, and you’ve got yourself a winner. Is the Suzuki Ignis a good car? Absolutely. If you’re not afraid to think outside the box, the Ignis makes perfect sense.

Where to next?

View our latest Suzuki Ignis Hybrid lease deals. Call us on Call 0118 3048 688 or hit the green 'Enquire' button for more details. 

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*Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top five leading independent car website reviews of the Suzuki Ignis

*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 18/04/23.