Suzuki Celerio
Suzuki is well known as the small car experts and Suzuki Celerio has retained its trademark compact car ease of drive, while providing an elevated driving position, interior space that surpasses most conventional A-segment cars and also a class leading luggage capacity of 254L.
The SZ2 model joined the range in July 2015, standard specification highlights include six airbags (Driver, passenger, side and curtain), ESP, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), DAB Radio, CD Tuner.
Additional specification on the SZ3 model includes air conditioning, alloy wheels, USB and Bluetooth connectivity.
Moving up to the SZ4 model adds polished alloy wheels, body coloured door mirrors, chrome front grille, front fog lamps, electric door mirrors, rear electric windows and four speakers.
Suzuki Celerio offers low CO2 emissions of 99g/km and fuel consumption of 65.7mpg on the EC combined cycle and an even lower figure if the Dualjet engine is specified. This model joined the range in April 2015 offering even higher fuel economy and CO2 emissions that fall to just 84g/km thanks to the introduction of Suzuki's new Dualjet engine technology. Suzuki Celerio with the K10C Dualjet engine is the cleanest car on sale at under £10,000 OTR.
Suzuki's newly developed AGS (Auto Gear Shift) was also added to the range in April 2015. This system features an Intelligent Shift Control Actuator positioned at the top of the transmission that operates the gearshift and clutch automatically.
With AGS, the driver can enjoy the effortless driving of an automatic, particularly in City traffic, but without any loss in fuel efficiency or increase in CO2 emissions versus manual transmission.
A sharp front end design with continuous headlamps and grille; a flowing press line running from front to rear, indicating high quality; the body silhouette conveying the impression of comfortable cabin space and rear-end aerodynamics, enhanced by edge treatment. All these design elements ensure its superb dynamic look.
The attractive compact car effect is heightened by a range of six exterior colours, including three new metallic shades. Metallic paint is offered as an option at £415.
Outstanding packaging which gives priority to driver and passengers
Suzuki has consistently aimed for a resolution of the apparently contradictory elements of retaining interior room as well as making dimensions as compact as possible. By going back to basics and reviewing the body structure, Suzuki has succeeded in delivering a roomy, comfortable interior space within a compact body with a total length of 3,600mm and width of 1,600mm. A height of 1,530mm and a non-slanting roofline provides the occupants with greater overhead space.
The 2,425mm long wheelbase provides a tandem distance of 743mm, which gives occupants roomy seating in the cabin and optimised interior insulation materials have also played their part in ensuring a quiet and comfortable atmosphere. Suzuki Celerio has only one other competitor in the market segment that offers seating for five as standard.
During development, there was all the more reason to focus on the quality of the interior craftsmanship. The design team aimed for a simple, ever-fresh, easy to use interior by providing a symmetrical design built around the centre panel. They have also successfully achieved a sense of space which exceeds the actual size by using an outward facing form and incorporating a flat top for the dashboard panel.
Black is the predominant interior colour, while the main seat fabric is a blue dot pattern in keeping with the exterior colour together with contrasting black trim for the sides of the seats. The dot pattern theme changes between blue and grey, adding further design flair to the interior.
Adopting a flattened-end torsion beam for the rear suspension has resulted in under body strength and a lower luggage room floor, which ensures a best-in-class luggage capacity of 254 litres with the rear seats in position and 726 litres with them folded.
A key factor is ease of use when loading and unloading, with a large luggage room opening area with a maximum width of 1,020mm and a maximum length of 751mm, while the tailgate height has been kept to a low 682mm.
The cost of owning a Suzuki Celerio is low over a typical three year period with 12,500 miles service intervals, insurance group ratings of 7E for all models, combined fuel consumption figure of 65.7mpg and zero VED thanks to CO2 emissions of 99g/km. Ownership costs will of course be even lower with the Dualjet engine that offers a combined fuel consumption of 78.4mpg.
There is some further good news for owners as well when it's time to consider replacing the car as Glass's Guide set the residual value of SZ3 and SZ4 models at launch at 39 per cent after 3 years / 60,000 miles, representing a retained value for the SZ3 of £2,900 and £3,300 for the SZ4 model.
Easy to drive and outstanding manoeuvrability
In addition to the easy to manoeuvre compact body offering a very tight turning circle of just 9.4 metres, the Suzuki Celerio features a high-mount gear shift and high-hip points that produce good all-round visibility to further enhance ease of driving. The high seating position and large side door opening also facilitate entry and exit.
The Suzuki Celerio is available with a choice of two engine types, both with three cylinders, including the newly developed K10C with Dualjet technology.
In conjunction with the development of the new Celerio, Suzuki has implemented various improvements, such as weight and friction reductions in the highly reliable K10B engine that was first used in the Alto and Splash models.
The newly developed 1.0-litre K10C petrol engine features major advances in thermal efficiency resulting from an improved compression ratio, the adoption of a dual-injection system and friction reduction technology with the result of a good balance between dynamic performance and fuel efficiency. These modifications have resulted in a higher compression ratio of 12.0:1 versus 11.0:1 for the K10B engine.
While optimising the compression ratio to convert fuel energy to mechanical energy efficiently, Suzuki has adopted a cooled EGR system and piston cooling jets to suppress uncontrolled combustion 'knock' or detonation. Combustion efficiency has also been enhanced through the adoption of a dual injection system and bowl-shaped piston crowns to achieve higher air turbulence inside the cylinder. In the pursuit of ultimate thermal efficiency, Suzuki has also utilised a variety of friction reduction technologies, such as the implementation of roller-rocker type valve lifters to reduce mechanical resistance and loss of energy in the engine.
Adopting Dualjet technology that positions the fuel injectors very close to the engine inlet valves allows for a finer fuel atomisation (or mixture) which in turn provides a more effective transfer into the cylinder. Internal modifications to the engine include the use of a new type of inlet port and combustion chamber with other mechanical parts also modified to reduce frictional losses and facilitate smoother running. This engine also features Engine Automatic Stop Start (EASS) when the car is stationary.
Combining an Engine Auto Stop Start system (EASS) with the highly efficient K10C power train that was newly developed and the implementation of comprehensive weight reductions and enhanced aerodynamic performance during development have together resulted in a class leading low level of CO2 emissions of just 84g/km.
During development, revisions to the manual transmission enhanced both fuel efficiency and smooth shifting. These include a greater synchromesh capacity and improved lever ratio to ensure more accurate and slicker gearshifts.
Additionally and to help boost efficiency, torque loss has been reduced by 40 per cent, less oil is now required within the gear casing and lower friction loss bearings have also been utilised.
Auto Gear Shift - convenience of an automatic and economy of a manual
Suzuki's newly developed 'Auto Gear Shift' (AGS) was launched in the UK in April 2015 as an option for Suzuki Celerio SZ4 and incorporates an electro-hydraulic unit that operates the gear shift automatically. The system, known as an 'Intelligent Shift Control Actuator' incorporates the gear actuator and shift controller together as one integrated unit. To help facilitate faster and smoother gear shifts the unit is attached directly to the top of the transmission without the need for any additional linkages.
With AGS, the driver can enjoy the effortless experience of a conventional automatic transmission but without the typical losses in fuel efficiency or increase in CO2 emissions. For convenience Suzuki has added a low speed 'creep' facility (approx 5mph) which is useful in slow traffic and when parking with no need to depress the accelerator pedal.
Should the driver prefer; the AGS system also has a manual mode facility for a more direct drive feel on country roads. This mode is selected simply by moving the gear shift to the left and then by moving the lever backwards to shift up and forward to shift down the gearbox.
Suzuki's Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) concept has been adopted together with high-tensile steel as well as crumple zones that absorb impact energy during a collision, a frame structure that effectively disperses impact load, and a high-strength cabin structure that protects occupants. Combined, they result in a lightweight body with good impact-absorbing performance.
