Suzuki Ignis review

The Ignis was quite a rough-riding, coarse-edged kind of small car when first introduced in 2017, and while the latest model certainly improved when revised in 2020, it retains a slightly fidgety chassis that communicates its readiness to go offroad even when it’s on smooth urban Tarmac; especially in the case of the live-axle, four-wheel drive model.

The car bumps a little over broken asphalt, particularly at low speeds, and moreso in the case of the four-wheel drive model (because of the nature of that rear axle) than the front-driven one - but it’s without doubt more comfortable than when the Ignis first arrived. Cabin isolation is a little noisy at motorway speeds, but only as much as you’d probably expect of a car this size and price.

The Ignis isn’t really a car for sophisticated on-road handling, either. Steering it on country lanes feels like you’re having a relaxed conversation in which it amiably agrees to follow your inputs, rather than an exchange between a soldier and sergeant major; but what else would you expect from what is essentially a city car with rare dual-purpose remit? Grips levels are perfectly respectable in any case, and body control is contained enough to feel like you can benefit from the basic agility and wieldiness of a small car.

In the case of the Allgrip model, offroading capability is limited mostly by the car’s standard-fit road-intended tyres; but, with a set of mud and snow tyres fitted, the Ignis would likely surprise almost anyone with how far and well it’ll climb, scrabble, ford and descend. It’s not a car that rockets up slippery slopes, but a short first gear does a passable impression of low-range gearing, and makes the most of the car’s 82bhp. Those diminutive proportions also open up narrower green lanes; ground clearance is a decent 180mm; the car’s wheelbase and overhangs are short; and there’s electronic hill descent control included.