Item: Used Suzuki Ignis Hatchback 2003 - 2008
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

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Hatchback

Suzuki is well known as a motorcycle manufacturer, but the car brand has been enjoying decent success in recent years, thanks to a line-up of neat, well-equipped and keenly priced models.

Its expertise focuses on smaller cars, although its high-riding SUV range is also hugely credible, especially the Ignis and Vitara, which are both rated highly by What Car?’s testers and which have enjoyed success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

Well priced, decent to drive and full of useful tech, Suzuki’s cars also generally stand out for delivering good fuel economy. The Ignis, Celerio and Baleno have all stood head and shoulders above the competition during our True MPG testing.

SUZUKI

IGNIS

It's a decent all-rounder, but there are better cars out there for similar money

Used Suzuki Ignis Hatchback 2003 - 2008

Used Ignis prices are pretty cheap, but there are plenty of other, much better cars out there of a similar age for similar money.

Running costs are a bit higher than those of most competitors, too. The 1.3-litre engine gives the best fuel economy, but even that's only 43.5mpg on average, which isn't spectacular for the class. The 1.5 will give you 40.9mpg, dropping to 39.2mpg with the automatic gearbox.

Whichever engine you choose, you'll pay a similar insurance premium. Both the 1.3 and 1.5 engines are classified in group 4 which, again, isn't spectacular for the class.

Servicing costs are steep, too. The early cars needed routine maintenance every 6000 miles, while the newer ones can go for 9000 miles between overhauls. This is more frequent than the average supermini, so even if you find a garage that charges rock-bottom labour rates, the sheer number of visits to the workshop will prove expensive.

It's a decent all-rounder, but there are better cars out there for similar money

Early cars all came with an 82bhp 1.3-litre petrol engine, which was pretty punchy and gave decent performance. It came in two trim levels, GA and GL. The GA was very basic, but the GL only added alloys, deadlocks and central locking to the mix, so we'd recommend the cheaper entry-level car.

The range was face-lifted in 2003 and this added another engine, a 99bhp 1.5. It provides more performance, but increases running costs at the same time. The two-wheel-drive version is available only as an automatic, while the four-wheel-drive version has a manual gearbox.

The face-lift also meant changes in trims. The 1.3 engine came in basic GL trim and has CD player, remote central locking, side airbags and electric front windows. The 1.5 came only in GLX trim, which adds alloy wheels and air-con.

Whatever age of Ignis you choose, we'd recommend the cheapest version. Higher-trim cars weren't much more generous and the 1.3 engine is the best.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought by single people or couples with no children – but the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen&nbsp;Polo have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

The Fiesta remains a star of the class, thanks to its strong Ecoboost petrol engines and suspension settings that are beautifully judged for British roads. However, the latest Volkswagen offers even more practicality, decent performance and a classy interior that has the edge on the Ford’s for quality.

Any of these models will be a competent commuter car – especially if fitted with one of the increasingly popular small turbocharged petrol engines – but just remember that while you’ll be able to carry two adults and two children, it might still be a struggle to get all of their luggage into the boot.

Small

Japanese manufacturers have an unsurpassed reputation for reliability, and although Suzuki's reputation can't match those of the best Japanese car makers, it has a pretty good track record overall.

Suzuki finished recent JD Power Customer Satisfaction Surveys in mid-table, and much of this success was down to solid mechanical reliability.

The Ignis itself didn't do particularly well in its latest appearance, but the good news is that most of the grumbles were over the car's looks, the way it drives and the high running costs. The Ignis's record for solid reliability remained intact.

Our most recent Reliability Survey also found that on the rare occasions that Suzukis do go wrong, repair bills are usually very cheap. In fact, Suzuki boasted the cheapest average repair bill in the entire survey, and the cheapest average hourly rate for labour.

The Ignis is one of those cars that can't quite decide what it's trying to be - it's supermini-sized, yet it's styled like a small off-roader, and Suzuki's rallying connections mean it's always keen to push it as a sporty car.

In truth, the supermini tag is the most accurate. Only later examples are available with four-wheel drive, and it isn't quick or entertaining enough to be sporty.

That said, the engines are pretty punchy and performance is fair. But, the ride is too firm, and a shortage of front-end grip means that the handling isn't really up to much.

However, the space inside is much better. The car's tall shape means there's plenty of room in both the front and the back, and although access to the boot could be better, the outright capacity isn't bad. All that's really missing in the cabin is a sense of style, which makes it feel drab, but the materials used stand up well to hard use.

Used Suzuki Ignis Hatchback 2003 - 2008 review

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Advice for buyers

What should I look for in a used Suzuki Ignis hatchback?