Maruti Suzuki Ignis Long Term Report: June 2017

Refinement is back

Until the Ignis arrived, I had been driving around in diesel cars for most of the time as it lightens the load on my fuel bill, since I live a good 40 kilometres (one way) from office. And it’s all well and good, but every time I drive my personal 13-year old petrol car I can’t help but admire just how smooth and refined it is. And with the petrol Ignis, refinement is something I am beginning to enjoy once again.

Suzuki’s K12 petrol engine is rather refined at most times. The engine feels smooth and quiet at low revs. As the revs rise the engine does feel a wee bit coarse in the mid-range. But once you go past 4,000 rpm it lets out a nice sporty soundtrack and it only gets louder as you head towards the redline. I have to say, at full chat the Ignis does really sound like a sporty petrol hatchback. Making things better is its light 860kg kerb weight ensures that the you get the most out of its 81bhp petrol engine. And progress feels fairly brisk when you go flat out.

If you leave the enthusiast side of it out though, all of my friends who have sat in the Ignis have never failed to mention how ‘smooth’ it feels. Now every time I drive a diesel car, I do miss the refinement and engine note of the Ignis. Fuel bills be damned!