Generous standard options and a clever interior could make the Splash a big success for Suzuki, says Donal Byrne
DESCRIBING, AS Suzuki does, its new Splash model as a mini-mpv is stretching it a bit. However, there is no denying the diminutive car's appeal as a cleverly designed small family car.
It is now on the market with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and comes very well equipped for a car of this size and price. At €15,495, it has air-conditioning, electric front windows, a CD player and a tuner that accommodates an MP3 player, steering wheel controls and heated wing mirrors.
The car itself is reminiscent of the Hyundai Atoz - a car that was slightly ahead of its time - with a high roofline and a rather sawn-off rear end. Inside it has a very clever feeling of space and both the driver and passenger seats give a slightly elevated view of the road. Even very tall drivers will find they have inches to spare with the high roof.
The design does mean boot space is limited, and to get maximum storage, the rear seats will have to be folded down. It is fine for limited shopping trips.
The 1.2-litre engine produces an appealing 131g/km of CO2, and is liable to an even more appealing € 150 tax band. It is peppy around town and has a quiet engine tone. A car of this size on such a short platform is an ideal city car and parking is a doddle. Suzuki says the car will give a combined consumption figure of 5.5-litres per 100km.
Suzuki is renowned as a small car maker, and the Splash offers more than smart looks. In terms of safety, it is also well equipped compared to competitors. The car comes with six airbags as standard (including two full-length curtain airbags at the side), anti-lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution combined with an electronic stability programme.
This level of standard equipment on a car this size, combined with air-conditioning, certainly marks a new departure for smaller cars. However, the Euro NCAP crash test results for the car are not class-leading - the Splash was awarded four out of a possible five stars for adult protection, but only three out of five for child and pedestrian protection.
The 1.2-litre model will be joined by a 1-litre petrol model in December. This will produce 120g/km of CO2 and will attract an annual road tax of just €100. A diesel model may be available later, but Suzuki is waiting to see how the 1.3-litre diesel, supplied by Fiat, sells in the Swift model before committing. Suzuki had 2 per cent of the market last year, and is hoping to come close to that this year.
"We see between 135,000 and 145,000 cars being sold next year and we hope to get about 3,500 registrations from that, of which between 400 and 500 would be made up of the Splash model," says Suzuki Ireland's general manager, Niall O'Gorman.
He sees next year's market as being a challenging one because of the economy and the predicted move to smaller, cleaner cars is by no means the automatic choice for everyone, he says.