"Give people what they want, when they want it, in the form they want it in, at a reasonable price, and they'll more than likely pay for it" is a quote from Kevin Spacey and one that sharply resembles what Suzuki is currently doing in South Africa with the swift (no pun intended) sales of their vehicles.
They have five models priced below the R200 000 and R300 000 brackets, respectively, with their most expensive model being the Vitara (priced from R429 900). Their line-up is one of the best-priced locally, and the Japanese brand is definitely giving the people what they want - affordability and value for money.
The new Celerio (priced from R174 900) is one of those sub-R200 000 models, and its stock has risen considerably over the years since its first-generation launched back in 2015. Regarding model positioning, it sits between the S-Presso (priced from R 156 900) and Swift/Dzire (priced from R 189 900) in the local line-up while giving consumers options within the brand to choose from - it's a win-win from a sales point of view.
Suzuki is making a habit of introducing segment firsts - like the Baleno with the Head-Up display - and now, with the Celerio, it features Engine Automatic Start-Stop functionality.
The ideal city slicker
Having attended the Celerio's media launch in Johannesburg earlier this year, I recently got acquainted with the city-slicker for an extended period when it arrived for test in the Gumtree garage. The model being reviewed was the top-specced GL and comes standard with niceties like black polished 15-inch alloy wheels and colour-coded sections (door handles and side mirrors).
Powering the Celerio is a 1.0-litre DualJet (code-named K10C) engine with outputs of 49kW and 89Nm that can be paired to either a five-speed automatic or manual transmission. Suzuki claims an average fuel consumption figure of 4.2-litres per 100km, but I constantly hovered around the 4.8-litre mark - which is not bad considering most of the driving was done at speeds closer to the 100km/h mark. You feel the lack of power when you want to pull away and accelerate with the pedal pressed firmly from a standstill. Even though the chassis weighs a mere 805kg (30kg less than before), the engine takes a second or so to put down the torque.
Built from the brand's popular HEARTECT platform, engineers really went to work on the design because it had no inkling of its predecessor. The new model has a deep oval grill with chrome highlights and teardrop-styled headlights. Also new is a lower moulded bumper and bottom section that houses the fog lights (on the GL specification level). The rear also boasts a new light design.
They have five models priced below the R200 000 and R300 000 brackets, respectively, with their most expensive model being the Vitara (priced from R429 900). Their line-up is one of the best-priced locally, and the Japanese brand is definitely giving the people what they want - affordability and value for money.
The new Celerio (priced from R174 900) is one of those sub-R200 000 models, and its stock has risen considerably over the years since its first-generation launched back in 2015. Regarding model positioning, it sits between the S-Presso (priced from R 156 900) and Swift/Dzire (priced from R 189 900) in the local line-up while giving consumers options within the brand to choose from - it's a win-win from a sales point of view.
Suzuki is making a habit of introducing segment firsts - like the Baleno with the Head-Up display - and now, with the Celerio, it features Engine Automatic Start-Stop functionality.
The ideal city slicker
Having attended the Celerio's media launch in Johannesburg earlier this year, I recently got acquainted with the city-slicker for an extended period when it arrived for test in the Gumtree garage. The model being reviewed was the top-specced GL and comes standard with niceties like black polished 15-inch alloy wheels and colour-coded sections (door handles and side mirrors).
Powering the Celerio is a 1.0-litre DualJet (code-named K10C) engine with outputs of 49kW and 89Nm that can be paired to either a five-speed automatic or manual transmission. Suzuki claims an average fuel consumption figure of 4.2-litres per 100km, but I constantly hovered around the 4.8-litre mark - which is not bad considering most of the driving was done at speeds closer to the 100km/h mark. You feel the lack of power when you want to pull away and accelerate with the pedal pressed firmly from a standstill. Even though the chassis weighs a mere 805kg (30kg less than before), the engine takes a second or so to put down the torque.
Built from the brand's popular HEARTECT platform, engineers really went to work on the design because it had no inkling of its predecessor. The new model has a deep oval grill with chrome highlights and teardrop-styled headlights. Also new is a lower moulded bumper and bottom section that houses the fog lights (on the GL specification level). The rear also boasts a new light design.
On the inside, Suzuki changed things up a bit - atleast where button positioning is concerned. The driver and passenger electric window and lock/unlock buttons have been relocated on the centre console. It takes some time to get used to because the door panel is minimal and only houses the handle. The buttons for rear occupants have also been moved to between the two front seats, or behind the handbrake - not ideal if you have little kids who like to fidget and play. Most of the front cabin consists of hard plastic, but for the low price, it does make sense - it's not exactly a premium offering.
The GL trim comes equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as a USB port. The infotainment system provides the driver with a host of smart vehicle notifications, alerts, and information, such as average fuel consumption, fuel range, and warning from the rear parking sensors. While the Celerio can accommodate four full-size adults, it's not meant to be a fully-fledged family car but doubles up as a great small family car with generous boot space of 295 litres and grow to 1 034-litres with the rear seats folded flat.
The Celerio's body colour options are plentiful. They include Torque Blue Pearl Metallic, Silky Silver Metallic, Tango Orange Pearl Metallic, Glistening Gray Metallic, Arctic White Pearl, and Blazing Red Pearl Metallic.
Direct rivals and comparison
Summary
By comparison, the Celerio represents the best value for money, while still being the most fuel efficient and with a better aftersales package. The Celerio was in dire need of a (second) generation refresh and Suzuki has done their homework properly to give customers a full spectrum of features they need. Budgets are becoming tighter and these days, customers can't afford to spend more than they'd like on something that doesn't benefit them.
The range is sold with a two-year or 30 000km service plan, five-year or 200 000km mechanical warranty, inclusive of roadside assistance for the same period, and a six-year or unlimited anti-corrosion warranty.
Now that you’ve got the knowledge, it’s time to shop! Head to gumtree.co.za or your Gumtree app (click for Apple & Android) and don’t forget to use your location settings to find local service information close to home.
