Suzuki Splash 1.2 SZ4 | Expert New Car Review

“Freshly updated for the 2011 model
year, Suzuki’s five-door mini-MPV
Splash range is well in tune with the
current economic climate. And with
prices starting from Ł9,495, there’s
no call to splash too much cash...”

DOWNSIZING AND FINDING more fuel-efficient cars for private use is high on the check list for most motorists. Suzuki, acknowledged leaders in producing small cars, is a great place to start looking. And this goes some way to explaining why around 90% of Suzuki's customers are private buyers.

Updates to the Splash include a new 92bhp 1.2-litre Dual VVT (dual variable valve timing) four-cylinder petrol engine to go with the existing 67bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit. The new 1.2-litre unit has 8% fewer CO2 emissions — at 119g/km — over the outgoing 1.2 unit. The 1.0-litre engine has exactly the same tailpipe emissions as the new 1.2, so both qualify for Ł0 VED First Year road tax and then just Ł30 annually after that.

“As important as the low
CO2 emissions is the
fuel economy — the new
1.2-litre petrol engine
with its five-speed
manual gearbox returned
a totally impressive
56.4mpg...”

As important as the low CO2 emissions is the fuel economy — both engines return an official 55.4mpg in the Combined Cycle. Not just paper figures either, but do-able on real roads in the real world.

Proof? My brief test drive in the range-topping Splash SZ4 with the new 1.2-litre petrol engine and its five-speed manual gearbox was a totally impressive 56.4mpg — and there were two of us in the car, just like real-life customers.

Furthermore, this was no 'carpet-slipper'-style driving; this was driving in early morning commuter traffic plus a section of the busy M25 and then some stop-start town driving.

The new 1.2 engine is much livelier — quite fun to drive, in fact — and a much better and quieter option than the current 1.0-litre or the outgoing 1.2 unit.

Splash, being just over 3.7-metres in length and with an elevated driving position, is easy to drive; and just as easy to park even in tight spaces. It can also seat five adults and there's enough legroom and luggage space to make it a really practical vehicle.

The high seating positions also make both getting in and out easy. With all seats in use, the small boot offers 178 litres of space but fold down the 60:40 split rear seats and a 573-litre luggage bay appears. You'll also find a handy waterproof compartment below the boot floor, and there are numerous cubbies and places to stash 'stuff' all around the cabin.

Four models make up the Splash range: the 1.0-litre is available in SZ3 trim; the 1.2 model in either SZ3 or the top SZ4 grade. An automatic transmission is available on SZ4 models.

“Reasons to buy include
cute styling, a roomy and
flexible interior, well
equipped, first class fuel
economy, cheap to tax,
lively new 1.2-litre
engine, easy to drive and
easy to park...”

Splash 1.0-litre and 1.2 SZ3 models offer a high standard equipment list that includes four airbags, CD tuner with MP3 player, tilt adjustable leather-wrapped steering wheel with remote audio controls, front electric windows (driver's one-shot auto-down), air conditioning, electrically-adjustable heated door mirrors, height-adjustable front seats, driver's information display and remote central locking.

Step up from SZ3 1.2-litre to SZ4 and the standard specification is even better with privacy glass on the rear side windows and tailgate, Electronic Stability Programme, curtain shield airbags, 15-inch alloys and front fog lights.

Reasons to buy one of these five-door mini-MPVs include cute styling, a roomy and flexible interior, well equipped, first class fuel economy, cheap to tax, lively new 1.2-litre engine, easy to drive and easy to park.

Splash is a very apt name for this model as it really doesn't require the owner to 'splash out' too much money to buy the car or on high-priced petrol. — David Miles

home | top of page | all car reviews