We review the 2020 Suzuki Ciaz

Japanese automaker Suzuki updated its famous sedan, Ciaz, for the South African market in 2019, with new in-car tech and a powerful engine, and modernised its front grille with LED headlights. Best for Uber drivers and fleet operators, the budget sedan competes against the popular Toyota Corolla Quest and Volkswagen Polo here. Today, we review the key features of the Suzuki Ciaz to find out how good it is.

The 2020 Suzuki Ciaz is available in two trim levels namely GL and GLX, both featuring a 1.5-litre engine with multi-point fuel injection and variable valve timing. The engine generates 77kW at 6,000rpm and 138Nm at 4400rpm, which is 7kW and 8Nm more compared to its predecessor featuring a 1.4L engine. The engine can be paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. Suzuki says the Ciaz delivers 5.5-litres/100km for manual and 5.6-litres/100km for automatic. The new mill is efficient, and revs are low enough at highway speeds to give an energetic feeling.

Suzuki has made multiple changes on the outside to distinguish the new Ciaz from its predecessor. We are talking about the newly painted grille, headlight clusters with automatic LED headlamps (GLX only), chrome inserts on the grille and door handles, and chrome garnish strip above the number plate on the boot lid. Select your colour from Snow White, Sangria Red, Dignity Brown, Premium Silver, Stargaze Blue, Magma Grey, and Midnight Black Metallic.

The real magic happens inside the Suzuki Ciaz. The GLX welcomes you with a 7-inch SLDA touchscreen audio system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink smartphone compatibility. Other prominent features include a reverse camera with rear park sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 4.2-inch colour information display in the vehicle instrument cluster to show range, fuel consumption, and outside temperature. Passionate drivers will love the automatic climate control, the steering wheel-mounted controls, and the cruise control.

Talking about the practicality, the new Ciaz can accommodate three passengers at the rear with generous leg-, head- and shoulder room. The boot space is also ample at 480 litres. The only downside inside is, you cannot fold the rear seats. This limits its functionality as a family car.

The 2020 Suzuki Ciaz is not bad on the safety front thanks to the two airbags (one for the driver and the other for the passenger), ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and brake assistance (BAS), an alarm and immobiliser, child-proof rear child door locks, and supplementary side-impact shield on all doors.

The 2020 Suzuki Ciaz GL manual starts at R223,400 and goes as high as R269,900 for the GLX automatic. All the variants come with a 3-year/60,000km service plan and a 5-year/200,000km warranty. (Prices correct at time of publication.)

With a competitive price and low running cost, the 2020 Suzuki Ciaz is a viable option in the midsize sedan segment. In addition, its spaciousness and leather seats are two features its rivals cannot match. However, the lack of stability control and rear folding seats make it less favourable for families and a more suitable option for fleet buyers.

Please note the imagery supplied in this blog was taken off www.suzukialberton.co.za