It’s everywhere. The Suzuki S-Presso can be seen all over South Africa. You know a vehicle has mass appeal when it’s being used by many Uber drivers. And I understand why. There is no denying the value-for-money appeal of this vehicle. In fact, the entry-level 1,0-litre GL manual is one of the most affordable new passenger vehicles in South Africa.
Some might believe that cheap means badly made, but it’s really not the case for the S-Presso. At least it didn’t feel that way from the one we recently had on test. Please don’t go into this expecting the same driving dynamics and noise-dampening as a BMW 7 Series. That is not what Suzuki is offering in this Spresso. What you get is a cheerful and capable little vehicle.
The design of the S-Presso is very divisive. Many people don’t like it. I do. It has a small chunky SUV look to it that makes you want to tackle some gravel roads, go off the beaten track a bit. Given that this is not a 4×4 by any stretch of the imagination, don’t go too far off the beaten track lest you want to find yourself in a situation that is perhaps more suited to a Jimny. I digress.
The interior of the S-Presso is a rather pleasant place to be. For a vehicle that looks small from the outside, it feels rather roomy on the inside. As with all Suzuki’s, there are many nice-to-have features that come as standard across the range including park distance control, electronic front windows, SRS dual front airbags, ABS and EBD with more features such as a touch screen and Bluetooth connectivity being added as you move up in the range.
Under the bonnet of the Spresso lies a 1,0-litre petrol engine with a humble 49 kW at 5 500 r/min and 89 Nm at 3 500 r/min. It’s not a lot, but the unit is sprightly and shifting through the five manual gears with thought will get you up a hill and overtaking rather easily. The car is also quite light (800kg without luggage), so it feels almost zippy. There is an automatic version available, too, but we tested the manual.
In addition to driving style, the small engine and light weight of course contribute towards fuel consumption. Suzuki claims a consumption of 4,6-litres/100 km.
Overall, I think the S-Presso is excellent value. It comes with a 2 year / 30 000 km Service Plan and a 5 year / 200 000 km Promotional Warranty.
If you’re looking for a good value new car buy, this is worth looking at.
