Suzuki Philippines Enters The Subcompact Segment With The Ciaz

Suzuki is known for its small hatchbacks such as the Swift, Alto, and Celerio, but the typical Filipino usually looks for a sedan, which is why Suzuki has entered the subcompact sedan segment with their new Ciaz.

In a segment dominated by the Toyota Vios and Honda City, plus some interesting and quirky models such as the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta, the Suzuki needs to stand out, and in this case, it stands out in value for money. The exterior design is pretty much on par with the competition, with the conservative but sleek design that somehow makes the Ciaz look like a bigger car. The design is, while not the sexiest in the segment (the crown belongs to the Mazda 2),  it is the most cohesive, front to back. The proportions are nicely done, eliminating some awkward proportions that seem to plague the designs of most cars in this class.

Inside is an exercise of restraint, but the colors are tastefully done. The materials are still on the cheap side, but with a price (as I’m going to highlight later) that is a little less than its competitors, then it’s not a problem, and besides, there’s only a few rare cars in this segment that truly feel posh inside. The standout feature of the Ciaz, however, is its rear legroom. With a 2,650 mm wheelbase, the Ciaz has the longest wheelbase in its class, and it certainly feels like it in the back seats.

Powering the Suzuki Ciaz is a 1.4 liter petrol engine found in the Swift and Ertiga. It is good for 92 hp @ 6,000 rpm, and 130 Nm of torque @ 4,000 rpm. The transmission is mated to either a 5-Speed Manual or a 4-Speed Automatic. With a MacPherson Strut fron suspension and Torsion Beam Rear Suspension, and a platform based from the Swift, we certainly do hope the Ciaz will not be a boring car to drive.

Two variants are available, one of which is the base GL (if you want to call it that, because it is well equipped for as “base” model), available as a manual or an automatic, and the GLX, which is only available as an automatic. Both are well equipped. All variants have ABS and EBD, 2 airbags, touchscreen infotainment system, keyless entry, and for the GLX, power folding mirrors, push button start, an Android-based infotainment system, automatic climate control, leather seats, 16 inch alloys, and leather seats.

GL MT/AT – P738,000/P773,000
GLX AT – P888,000