Is The P518K Suzuki S-Presso The Perfect First Car?

Along with the new Suzuki XL7, Suzuki Philippines has also unveiled the new S-Presso, albeit in social media. This is no thanks to the threat still posed by the coronavirus in our country. With a starting price of P518,000 along with a P15,000 pre-order discount until March 18, is the S-Presso the perfect first car?

As a replacement to the more utilitarian Suzuki Alto, the S-Presso A-segment hatchback has an SUV-inspired design. Up front, the S-Presso has a tall front fascia to give it a more authoritative look. The bumpers are finished in black, which gives this small car the impression of having a high ground clearance. At the sides, the S-Presso’s proportions have bee pushed upward. This gives it a rather tall look and the impression of being a more commanding profile. Though it is at the lower end of the small car segment, its design has loads of personality, livened up by a choice of eccentric color schemes such as this Sizzle Orange paint you see here.

The eccentric theme of the S-Presso carries over into the interior. Its main highlight is its circular center stack housing the 7-inch touch screen infotainment system and digital instrument cluster. It’s also able to seat four people comfortably with its well-packaged interior. The interior is predominantly black, but the designers have livened up the interior by giving it a splash of orange trims. Other interior features to note are the numerous storage options, 239-liter trunk, and the 12V socket and USB port at the front.

Riding on top of the HEARTECT platform should give the S-Presso solid driving dynamics and good crash protection. Other safety features include ABS with EBD, two SRS airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, and rear parking sensors.

The S-Presso will be powered by a 1.0-liter K10B inline-3 petrol engine, producing 67 hp and 90 Nm of torque. The only transmission option is a 5-speed manual.

Having said all these, is the Suzuki S-Presso the perfect first car? If you’re on an extremely tight budget, then the S-Presso, at least on paper, provides an excellent value proposition. It’s more stylish than the Alto it replaces, yet at the same time, the S-Presso offers more amenities a first-time car owner will truly appreciate.