The Ignis is a rather more distinctive-looking thing, what with its hints of Vitara (the clamshell bonnet) and Whizzkid (the rear-quarter louvres). This is otherwise a modern compact crossover, on a new platform called the Suzuki Next 100 (not very catchy, fellas), which first underpinned the fairly ordinary new Baleno. Most of the Ignis isn’t quite as old-school as its back axle. Hold on: a newly launched car with a live rear axle? Well, that would explain the ride quality, I suppose.
So I get out and kneel behind the car and – what do you know? – there it is, thank heavens, a live rear axle with a differential in the middle of it. This could be the shortest off-road trip in history. My car doesn’t have an Allgrip badge on the bootlid, and it isn’t exactly on off-road tyres, either. Suzuki calls its 4WD system ‘Allgrip’, you see, and announces it – according to the pictures in the brochure I’m reading – by a little badge on the bootlid. When I collected the car in the dark last night I glibly assumed it was. We asked for it that way, more obviously. The Ignis can be had with fourwheel drive, obviously. 2020 Suzuki Ignis: rugged city car on sale from £13,999.Suzuki Ignis 1.2 Dualjet Hybrid 4WD SZ5 2020 UK review.Suzuki Swace: Toyota Corolla-based estate priced from £27,499.Steve Cropley: We need a Suzuki Ignis Appreciation Society.Why the Suzuki Ignis is the ultimate everyday hero.