The Suzuki Celerio may not be first call when you think of small hatchbacks in the country, but those who know of it recognize its ace – fuel efficiency. Suzuki aims to maintain that trait by having a new engine and transmission in this all-new model. A pretty tall order considering the outgoing model already set the bar high.
In order to prove that the new Celerio is a notch or two better than the former, Suzuki Philippines invited select members of the motoring media for a quick drive to Lipa, Batangas. They’ve assigned three people in each Celerio and we had to go to the location with the best fuel efficiency figure we can. My colleagues got pumped up, especially since we’re known as heavy on the throttle. I wasn’t excited because I’m heavy, so my team was already at a disadvantage. But let’s save that for later, let’s get into other details first. Just note that this is not a full review since I only had the car for less than a day.
I had the privilege of driving a previous model of the Celerio extensively for a couple of years so to me, this new design is certainly very polarizing. Gone are the prim and proper lines of the previous generation. It’s such a significant shift in aesthetics that there’s no middle ground for this new model’s circular accents and dimples on the sides – it’s either you love it or you don’t.
The interior also received a significant overhaul. The dashboard was redesigned to have more sculpts on the dash, with the touchscreen still being the center of attention. I just find the passenger side a bit of a waste since there could’ve been a useful cubby hole above the glovebox, instead of just making curves on it. I’m also not a fan of the new gauge cluster that cramped all information in one small circle, with the speedometer taking up the bulk of the panel.
They’ve also thinned out the door panels by repositioning the buttons. The controls for the door locks and front passenger windows are on the dash, under the touchscreen, while those for the rear windows are on the center console. This move made the interior a bit wider for all occupants since there’s less panel sticking out, especially for the rear occupants.
During my quick drive, I felt the new Celerio is marginally better than the old one in terms of suspension and noise suppression in the cabin. The springs are not as stiff, and it’s just quieter all around. This is complemented by the additional space you can feel inside, especially at the backseat. All in all, Suzuki made significant improvements where it matters most, and it’s very much appreciated.
The biggest change for me was in the powertrain. The Celerio has a new 1.0-liter Dual Jet engine that’s equipped with an Engine Start/Stop system. It also ditched the CVT for Suzuki’s own Auto-Gear shift which is a manual with an automatic clutch. I’ve experienced this with the Dzire before and the one in the Celerio is better, in one way. Shifts are smoother in cruising speeds and act almost like a traditional automatic. Suzuki Philippines confirmed this as they say the AGS in the Celerio is tuned differently compared to that of the Dzire.
With a new engine and transmission in tow, how did the all-new Celerio fare in terms of fuel efficiency? Suzuki Philippines said it was capable of up to 28.25 km/l during the launch of the small hatchback. In our media drive, the winning team managed to get 25.66 km/l with three people inside the car. It might not be as good as Suzuki’s internal result but still mightily impressive because with the previous Celerio, my best highway run with me alone in the car is only at 22 km/l.
The all-new Suzuki Celerio is available with a 5-speed manual or AGS automatic starting at P708,000, with no difference between the two trims except for the transmission. Admittedly, it’s a pretty steep jump from the previous model but Suzuki backed it up with a lot of improvements inside and out. It’s design and other amenities might be in question, but there’s no doubt this small hatch still sits at the top of fuel-efficient hatchbacks in the country.
