Suzuki Philippines just unveiled the newest generation of their entry-level hatchback, the Celerio. It’s all-new from the ground up as it rides on a new platform, has a new engine, and tweaks to its aesthetics inside and out. The biggest difference though is the price since the GL MT is now at P708,000 while the GL AGS is at P754,000. Yup, no CVT this time as Suzuki opted for their automated-manual transmission for this small hatch.
Outside, it has a new design that’s funky, to say the least. Gone are the straight lines of its predecessor and in its place are circular cues on the headlights, grille, and cladding on the lower bumper. The sides were given dimples above the wheel wells and the character lines were replaced with subtle curves. At the back, the more rounded taillights sit higher and give the Celerio an illusion of wider hips, just like in the Swift. Reflectors were also added and sits high on the rear bumper.
The dashboard was given an overhaul, sporting a new design. The passenger side now has 3D moldings while the driver is given a new gauge cluster. In the middle of the dash is a new 6.2-inch touchscreen but sadly, there’s still no Apple or Android connectivity. Under it are the buttons for the door locks and front passenger windows, together with the hazard button. Controls for the rear passenger windows can be found on the rear of the center console, just infront of the rear occupants.
As for room, the all-new Celerio is bigger than the outgoing model. It has +95mm in length, +55mm in width, +15mm height, +10mm in wheelbase. Overall this lead to more room inside and a bigger cargo area. It now has a 295 liter capacity compared to the 254 liters before. Add to this the backseats that are capable of 60-40 split giving you versatile cargo space.
The all-new Celerio is now riding on the HEARTECT platform that was first seen on the Swift and Dzire. It lends better chassis rigidity to the car while having a lighter weight to not burden fuel efficiency.
Under the hood is also a new engine in the K10C, a 1-liter DualJet engine that’s said to be more efficient that the previous K10B. It produces 66 horsepower and 89 Nm of torque. This is paired to a 5-speed manual or Suzuki’s Auto-Gear Shift. Working together, it’s able to get up to 28.25km/l in Suzuki’s internal tests.
The Suzuki Celerio also has a few tricks under its sleeve as it has Engine Start-Stop function, Electronic Stability Control, and Hill Hold Control. This is on top of other standard features like front airbags, ABS, and ISOFIX tethers.
The all-new Suzuki Celerio is now available in Suzuki dealerships nationwide.
