What makes the Maruti Suzuki Ignis unique

Everything about the Ignis is designed to set both, it and you, apart. Take a closer look at
how and why the Ignis oozes panache.

1. Clever, compact, yet spacious design. The designers have carved out a very generous cabin space within the Ignis’ compact dimensions that makes it a breeze to drive and park on our crowded streets.

2. The broad shoulders and distinct grille that stretches right across the width of the car give it a look that can’t be ignored. Its strong retro-flair, combined with Suzuki’s Progressive Triad design, makes it totally original. The LED Projector Headlamps and LED DRLs with chic chrome inserts make it unforgettable. 

3. The story continues in the cockpit. The floating dashboard, black-and-ivory console, and dynamic interior design with premium materials make the Ignis aggressive, yet refined on the inside. With ample space, 60:40 split seats and a number of utility spaces, the Ignis is practical and stylish.

4. There’s more to this than meets the eye. Advanced features like a reverse parking sensor with camera, auto AC, a multi-information TFT screen and an infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay take the experience to a new level.

5. Here comes the substance. Its energetic 1.2-litre VVT petrol engine and the mighty 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine is fun to drive and offers a robust performance. The petrol engine delivers a refined 83hp at 6,000rpm and 113Nm of torque at 4,200rpm. The diesel delivers a robust 75hp at 4,000rpm and 190Nm of torque at 2,000rpm.

6. Manual or automatic? Why pick one when you can have the best of both? Ignis simplifies your drive and ends the need to pick automatic or manual with its Auto Gear Shift (AGS) technology, available in both petrol and diesel variants.

7. Personalise your Ignis to stand out. Choose from a basket of accessories – roof wraps, fog lamp garnish, front grille decals, ORVM covers, body side mouldings, exterior and interior styling kits, seat covers, floor mats and much more.

Autocar India’s reviewers discovered a funky car that you would buy from the heart, the first time they drove it in India. Here are some extracts from the First Drive of the Ignis that was published in Autocar India.

"Maruti Suzuki’s latest offering is a retro-chic hatchback that breaks the mould in more than one way."

"Maruti Suzuki’s new-generation chassis rides so beautifully and drives with such authority, it’s clearly a delight. Stick to the top-of-the-line Alpha. Sure, it’s expensive but it’s the one that works the best."

"Maruti Suzuki has gone against its safe and conventional design philosophy and given us a funky little hatchback that’s a blend of retro and cool. Its oversized LED headlamps, tall stance, flared wheel arches and a retro rear-end design actually look quite good."

"Maruti Suzuki’s latest offering, the Ignis, is a retro-chic hatchback that breaks the mould in more than one way. However, what really sets the Ignis apart is its change in primary focus from practicality to fun."

"The Ignis’ talking point is its ride, which remains unruffled, even over bad sections of the road. Despite weighing 860kg (petrol) and 960kg (diesel), the Ignis rides flat like a heavier car from a higher segment and it doesn’t pitch or bob over wavy road surfaces either."

Ignis delivers an “enjoyable performance and excellent ride”, our report declared Ignis as complete package in this story in WhatCar? Here are some extracts from the article.

"It’s cool, loaded with equipment not seen on many others in this bracket – like LED projector lamps, a touchscreen system and auto climate control – and has a lot of space inside. Both engines are rewarding to drive, especially the peppy petrol; and it has a well-composed ride, much like a bigger car. Also remember – this is a Maruti Suzuki. So its components are shared with its stable mates, making for minimal maintenance costs. And of course, it’s backed by a wide service network. Oh, and did we mention it’s really funky? This then is a Maruti Suzuki – that isn’t! Perfect for India’s cool crowd, then."

"The other major highlight is safety – the Ignis today already meets the Indian crash safety norms that’ll come into effect later this year."

"The Ignis comes with 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel units from the Baleno, with a choice between a five-speed manual or a five-speed automated manual gearbox, making it the only car at this price point to offer an automatic with both petrol and diesel engines."

"On the safety front, Maruti Suzuki treats all variants of the Ignis as equal and has equipped them with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX child seat mounting system, a feature that’s rare in cars at this price point."

Ignis has some outstanding features. In the story titled ‘Starting Young’, that appeared in Autocar India, the writer looks at some of the unique features of the Ignis. Following are extracts from the article.

"The Ignis is the most generous in safety kit. Dual airbags and ABS are standard fit."

"The Ignis’ look is a clear break from the Maruti Suzuki (or Suzuki) template and, in a way, that’s what also makes it special. This isn’t your everyday family Maruti Suzuki but one that makes a statement with the way it looks. Frontal styling is smart, and what’s particularly nice is how this top-spec Alpha trim car’s LED DRLs outline the headlights on the large grille. Adding to the cool quotient are this Alpha trim Ignis’ first-in-class LED headlights."

"The Ignis’ cabin is chic and looks unlike any other Maruti Suzuki. The upright dash with its high-set ‘floating’ touchscreen, the use of toggle switches for the distinctive climate control pod and the body-coloured panels on the base of the centre console and door handles – all come together really well."

"Before getting into the comfort features these cars come with, it’s essential to talk safety, first. Maruti Suzuki is commendably the most generous in this department – with dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and ISOFIX child seat mounts offered as standard across the range."

The Ignis came out as the clear winner when compared to its very able rival in the story titled, ‘Cross-hatch match’ in WhatCar? What swung the verdict in Ignis’ favour? These extracts from the story tell you that.

"The Ignis’ engine, however, gets stronger and stronger the more you keep your foot down. This makes it plenty of fun to drive. It sprints from 0-100 in just 12.24sec – a full second faster than the Grand i10. Keep your foot down and the gap widens to almost four seconds by 140. Outright performance apart, the Ignis also feels extremely eager when driven at regular speed. There’s a bit of hesitation from the get-go, but the engine soon pulls cleanly, winding all the way to the 6,200rpm limit in one uninterrupted sweep. You can even leave it in third gear most of the time and know that it will pull forward smoothly from any speed. Yes, the crossover styling may define the Ignis, but it’s the petrol engine that defines the driving experience."

"The Ignis’ cabin matches the panache of its exterior. It does look a bit different but its more modern elements like the black-and-beige dashboard, the floating touchscreen, the body-coloured panels at the bottom of the centre console and the door handles go a long way in making it seem more youthful. The front seats are large and offer good support. The steering wheel, gear knob and pedals are placed nicely, too. The instrument cluster is easy to read and all the knobs are easy to access. Rear seat space is impressive as well. There’s ample legroom and headroom is adequate too. Talking about space, the Ignis has the bigger boot here, which is quite easy to access."

"The Ignis just isn’t better at speed in a straight line, it’s much nicer to drive in corners as well. The high ground clearance means there’s a slight body roll, but once you get past that, it feels more agile and composed around corners."