2017 Maruti Ignis review, test drive

What is it?

Funky, fun, youthful, pricey... these aren’t words you’d typically associate with Maruti. But the Ignis is just that and it stands quite apart from its stablemates. This isn’t to say Marutis are boring. We recently had the Brezza which has a dash of flair, but since the Swift, launched back in 2005, Maruti hasn't really brought out a car that really oozes panache. The AA plus platform (now in its fifth generation) is newer than the Baleno's ‘B’ platform, but both share the engineering approach and principles. The Ignis' USP is its low weight; the base model tips the scales at 825kg, making it lighter than the bantamweight Baleno. The other highlight is that the Ignis already meets the Indian crash norms that'll come into effect later this year.

What’s it like on the outside?

The design is polarising and won’t go down well with everyone, but this is a good thing. The car was built for the youth and for those young at heart and doesn't stick to the ‘play-safe, please-all’ design typical of most Marutis. The Ignis is styled like a mini crossover with a strong retro flair reminiscent of the '70s and '80s Suzuki Cervo hatchbacks. That’s where the overall stance and various design elements come from, including Suzuki's 'Progressive Triad’ – the three bars embossed onto the C-pillar – which is quite similar to the Adidas logo!

Dominating the side are the massively chunky C-pillars, formed by the metal work cutting into the rear door glass which gives the window line a sharp upward kink. The C-pillar wouldn’t look out of place on a military vehicle and it has, quite expectedly, evoked the strongest response. There are also prominently flared wheel arches and a cladding running down the sides. The alloy wheels have a squarish spoke design that’s quite unique and adds a sporty touch too.

The rear consists of a very tall, vertically rising hatch, a windscreen that slopes sharply inwards and is dominated by a massive bumper cladding. The tail-lights are squarish units. This is probably the Ignis' only bad angle as when viewed from the rear, the car looks a bit oddly proportioned. Overall, however, the styling is funky and cool.