2017 Maruti Ignis review, test drive

What’s it like on the inside?

Design flourishes dominate the insides too, and the Progressive Triad finds its way onto the sides of the central console box which on some cars is finished in colours complementing the exterior paint. The front door handles which are neat-looking cylindrical bars are also painted in the same colour.

The dashboard is all straight lines and seems to have a virtual beam housing the rectangular central air vents and forming the mounting for the ‘floating’ touchscreen unit. Below this is a cylindrical auto climate control unit with nifty toggle-like switches. They operate with a quality feel, like the other switches and buttons around the car. Lower variants, however, get a manual AC with a control unit that looks like an afterthought. With all the style around, Suzuki should have paid some attention to giving this unit an attractive shape. The lower variants get a button-operated music system that's mounted within the same housing as the touchscreen unit. 

Equipment-wise, you get the now-familiar Maruti SmartPlay unit with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with a host of typically expected connectivity features like Bluetooth, USB, Aux-in and the system can also be controlled via a phone app. The unit also has the rear camera display and the navigation system.

Other bits include a steering wheel that's new to the Maruti line-up, an engine start-stop button, electrically adjustable and folding ORVMs, steering-mounted audio controls, power windows all around and puddle lamps.

On the safety front, Maruti treats all variants of the Ignis as equals and has equipped them with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX child-seat mounting system, a feature that's uncommon on cars at this price point.

At 3,700mm, the Ignis is significantly shorter that the Swift (3,850mm) but has a wheelbase that's longer by 5mm. It’s also the taller of the two, but the narrower. Given this it’s no surprise that seating three abreast at the rear is tight but, overall, the space inside is excellent with headroom and legroom being more that generous. You sit quite upright at the back with enough space to keep your feet under the front seats. The front seats are comfortable and have a nice side bolstering, but they feel a bit soft and may not be great on longer journeys. In terms of adjustability, you get a driver’s seat height adjuster and a tilt steering.