Is the Suzuki Ignis reliable?
In the last What Car? Reliability Survey the Ignis finished first out of 22 cars in the small SUV category, a tremendous result. There are still some things to watch out for, however.
Buyers Beware
Engine: The 1.2-litre Dualjet petrol engine is reliable, but be wary of high-milers that have been poorly maintained, as they can suffer from high oil consumption.
Electrics: Software glitches can knock out functions like Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring, so make sure these work properly. The same goes for the reversing camera: it can fail due to electric problems. Turning the car on and off again and connecting a USB lead to your phone might cure any connectivity issues.
Brakes: Listen out for a squealing noise from the brakes; salt and debris from the road can prevent the calipers from opening properly. A brake service will cure it, though.
Gearbox: In a manual Ignis, any crunching into first or reverse gear is caused by either a loose clutch cable or a worn clutch cable bracket. Replacing the bracket should cost only around £20. Don’t be alarmed by clutch judder when pulling away. This is common with the Ignis and pulling away with plenty of revs can prevent it from happening.
Body: Inspect the bodywork for any dents and scuffs and check the underside of four-wheel-drive cars, as these might have been driven off-road.
Also worth knowing
If you want to make your Ignis a more competent off-roader, you can get a suspension lift kit from Eibach that will enable you to tackle some extreme courses. The Allgrip 4×4 version has a tiny 204-litre boot, and even the front-wheel drive model has only 267 litres for your luggage.
An owner’s view
Tamsyn Murphy: “We needed a cheap second car, and I was immediately drawn to the Ignis, thanks to its compact size and roomy cabin. It handles well and is fun to drive; it has all the modern features you want, like smartphone mirroring; and it will do 50mpg most of the time. “So far I’ve only had to buy a new set of rear tyres, which cost £295, and I took out a three-year service plan with Suzuki, which I pay for monthly. If you’re looking for a small SUV that has plenty of character, it’s ideal.”
