At P 754,000, the Suzuki Celerio is the most expensive sub-B segment hatchback in the market. Putting things into perspective, it’s more expensive than the Toyota Wigo TRD S (P 700,000) and the Kia Picanto EX (P 745,000); heck, it’s pricier even than the Honda Brio RS (P 730,000) and that one carries a larger 1.2-liter motor. This seems like madness, but according to Suzuki Philippines, there’s reasoning behind all this, and that’s down to technology. However, after spending a couple of days with this diminutive hatchback, yes, you do see some flashes of brilliance now and then, but they’re never enough to outweigh its rather prohibitive price point.
Like the two generations before it, the 2022 Celerio remains one clean and tidy looking hatchback. Compared to its most immediate predecessor which was nondescript at best, there’s a stronger sense of style here thanks to its use of ovals and curves. Its small frame limits the canvas that designers could use, but exaggerated elements from the swept headlamps, teardrop-shaped taillights, and black 15-inch alloy wheels all impart a cutesy road presence.
That said, it’s still an econocar through and through, and you feel it the moment you swing open the lightweight doors or the trunk that doesn’t even have a built-in grab handle. The rear defogger lines also protrude through bare metal bodywork. The fact that Suzuki considers a bead-less roof panel and door notches “features” says something.
Inside, Suzuki’s done their best to snazz up the interior by adding some contours, and chrome and silver plastic accents. However, the main draw remains its straight-to-the-point execution. Everything is well-bolted together, though the plastics still aren’t textured or finished in a high-class way. Still, it must be said that the well-wearing switchgear and chunky buttons do have a better tactile feel than the Wigo’s. The driver is treated to a giant speedometer and digital tachometer, while infotainment duties are left to a 6.2-inch Sony touchscreen system. The touchscreen, while legible, gets easily washed out in direct sunlight, and sadly, still doesn’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It does, however, have WebLink.
The biggest advancement Suzuki’s made this generation is down to interior space. Suzuki’s prioritized in carving out more front legroom than before and they’ve done so by reshaping the lower half of the dashboard, including the glovebox. Even the power window switches have migrated from their usual location to the center console to avoid knees from banging against the doors. Ditto at the back, where the switches have been moved to the floor console just behind the handbrake. All their efforts seem to have paid off making regular-sized Filipinos feel more comfortable. Though the Celerio can technically seat five, given its narrow width, four is probably the limit.
The Celerio also scores high when it comes to cargo carrying capacity. The opening is oddly shaped, but once cleared, the 295-liter space is truly usable. It fits a couple of grocery bags or overnight suitcases with ease, and when needed, the seats tumble in a 60/40 split (it doesn’t fold completely flat though). There are also some cubby holes around the front, including bottle holders on all four doors; and they do their job well enough. However, it must be said that the cup holders situated between the front seats are limited to smaller drinks.
Weighing at just 830 kilograms, the Celerio is amazingly light (it’s lighter than its predecessor), and its overall performance and efficiency follows this trait. The 1.0-liter 3-cylinder motor makes just 67 horsepower and 89 Nm of torque which isn’t a lot, but those are surprisingly enough to pull this hatchback around. The engine is pretty vocal, but it moves smartly. It’s never going to get your heart racing, but it delivers usable grunt, especially in the confines of the city.
The accompanying AGS or Auto Gear Shift transmission requires a learning curve, and it generally involves unlearning well-grained driving behaviors. It does alright on level ground or in stop-and-go traffic. Shift quality has improved tremendously, but it still can’t match the smoothness of a more traditional torque converter. On hilly terrain or more spirited drives though, it behaves more like a beginner driver. Clutch engagement isn’t as rough as it used to be, but the shifting continues to be unpredictable. This can cause unwanted jerkiness which can catch a driver off-guard. The best way to enjoy this drivetrain combo is to set the gearbox to manual mode. With that, there’s no delay in shifting, and it extracts the most out of its modest engine output.
On the subject of fuel efficiency, Suzuki says the 2022 Celerio is capable of 28.25 km/L based on a sanctioned fuel economy run test. Although there wasn’t enough time to stretch this hatchback’s legs for a long drive, it manages to squeeze out an impressive 16.4 km/L in the city. This is down to technologies such as DualJet which allows for finer atomization of fuel resulting in a more complete combustion, and the segment’s first idle start-stop.
It’s worth pointing out that the Celerio has 170 mm of ground clearance. Sitting higher than comparative hatchbacks does have it pros and cons, and the cons are generally centered around its handling. Without mincing words, body roll is present and it rears its head each time you execute a swerve. It’s not a deal-breaker, mind you, but not very sporty either. Steering is also less than precise. It’s extremely soft, and requires more twirls to executive a tight maneuver despite its 4.7-meter turning radius. Ride-wise, it behaves like a typical small hatchback with some jarring making its way into the cabin. But, it’s adept enough at clambering through pavements and dealing with potholes that bear a closer resemblance to craters.
Taken in isolation, the third-generation Celerio’s seen some remarkable improvements in a lot of areas, particularly in fuel economy. However, at the end of the day it’s still an entry-level hatchback that targets first-time car buyers. And that becomes a problem, because compared to before, the market has shifted tremendously. At its list price, the 2022 Celerio is quite expensive now. Plus, it faces increased competition not just from a host of equally competitive sub-B segment hatchbacks, but also from a slew of Chinese crossovers as well. Overall, it feels as if Suzuki has taken a step back here. Instead of cementing their position in the small car segment by offering a well-rounded product that elevates above the cheap, no-frills hatchback everyone’s used to in the past; the Celerio ultimately ends up making you feel like you deserve more.
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2022 Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL AGS |
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Stereo USB Bluetooth |
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Keyword: Review: 2022 Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL AGS