The Suzuki S-Presso recently received a light update, including a more frugal engine and enhanced safety features. We test the quirky city car in 1.0 S-Edition guise.
- We like: Affordable, light on fuel, good standard spec
- We don’t like: Awkward driving position, instability on windy freeways, small load bay
FAST FACTS
- Model: S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition manual
- Price: R194 900 (June 2023)
- Engine: 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol
- Power/Torque: 49 kW/89 Nm
- Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox
- Fuel consumption: 4.6 L/100 km (claimed)
- Luggage space: 239 litres
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Where does the 2023 Suzuki S-Presso fit in?
Since its local launch in early 2020, the S-Presso has found favour among many motorists who require uncomplicated mobility “out of the box” – suffice it to say, Suzuki has carved out a niche for itself by providing exactly that. The S-Presso wasn’t perfect (no car is), so Suzuki has introduced a few updates.
You would have to be eagle-eyed to spot all of the changes… In fact, we had to compare these images with those of a pre-update model to confirm the revisions. The flagship S-Edition gets silver-coloured front-bumper inserts and additional detailing, but the major changes are to the engine and spec level.
The S-Presso’s most obvious rival is the Renault Kwid. The Suzuki Celerio and Suzuki Swift are also worth a look, but at the 1.0 S-Edition’s price point, their entry-level derivatives are a bit light on features.
Compare the Suzuki S-Presso to the Renault Kwid and the Suzuki Celerio.
How the Suzuki S-Presso fares in terms of…
Interior tech and refinement
Feature-wise, the S-Presso has the basics covered, with standard Bluetooth telephony and -streaming, a multifunction steering wheel, front electric windows, power steering, aircon and rear parking sensors.
If you fork out a bit more money for the S-Edition grade, you also get a reverse-view camera and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment screen (lesser models have 7-inch units). This system supports, inter alia, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allows you hands-free access to apps such as Waze/Google Maps navigation and streaming music services – it’ll even read your WhatsApp messages out to you.
The lack of height adjustment for the driver’s seat and a steering column that adjusts only for rake means that you may struggle to find your perfect driving position in the S-Presso. Taller members of the road-test team remarked that it felt as if they sat on top, as opposed to in, the Suzuki’s driver’s seat.
Despite its compact dimensions, the S-Presso offers more rear occupant space than expected. There’s just enough space for 4 adults inside, which is admirable, but that comes at the expense of luggage space, which, at a claimed 239 litres, is only suitable to fit a small suitcase and a laptop bag.
Ride and handling
For us, the most notable aspect of the S-Presso’s update is its revised powerplant. The 1.0-litre 3-cylinder (K10C) engine is the same one found in the Celerio and while there are slight reductions in outputs (1 kW and 1 Nm less), the advantage of switching to this motor is improved fuel economy.
The S-Presso has a 29-litre fuel tank and, considering the claimed consumption figure for this derivative is 4.6 L/100 km (4.4 L/100 km for the auto), you could theoretically travel up to 587 km on a tank. Our test confirmed a slightly higher consumption figure than that: 19.5 km/l, which equates to 5.12 L/100 km.
On paper, the 1.0-litre 3-cylinder mill’s peak outputs of 49 kW and 89 Nm look barely adequate, but seeing as the Suzuki has a kerb weight of just 765 kg, the model’s power-to-weight ratio is better than that of a 1.4-litre Volkswagen Polo Vivo! As it happens, the S-Presso can keep up with traffic with ease and, thanks to a fairly accurate and light gearshift action, it delivers reasonably nippy performance.
It is worth noting that the S-Presso has a ground clearance of 181 mm, which is generous for an entry-level hatchback. In fact, that sort of figure is usually associated with small crossovers! Therefore, the Suzuki is quite at home in the city, where it doesn’t run foul of kerbs and can easily hop onto pavements.
However, the model’s relatively tall stature makes it prone to leaning in corners – even when they are taken at a leisurely pace. That, in combination with narrow tracks, makes the S-Presso sensitive to crosswinds on a freeway, where you’ll need to make tiny steering adjustments to keep the car in its lane.
The S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition rides on 14-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 165/70 rubber and its suspension is reasonably pliant; it absorbed most urban-road imperfections with little fuss. Also, the Suzuki’s steering setup is light and, thanks to the car’s stubby extremities, you can easily park it in the narrowest of bays.
Safety equipment
In the past, Suzuki’s entry-level models – the S-Presso included – have been criticised for performing poorly in crash testing. However, when Global NCAP recently tested this updated model, it fared better – with 3 out of 5 stars for adult occupant protection and 2 out of 5 stars for child occupant protection.
The S-Presso features 2 airbags, ABS and an electronic stability programme (ESP) across its line-up, and we believe that the latter is especially valuable for its ability to completely prevent some road accidents.
Price and after-sales support
The Suzuki S-Presso range starts from R169 900 and goes up to R208 900 for the flagship 1.0 S-Edition automated manual (AMT). Our test unit – the 1.0 S-Edition manual – retails for R194 900.
The Suzuki S-Presso ships standard with a 2-year/30 000 km service plan and 5-year/200 000 km mechanical warranty.
Verdict
It hardly needs to be mentioned again, but when you’re shopping for a new entry-level car, you have to be willing to make some compromises. Granted, the S-Presso may have its limitations, but this simple inner-city (and suburban) runabout is oh-so-endearing. And how is this for a vote of confidence? The S-Presso is often utilised by operators of ride-hailing company Uber’s affordable Uber Go service.
To sweeten the S-Presso’s value proposition (because the model faces stiff competition from larger, pre-owned cars), Suzuki is offering the model with a 2-year/30 000 km service plan, as well as a 5-year/200 000 km warranty. And it needed to – because around the R200k mark, there are numerous other nearly-new prospects to choose from, including the Japanese brand’s very own – and excellent – Swift 1.2 GL.
Should you buy one? As a first vehicle for one of your offspring or dependents, the S-Presso certainly fits the bill (it may only have 2 airbags, but comes with ABS and electronic stability control) and, if you are someone who has climbed the first rung of professional life and are seeking a cheap-to-run first new car, the model comes backed by the after-sales support of a 2-time #CarsAwards Brand of the Year winner!
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