Suzuki Ignis

Infobox Automobile
name=Suzuki Ignis


production=2000–present
manufacturer=Suzuki
class=Mini crossover SUV
successor=Infobox Automobile generation
name=First generation


production=2000–2004
aka=Suzuki Swift SE-Z
length= Auto mm|3620|1
body_style=3 and 5-door hatchback

The Suzuki Ignis was a small crossover introduced by Suzuki Motor Corporation in 2000 as a replacement for the Suzuki Cultus.

Mk. I

The Ignis was originally manufactured as a five-door hatchback, powered by a new generation of Suzuki straight-4 gasoline engines, the M family. This family featured DOHC, four valves per cylinder and variable valve timing. Displacement ranged from 1.3 to 1.5 L, and power going from 89 to 110 PS JIS (65 to 81 kW). Only the 1.3 L, detuned to 83 PS (61 kW) was available in export markets. The standard transmission is the usual five-speed manual, with a four-speed automatic gearbox. The vehicle is available with either front or four-wheel drive, although the 4WD/auto combination was limited to the Japanese market, as it was incompatible with European emissions regulations.

The Suzuki Ignis was sold in Japan as the Swift SE-Z, as well as the badge-engineered Chevrolet Cruze. This commercial designation is used in most of South Asia, while in Australia the car sold by General Motors as the Holden Cruze, only with the 1.5 L and standard 4WD. In Europe, due to an agreement with Subaru, the car was also sold as the Subaru Justy, as happened previously with the Swift. Like the Holden version, the Justy is available with standard 4WD only.

Ignis Sport

A shorter three-door version, with redesigned bumpers, was introduced in 2003, named Swift Sport in Japan and Ignis Sport in Europe. The Ignis Sport used the same 1.5 L as the regular Ignis, but with power increased to 115 PS (85 kW). The engine was slightly detuned for the European market, to 109 PS (80 kW). The car featured a number of modifications, including lowered chassis, firmer suspension, close ratio gear box and tuned exhaust. The Ignis Sport has the roof bars removed which were standard on the normal Ignis. Recaro sport seats are included in the cabin, as well as metallic pedals, white instrument dials with blue illumination and carbon effect panels to increase its sporty appeal. The Ignis Sport can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and has a topspeed of auto km/h|185. It went out of production in 2005.

Mk. II

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Second generation


production = 2002-2008
body_style = 5-door hatchback
related =
aka = Holden Cruze
Subaru G3X Justy
length = Auto mm|3770|1

In 2002 Holden of Australia introduced the Holden Cruze. The engine for the Cruze was a 1.5 litre 75 kW DOHC, up from the 1.3 litre 60 kW DOHC in the original Suzuki Ignis. This Cruze was available in both automatic and manual transmissions. The main rivals in the Australian market were the Suzuki Jimny and Daihatsu Terios. The Holden Cruze is an SUV designed primarily for on-road use. The Cruze was discontinued in 2006 after the aging 1.5 litre engine did not meet Euro III emission standards and would have been too costly to replace. The Chevrolet Cruze continues to be assembled and sold in Japan.

Chevrolet badged models, known as the Chevrolet Cruze in Japan retained the original Ignis' dimensions, look and powerplants, but the European Subaru Justy is now built on the new model's platform.

In 2003, Suzuki Europe introduced the second generation of the Ignis. This version is manufactured by Suzuki's Hungarian plant Magyar Suzuki specifically for the European market. The Ignis Mk. II was enlarged by 150 mm (6 in) in length, to improve interior room and luggage space. It was also restyled, adopting a crossover look between a tall hatchback and a sport utility vehicle, and the three-door body was dropped. The 1.3 L is now more powerful, 92 PS (68 kW), while the 1.5 L was detuned to 99 PS (73 kW). 4WD is only available on the bigger engine. In 2005, a Diesel version became available, powered by Fiat's Multijet engine. The 1.3L version comes as manual FWD while the 1.5L can be available with automatic tranmission or 4WD via viscous coupling.