New Suzuki Celerio is better than ever and we love it
With the fuel price rising at a rather rapid rate, many South Africans are looking for cheaper, more economical forms of getting from point A to point B. Suzuki has been an expert in the budget segment with vehicles that offer decent bang for your buck. Their latest offering, the Celerio offers a host of features, both in terms of luxuries and safety. Here is what you need to know.
The latest Suzuki Celerio is a brand-new model from the ground up and as such it features a newly fledged exterior. Suzuki’s designers have replaced the bold and angular style of the previous Celerio with a new, more rounded and more deeply sculpted body. The new Celerio has a deep oval grill with large S-emblem and chrome highlights that stretch beyond the grille to the teardrop headlamps. This brightwork also disguises the fit lines of the lower moulded bumper, which help to create a bold and unified look. The lower black and body colour bumper houses the fog lights.
The cabin features new, integrated front- and rear seats that optimise space, while remaining comfortable. Suzuki has also added a 60:40 split rear seat and reshaped the luggage bay with a flush fitting parcel shelf, luggage hooks and a deeper base (despite housing a full-sized spare) to increase loading space to 295 litres.
The Celerio is fitted with a new-generation version of its touch-screen infotainment system. This system is equipped with a USB port, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. It also features a host of smart vehicle notifications, alerts and information, such as instantaneous and average fuel consumption, fuel range and information from its integrated rear parking sensors.
It is worth noting that the 2022 Celerio now rides on a new version of Suzuki’s renowned HEARTECT platform. This platform does duty in modern Suzuki models such as the Swift and the new Baleno, and it is well-regarded for its high structural rigidity, innovative energy dispersion channels for greater impact protection and its low weight.
Also new to the Celerio, and South Africa, is Suzuki’s innovative new DualJet engine technology. As the name suggests, the engine (code-named K10C) offers multi-point fuel injection from two injectors per cylinder, which allowed Suzuki engineers to offer more efficient combustion and a higher compression ratio.
The impressive fuel efficiency of just under 5l/100km of the 1 litre DualJet engine does not come at the expense of power delivery. The motor develops 49kW and 89Nm which we found to be adequate for the vehicle's intended purpose. The motor is eager to rev out, it's nippy and zippy and quite fun to drive.
Another highlight is the fact that this new model is fitted with a McPherson strut and coil spring front suspension and Torsion beam and coil spring rear suspension. Ground clearance is a solid 170mm. Enough to handle the inconsistent height of speed humps in various locations. The front-mounted disk brakes are equipped with ABS brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assistance.
Further safety includes electronic stability programme (ESP) as standard, a first in this segment, and it has two airbags across the range. ISOFIX restraint system for child seats as standard and the front seats have been lifted slightly for a more commanding driving position with better all-round visibility.
Overall the Celerio is an accomplished product with much to like. It should be on your list when shopping in this segment, especially considering the cost of fuel and other essential items that seem to be forever on the rise.
Also worth a look: the Suzuki Swift and the Suzuki Starts 2025 with Record-Breaking Sales in South Afric.
FAQ
Q: What does the Suzuki Celerio cost in South Africa?
The new Suzuki Celerio starts from around R224,900 for the base GL manual, while the top-spec GLX automatic will set you back approximately R259,900, making it one of the most affordable new cars you can buy in SA today.
Q: Is the Suzuki Celerio worth buying in 2024?
Absolutely, the Celerio offers exceptional value with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and rear parking sensors as standard, plus it delivers around 4.5L/100km fuel consumption, which means your wallet will thank you every time you fill up.
Q: How fuel efficient is the new Suzuki Celerio?
The Celerio's 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine delivers an impressive 4.5L/100km combined fuel consumption, which translates to roughly 800km range on a single tank, perfect for our current petrol price madness.
Q: What safety features does the Suzuki Celerio have?
The Celerio comes standard with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and is built on Suzuki's rigid HEARTECT platform, giving you solid protection without breaking the bank.
Q: How much boot space does the Suzuki Celerio offer?
You get 295 litres of boot space with the 60:40 split rear seats up, and the clever design includes a full-sized spare wheel without compromising loading capacity, which is brilliant for weekend getaways.
Should You Buy It?
The best budget car under R260,000 in SA is definitely the new Suzuki Celerio. At R224,900 for the manual GL, you're getting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, rear parking sensors, and 4.5L/100km fuel consumption in a package that's actually pleasant to drive and live with. Sure, it's not going to win any drag races with its 49kW output, but for daily commuting and weekend trips, the Celerio delivers exactly what most South Africans need right now. The build quality feels solid thanks to that HEARTECT platform, the interior is surprisingly spacious for something this affordable, and Suzuki's legendary reliability means you won't be visiting the workshop every month. If you need a new car for under R250,000 and don't want to feel like you've compromised on everything, buy the Celerio. It's genuinely good, not just good for the money.
