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A Splash Of Colour
The Splash is Suzuki's all-new mini-mpv and is the fourth model to encompass the practicality and fun styling initiated three years ago with the Swift. There's a range of four models, a GLS 1.2-litre manual, GLS+ 1.2, an auto version of the GLS+ and a DDiS 1.3 diesel with the same spec as the GLS+.
These develop 86ps and 75ps respectively, with the diesel pulling a healthy 140lb/ft of torque from 1,750rpm.
The GLS+ adds 15-inch alloys, front foglamps and privacy glass to an already well-specced base model.
That base spec includes six airbags (including two full-length curtain bags) and an electronic stability programme.
At just 3.7m long the Splash is the archetypal city car, with its surprisingly lofty seating position giving a feel of greater size.
Pronounced wheel arches and clever styling have disguised the relatively high roofline and managed to keep a sporty countenance while allowing room for five (at a push) adults with a reasonable amount of luggage. There are plenty of cubbyholes and stowage areas, including a useful waterproof compartment beneath the boot floor.
The Splash, which is totally Suzuki from the wheels up, has an Electronic Stability Programme as standard, as will all new Suzukis from now onwards.
Eagle-eyed readers may have spotted that there's a remarkable similarity with Vauxhall's new Agila. That's because it's the same car supplied under licence to GM. Suzuki says the Splash has a higher standard spec, though. Suzuki is a happening company on the world market and is confident it will be building three million cars a year by 2010, making it the world's eighth-largest car maker.
Climbing into the 1.3 diesel - actually it's more of a slide due to the convenient seat height - I was at once struck by the smart interior, rather nice switchgear and buttons and the huge round speedometer behind the steering wheel. There's also a rev counter which stands alone on the dashboard and is a bit difficult to read clearly; it does looks like a bit of an afterthought.
There's plenty of room in the front and more than you'd expect in the rear, though the boot is somewhat restricted because of this. Nonetheless, with both the split folding rear seats down there's a very useful 1,050 litres of stowage.
Although built on the well-proven Swift platform, the Splash is a very different car, and is targeted at young families and couples. It's also 90mm taller, which allows higher seats with more headroom.
The five-speed gearbox is a little notchy but found its slots well enough and the car leans a little when cornering, though not excessively. The ride is actually a good compromise between firmness and comfort.
The 1.3 diesel is eager and provides full pull from 1,750 revs allowing for relaxed crusing while emitting a class-leading low 120gm/km.
There are 10 colour options and four interior colour schemes. I particularly liked our Splash Green model. Others won't.
The car was an enjoyable drive through the roundabout nightmare around Cannes and Antibes as well as in the hills behind the towns. Not too much gear changing was necessary with the torquey diesel, but visibility was a little restricted by the wide A-pillars when trying to keep an eye on certain dodgy French driving antics.
(This included an irate cabbie in Nice stopping suddenly, running up to the car behind him and punching the driver several times before getting back into his cab and driving off swearing, the victim giving chase in his own car...).
The steering was well weighted and suits town driving well, while proving perfectly adequate on open roads. By nature of the Splash's design, rear viz is a little restricted too but decent-sized door mirrors help a lot here.
Suzuki is in the ascendancy and says it will be underlining its five brand buzz-words of straightforward, sporty, spirit, value and excitement with several new products in the coming year or two. If the Splash is anything to go by, I look forward to them.
Expect prices to be a little north of £8,500.
8:19am Tuesday 19th February 2008
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