Suzuki Ignis gets nod as COTY-finalist

Suzuki Ignis gets nod as COTY-finalist

The Suzuki Ignis is a finalist in the 2018 WesBank / SA Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year competition.

The Ignis, and specifically the 1.2 GLX manual version, was selected from 21 semi-finalists, which in turn were chosen from every new model introduced in the South African market during the preceding 12 months. It will now compete for the crown as Car of the Year 2018 at the national test days, which are scheduled for 29 and 30 January 2018.

“We are delighted that the Ignis was selected by the panel of 26 jury members, and we look forward to competing for the ultimate prize. It is also heartening that two of Suzuki’s next-generation models, both of which are built on our new HEARTECT™ platform, were recognised as semi-finalists – the Ignis and the Baleno,” says André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa.

The Suzuki Ignis has outperformed Suzuki’s sales expectations, thanks to its compact and quirky crossover styling, its 180-mm ground clearance and its high specification level. The 1.2 GLX manual version, for instance, offers a keyless push start system, an automatic air conditioner, dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors and LED daytime running lights for less than R200 000 (R189 900).

This is the fifth time that a Suzuki passenger vehicle has been chosen as a finalist in the WesBank / SAGMJ Car of the Year competition, but this year the nomination follows a string of accolades and awards for the brand and the Ignis.

Suzuki was recognised in 2017 as the WesBank / Cars.co.za Brand of the Year and the CAR Magazine Top 12 Brand to Watch. Meanwhile, the Ignis was runner-up in the Urban Car category of the World Car of the Year Awards, which was announced earlier this year at the New York Auto Show.

“We recently celebrated our 50 000th customer at Suzuki Auto South Africa, and we hope that the new Ignis will welcome many more to our family, thanks in part to its participation in this competition,” says Venter