Suzuki Splash 1.0 : WHY SPLASH THE CASH?

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Suzuki's 1.0-litre Splash aims to tap into the trend for saving money on motoring. Steve Walker reports.

Ever since the motorcar itself was invented it's been possible to enter bar rooms up and down the land and hear men boasting about the one they own. In the past, the angle of attack would have been to compare horsepower figures, engine capacity or acceleration but today the pub bore has a new weapon in his arsenal. It's a sign of the times that fuel economy and CO2 emissions have become as worthy a subject for showing off as your vehicle's fastest Nurburgring lap time. Suzuki's 1.0-litre Splash might well take an age to complete a hot circuit of the Nordschleife but you could stride into the Red Lion confident of victory in a battle for running costs bragging rights if you had one outside in the car park.

Fuel economy and emissions of planet warming gasses have never been bigger issues for motorists than they are today. Rather than lusting after bigger and more potent engines, large sections of the public have turned their attention in the opposite direction and are more interested in extracting the maximum mileage from each tank of fuel they pump. This trend is good for the environment, good for our pockets and, if they can successfully tap into the demand for more frugal vehicles, it can be good for the manufacturers too. Suzuki is one brand which is aiming to attract cost conscious buyers and the 1.0-litre Splash mini MPV will have an important role to play. The Splash originally made do with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and a 1.3-litre diesel. Now there's a 1.0-litre petrol to consider as well. It's aimed at customers who care substantially more about keeping money in their pockets than the performance of their vehicle because priced at just £500 below the 1.2-litre engine, it gives away 18bhp and 2.4s on the 0-60mph sprint to that unit. Of course, if your everyday driving consists of battles to and from work through the rush hour traffic or rarely takes you out of the confines of urban streets, you'll scarcely notice the difference in pace between the two units. The 1.3-litre diesel engine's torque would be more of a miss. It produces 190Nm at 1,750rpm where our little petrol can only manage 89Nm at 4,800rpm but you'll need £2,000 more to step from the 68bhp 1.0-litre into one of those.

"The 1.0-litre Splash makes lots of sense on the balance sheet and its lack of power should scarcely be noticed around town"

The Splash rides of the same chassis as Suzuki's lively Swift hatchback and despite its taller shape and accompanying higher centre of gravity, it handles with a similar verve. This is ideal when you've got tight urban streets to negotiate, as is the elevated driving position of the Splash and its good all-round visibility. There's very little rear overhang and the flat back end of the car makes reverse parking a cinch. If you had to pick fault it would be with the ride which can be over firm on poorly surfaced roads but it's a small price to pay for the nimbleness of the Splash. On the open road, it's likely that the 1.0-litre engine will be found out a little with its sluggish 14.7s 0-60mph time and 99mph top speed but Splash target customers are unlikely to venture too far from home on a regular basis. A diminutive five-door supermini-MPV in the mould of Renault's Modus and Peugeot's 1007, the Splash was the fourth model to be created under Suzuki's "Way of Life!" design philosophy. Following on from the Swift, Grand Vitara and SX4, the aim was for it to excite customers with a youthful vibrancy that previous small Suzukis had sorely lacked. The car also needed to retain the spaciousness, high seating position and good all-round visibility that a supermini-MPV needs and that the Splash's Wagon R predecessor actually did rather well. The Splash has a 30mm shorter wheelbase than the Swift supermini and is just 3.72m long overall. Despite this, space inside is quite generous with the mass of headroom adding to the roomy feel. The boot is pokey but when the rear seats are unoccupied, you can fold them down to make room for the shopping. The exterior styling owes much to the Project Splash concept car that had the covers whipped from it at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. Once again, the European connection is strong with Suzuki sending a team of engineers to Europe on what sounds like the mother of all expense account jolly-ups as far back as 2004. Apparently, the ten-strong team "analysed European trends in cars, fashion, lifestyle and design" for six months. At least all the champagne and penthouses didn't go to waste because the Splash is a pleasantly styled thing. Chunky and high-roofed in the best supermini-MPV traditions, it's also substantially different in appearance to its Agila sister vehicle. Compared to the Vauxhall car, the Splash exhibits a restyled bonnet, wings, bumpers and light clusters as well as a different tailgate. The 1.0-litre Suzuki Splash is only available in GLS trim with the plusher GLS+ level reserved for the larger engines. Pricing looks reasonably competitive compared to other supermini-based MPVs but there is a fly in the ointment in the shape of Vauxhall's Agila which is broadly identical to the Splash beneath the surface but undercuts it on price. Suzuki will hope that its generous equipment levels tip the balance in the Splash's favour. All Splash 1.0 GLS models are equipped with a CD tuner with MP3 compatibility and steering wheel-mounted audio controls, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, remote central locking, front electric windows with driver's auto-down, air conditioning, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, height-adjustable front seats, a tilt adjustable steering wheel and an information display. It's the bottom line that will tempt buyers into the entry-level Suzuki Splash. It promises to be an extremely cheap car to run. It'll save you money over the larger engines in the showroom, particularly if you remember to get your haggling hat on. Then there's the 56.5mpg economy, 5mpg better than the 1.2-litre petrol and only 6mpg behind the diesel with its much higher list price. Emissions are just 120g/km which are the same as the diesel and carry big tax advantages while insurance costs will also put a smile on your face. Constantly reminding your friends of the excellent fuel economy and low all-round running costs you're achieving with your Suzuki Splash could have dangerously negative effects on your social life as people start to pretend they don't know you. If you can keep the overflowing sense of self satisfaction under wraps, however, there are very few downsides. The 1.0-litre Splash makes lots of sense on the balance sheet and its lack of power should scarcely be noticed around town. The Splash is one of the finest small MPVs out there, offering decent practicality within the confines of its small body and proving a hoot to pilot around town. The boot is small and the ride it firm but the build quality, equipment levels and lively handling all impress.

Facts At A Glance
PRICE: £8,350 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 3 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 120g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 14.7s / max speed 99mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 47.9mpg / (extra urban) 64.2mpg / (combined) 56.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS, EBD, BA, ESP, six airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 3730/1680/1590 WHO TO SEE: