Suzuki LIANA SEDAN RANGE
For Those That Prefer Four Apertures To Five, Suzukis Liana Saloon Provides A Refreshing Alternative. Andy Enright Reports
Our cousins across the pond often have a problem understanding European motoring tastes. They cant fathom why we prefer manual gears to automatic, why our fuel is so expensive, why we have to drive compacts or diesels and why we have such a soft spot for cars with a hole in the back end. Whilst hatchbacks have always been big news over here, a saloon still has a modicum of added cachet. The
Suzuki Liana saloon range is a case in point.
They dub the car a sedan, which explains its target market, but can a car so obviously aimed at the massive US market make sense here?
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
|
| Economy |
 |
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
 |
| Styling |
 |
| Value |
|
Our cousins across the pond often have a problem understanding European motoring tastes. They cant fathom why we prefer manual gears to automatic, why our fuel is so expensive, why we have to drive compacts or diesels and why we have such a soft spot for cars with a hole in the back end. Whilst hatchbacks have always been big news over here, a saloon still has a modicum of added cachet. The
Suzuki Liana saloon range is a case in point.
They dub the car a sedan, which explains its target market, but can a car so obviously aimed at the massive US market make sense here? After all, Nissans Almera saloon has sold in negligible numbers and even family favourites like the
Renault Megane and
Ford Focus both have saloon variants that crank out hugely underwhelming UK sales figures. Given that the Liana has never threatened the top of the sales charts, its tempting to dismiss the four-door variant as little more than an Oriental oddity. That would be to do a great disservice to the thorough development program thats behind the four-door car. Despite the Lianas boot appearing something of a vestigial appendage, flip its lid and youll find a gaping chasm capable of swallowing over 413 litres which, to put things into perspective, isnt far off that of a
Vauxhall Astra or Ford Focus saloon and more than youll find in the back of, say, an Alfa 156.
Its well designed too, with two small compartments for valuables or fragile items. Despite the fact that its a saloon, hatchback-style practicality is also bundled in for free. The rear seats split 55/45 and each section can be folded flat allowing the Liana to accommodate long or bulky objects with ease. The boot opens either via the ignition key or by using a release lever located by the side of the drivers
seat.
"Inside, theres genuine space for five adults.."
Despite recent revisions, the exterior styling remains something of an acquired taste. Suzuki claim "the sleek monoform body design" to be "elegant and distinctive from any angle". That may be stretching things a bit, an accusation that could certainly never be levelled at the portly Lianas profile. Nevertheless, its certainly user-friendly, providing genuine space for five adults. The high roof gives an impression of airiness and the upright doors may not give the Liana a dynamic shape but does a lot for shoulder room inside.
Two models are available in either bodystyle, GL or GLX, all powered by the same 102bhp 1.6-litre fuel injected engine. The £9,999 GL hatch includes power steering, a CD player, ABS with EBD, central locking, an LCD instrument panel, driver and passenger airbags and body-coloured addenda, but the extra £1,000 youll have to come up with to buy the GLX model could well be money well spent. That premium will net you air conditioning and front side airbags.
The Liana makes more than a nod towards safety and security. Side impact protection beams and a rigid safety cage protect passengers from harm, the front seatbelts feature pretensioners, plus theres a child seat fixing device in the rear seat. The prospects of your Liana disappearing in the night are lessened by the standard engine immobiliser and deadlocks which feature freewheeling external cylinders. If you see somebody getting in and out of a Liana Dukes Of Hazzard style, chances are hes a villain.
Visually, the Liana has come in for a bit of an overhaul. The current model can be spotted by its 2-bar grille, body-coloured side mouldings and bumper corner mouldings. Theres also Suzukis new S logo adorning the car front and rear. Inside, theres a metallic silver finish on the facia, the air-vents and the door mounted window switches.
The instruments have been redesigned and theres a digital readout delivering useful information from its position atop the centre console. Other alterations include bigger door pockets and changes to the seat adjustment controls. A combined fuel economy figure that nudges 40mpg is class competitive, with a Focus 1.6 returning 40.
9mpg, an Astra 1.6 capable of an identical 39.8mpg and a
Peugeot 307 1.6 falling only slightly shy at 39.
2mpg. Likewise performance seems to be right on the money, the Liana reaching 60mph in 10.8 seconds before running out of ideas at 106mph, which when compared to the rivals looks good; the Ford managing 10.9s/115mph, the Vauxhall 13.
5s/106mph and the Peugeot 11s/118mph. Traffic light pole position to the Liana then. Suzuki claim that Liana stands for Life In A New Age. The Liana saloon is a new age traveller that wont create any objections if it pitches camp in your street.
It may not win any prizes in the beauty stakes but it has a great deal going for it. We cant have the Yanks working that out before we do, can we?
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Suzuki Liana saloon range
PRICE: £9,999 - £11,867 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-7
CO2 EMISSIONS: 171g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10.8s / Max Speed 106mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 30.7mpg / (extra urban) 47.9mpg /(combined) 39.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, seatbelt pretensioners
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4350/1690/1545
<< Back to Suzuki car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Suzuki Cars For Sale UK
