From India with a Korean badge, now
Myk Belmonte introduces an Indian made hatchback, but this one feeds on sushi.
2009-2015 Suzuki Celerio
History
There are numerous times that two generations of one vehicle are sold side by side locally. This sentence includes the cases of the Nissan Sentra, Nissan Patrol, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Tamaraw FX and Revo, and our featured vehicle, the Suzuki Alto and Celerio. The latter is the seventh generation Alto, selling side by side with the
fifth generation Alto.
The fifth generation model was first made available in 2009 with different versions that Japan and the rest of the world get. All units are assembled in Haryana, India, similar to that of Hyundai's i10 but in Chennai (which is 2,297 km away or can take you 36 hours via land travel). There is also a Nissan counterpart named as the Nissan Pixo with various cosmetic differences.
June 2009 saw the launch of the Celerio as part of Suzuki's product line-up expansion. If the Alto is marketed to the budget conscious, it (the Celerio) targeted those who wanted something stylish and at the same time fuel efficient. In late 2012, a lower priced variant dubbed as the GA was introduced, this one does not have ABS brakes, and only available with a manual transmission.
Value and Costs
Similar to the residuals of the i10 we featured last Monday, used Celerio prices can range between P290,000-P480,000. Newer models are priced in the upper side and some of them have the remainder of their warranties, so find a September 2010 and later model to utilize the remaining part of it.
Cost of having one is low, thanks to the small engine which is fuel efficient. However, the manual will give your wallet more savings than the automatic, so steer clear of that transmission (which I will explain why later).
Exterior and Interior
Based from the A-Star concept, the Celerio is one cheerful vehicle when stared at. Bulging circles and a kid friendly grille at the front come standard and the attraction in the rear are the large taillamps and a sporty looking rear bumper.
The inside is a combination of both good and bad, and let's start first with the good. Some quirks that are not common among economy cars include a sporty looking tachometer positioned just above the air-con vent in the driver's side. Other positives are the large speedometer that can warn you (no indicator here, just plain old self sensory) if you are over speeding, an upright seating position, airbags and ABS brakes come as standard equipment, and the controls are within driver's reach. On the negative side, a deep cubbyhole rather than a proper glovebox comes standard and the rear passengers would have limited knee room (especially when the front seats are positioned to the back) and head space. Definitely, the Korean rival trounces the Celerio when it comes to overall passenger room.
Engine
A K10B 998cc with 68hp at 6,000rpm and 90Nm at 4,800rpm comes standard and mind you, this is a hoot to drive but choose the proper transmission to enjoy this one. Going with the manual will extract every ounce of power while the automatic tends to rob power and thus, contributing to low fuel figures. At high revs, engine noise is an event that even surpasses 4 cylinder engines.
Driving Impressions
Thanks to its compact size, the Celerio is easy to drive and changing lanes requires little effort from the driver. However, driving in triple digit speeds would require you some caution to control your steering. Ride quality is decent enough, but you won't be enjoying it the most in the rear.
Verdict
The Celerio is one fuel sipper that can be bought in the market. Someone seeking something that uses less gas, practical in the city, and travels alone most of the time; place this on your list. But for most aspects, check out other alternatives which has superior interior space or a long list of standard features.
