Suzuki Splash hatchback (2008 – ) expert review
By Andy Goodwin, 16th September 2008
The verdict
The Suzuki Splash is a good looking supermini that's ideal around town. It features a range of nippy engines, is easy to manoeuvre and a doddle to park.
Interested in this car?
Pros
- Smart, fluid styling
- Decent practicality
- Easy to manouevre and park
Cons
- Poor emissions
- Underpowered on the open road
- Firm ride
Full Review
1. Exterior
The Suzuki Splash is a big improvement over its spiritual predecessor, the Suzuki Wagon-R. That had square and boxy looks, while the Splash has a more fluid shape. It’s based on the Suzuki Swift supermini, but it’s significantly taller. There is around 30mm more headroom in the Splash, giving it an airy feel. The extra height is disguised well by big headlights and taillights and wheels pushed right out to the corners.
Our rating: 4
2. Interior
Fans of a high driving position will love the raised seats and big upright windscreen which gives a great view of the road ahead. Suzuki has given the Splash a youthful interior with silver accents on the steering wheel, gear lever, air vents, dashboard and dials and coloured trim with matching seat panels and door trim.
Our rating: 4
3. Practicality
For its small size the Splash is very practical, with a 178-litre boot which can be expanded to 573-litres by folding down the 60:40 split rear seats. There is a handy 36-litre under-floor compartment in the boot with a waterproof lining for valuables and wet or soiled items. The indicators have a strange sound built-in, akin to the sound effects from an old computer game, which some may find annoying.
Our rating: 4
4. Ride and handling
The Splash has quite firm suspension which makes it feel alert and nippy around town. It’s quick to change direction and works well ducking and diving around city streets. Out of town it impresses less, but doesn’t feel out of its depth and is competitive with its rivals.
Our rating: 3
5. Performance
Similarly to the way it handles, the Splash feels nippy and quick off the mark while in town, but its engines lack of power is exposed by heading onto faster roads and the motorway. The 1.2-litre petrol is quickest from 0-62mph, covering the benchmark in 12.3 seconds and reaching 109mph. The diesel is slower on paper (13.9 seconds to 62mph) but should feel the fastest and most grown up on the road thanks to its 140lb/ft of pulling power.
Our rating: 3
6. Running costs
Disappointingly, the 1.2-litre petrol emits 131g/km of carbon dioxide placing it in a mid-table tax band (similar to a Volkswagen Golf 2-litre TDI). Its 51.4mpg average fuel consumption is more pleasing, but if you plan on keeping the Splash for a long time and plan to drive a lot of miles, it’s worth paying the premium to get into the diesel, with its emissions of 120g/km and combined economy of 62.8mpg. Group three insurance for the petrol and four for the diesel is agreeably low.
Our rating: 3
7. Reliability
Because the Splash is built on the Swift platform and shares many components we can assume it will be just as reliable. The engines are well designed and built to high standards, and the car as a whole feels robust.
Our rating: 4
8. Safety
Impressively, Suzuki has decided to fit every UK Splash with electronic stability programme (ESP) as standard, to help prevent accidents where the car skids. There are front, side and curtain airbags across the range and ISOFIX fixtures for child seats on the rear bench. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake assist help stop the car as fast as possible and the Suzuki Splash scored four stars in Euro NCAP crash testing.
Our rating: 4
9. Equipment
The basic Splash is called the GLS and the GLS+ and identically specced DDiS diesel top the range and add 15-inch alloy wheels, front foglamps and tinted glass. The GLS has a CD player with steering wheel-mounted controls, leather steering wheel, remote central locking, electric front windows, air-con, electric door mirrors and trip computer.
Our rating: 3
10. Why buy?
Ease of parking, agile handling and decent practicality should endear the Suzuki Splash to urbanites looking for a sensible and cost effective car with a sense of character.
Our rating: 4
Expert review 3.6stars
- Exterior4
- Interior4
- Practicality4
- Ride and handling3
- Performance3
- Running costs3
- Reliability4
- Safety4
- Equipment3
- Why buy?4
Our recommendations
Best on a budget:
Splash 1.0 GLS
The 1.0 GLS is offers low running costs.
Best-seller:
Splash 1.2 GLS
Best-selling Splash features nippy 1.2 engine.
Blow the budget:
Splash 1.3 DDiS GLS+
Diesel range-topper adds 15-inch alloy wheels.
The Suzuki Splash is a big improvement over its spiritual predecessor, the Suzuki Wagon-R