Suzuki Splash

Great looks make the solid, spacious Splash a great buy.

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On the road price: £9,515 - £10,510
For : Peppy engines, not overawed on motorways, excellent kit for the money
Against : Awkward visibility, some dull interior colourschemes

Driving
According to Suzuki, the majority of Splash buyers will opt for the 1.2-litre motor, and it’s a good choice. The engine is smooth and refined, with decent low-end torque, while a precise action makes the five-speed gearbox enjoyable to use. The 1.3-litre diesel is torquier, but significantly more expensive. Built on a shortened version of the excellent Swift platform, the Splash is entertaining to drive. It’s smooth and composed, and a surprisingly good motorway cruiser, while on back roads it delivers decent grip and body control. We did, however, find the steering on our Splash test car was a little lighter than the equivalent Vauxhall Agila.

Marketplace
The Splash and the Vauxhall Agila are built on the same production line, and are targeting the same city car buyers. But the two models are not identical. At the back, the Splash has its own distinctive tail lights, while headlights, bumper, bonnet and grille are all unique to the Suzuki. The model range is smaller than its sister car, with just two engines – the 1.2-litre petrol, or 1.3-litre turbodiesel. There are two well-equipped trim levels, GLS and GLS+, both with better standards of comfort and safety kit than the equivalent Vauxhall. Alternatives in this sector are usually somewhat smaller – cars such as the Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo, Renault Twingo and Ford Ka. For something bigger, buyers should look to the Volkswagen Fox and the Hyundai i10.

Owning
The Splash has a planted stance and wide track, hiding its tall 1.6m height well. The benefits of this upright design are found inside, with wide-opening doors revealing extremely generous passenger space. The 225-litre boot is also practical, with clever folding rear seats yielding a generous maximum capacity of 1,050 litres. It’s a shame awkward windscreen pillars and thick C-pillars restrict visibility, for otherwise the youthful-feeling, well-finished Splash impresses. A large round speedo takes cues from the MINI, while the pod-style rev counter is clearly influenced by the Smart ForTwo. Buyers can also specify body-colour seat and dash inserts, adding vibrancy. In terms of value, the Splash is better than the Vauxhall, with standard air con and stability control. Retained values should be comparable, though our test economy figure of 40mpg is some way off the quoted 51.4mpg official figure.