The newly launched Suzuki Celerio is one of the smallest vehicles in the Philippine market today. It is only 3,695mm long, 1,655mm wide, and 1,555mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,455mm. To add to that, the five-door hatch only has a ground clearance of 170mm.
Normally, a six-foot-plus man weighing more than 230 pounds would find it difficult to get comfortable inside a vehicle with the aforementioned dimensions. Honestly, it is true to some extent with the Suzuki Celerio since the car is more than a foot shorter than the subject’s height.
But amid the vehicle's limitations, can tall individuals still enjoy the Suzuki Celerio? A recent short media drive on board the nameplate’s GL AGS variant helped answer such a question.
On paper, the latest offering already reflected improvements compared to its predecessor in terms of size. The all-new Suzuki Celerio is 95mm longer, 55mm wider, and 15mm taller with an improved wheelbase (additional 10mm) and higher ground clearance (25mm) than the previous-generation offering.
Although the numbers cannot be compared to a bigger vehicle, the vehicle provided ample cabin space: the head- and leg-room were roomy enough for big individuals. On the other hand, those of the said physique who wanted to drive the car need to make sure that no one will sit on the car’s rear left portion or their thighs will get in the way of the steering wheel.
Meanwhile, large individuals usually need to slouch a little to have a good view when driving small cars — but not with the all-new Suzuki Celerio GL AGS. Its pillars and the relatively-wide windows can give occupants enough view of the outside.
The toned-down K10C engine (998 power mill) — though only capable of a maximum of 65.7 horses and 89Nm of torque — was able to ferry passengers from Sucat to Batangas with ample power.
Apart from that, the unit I rode (along with two other participants) managed a 20.54 kilometers per liter (kpl) rating — an aspect that people of all sizes would really appreciate nowadays. Based on the test observed by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), the vehicle can even do 28.25kpl.
The five-speed automated manual transmission (Auto Gear Shift [AGS>), on the other hand, provides the output of a normal stick shift when driven on high speeds and performs smooth shifting on medium to heavy traffic.
Since the vehicle is minute, everything in the all-new Suzuki Celerio GL AGS is surely within reach. Passengers with long limbs can access the 6.2-inch touchscreen audio unit from the back. However, should the passenger choose not to move out of position, the system can be accessed via its Bluetooth connectivity. For more convenience, the driver can use the control buttons fitted on the steering wheel.
Further, the car’s interior layout is a little different compared to many vehicles in the market. Those in front will find the window buttons in the center of the dashboard below the touchscreen audio system while passengers in the rear can access theirs near the handbrake.
Moreover, the all-new Suzuki Celerio can fit small cups and bottles in each of the six holders found inside the car and the 295 liters of luggage space can haul bigger items.
So, can the all-new Suzuki Celerio still be enjoyed by big individuals? The answer would be a surprisingly yes.
Photos from Ruben D. Manahan IV
Also read:
Suzuki PH unveils all-new Celerio
Suzuki PH eyes selling up to 500 all-new Celerios monthly
How does the all-new Suzuki Celerio stack up against the previous gen?
Copyright © Carmudi 2014-2024. All Rights Reserved.
