The subcompact sedan category has long been dominated by two nameplates: Toyota Vios and Honda City. It’s not that they are the only interesting cars in the segment. It’s just that they have been there for as long as one can remember. One overlooked model in the segment for example is the 2021 Suzuki Ciaz, launched for a pretty compelling price in the Philippines. Despite the nameplate being relatively young (it was only launched just 5 years ago) it still offers the same level of refinement as its competitors for a much cheaper price. That holds true for the new 2021 model.
For 2021, Suzuki is only offering the Ciaz in only one variant—Ciaz GL. To refresh the five-year-old sedan, Suzuki has given it a bunch of cosmetic updates. There’s a new front bumper design, chrome grille, LED headlights, and fog lights with chrome accents. These updates make the Ciaz look even more subtle and elegant on the outside, a unique take on the usual aggressive and sporty design in the segment. Although the exterior design is uncomplicated, the neat and orderly overall appearance is pleasing to the eye. Moreover, the plain and round body translates to an extremely roomy interior.
The Ciaz has the most spacious interior in the segment, indeed. The headroom and legroom are plentiful for an average-sized Filipino. Even the trunk space is generous with 495L of capacity. The entire cabin is brimming with conservative lines and shapes. It has a black layout design concept down to the fabric seats. As part of the 2021 update, Suzuki has given the Ciaz an 8-inch infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The car has a reverse camera and parking sensors as well.
Under the hood is a 1.4L 4-cylinder engine paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission. The gasoline engine is capable of 91 HP and 130 Nm of torque. Although it’s the same engine as before, Suzuki has improved the cylinder heads and piston crowns of the engine for better reliability and efficiency. The suspension setup of the Ciaz includes an independent MacPherson Strut at the front and a coil-sprung torsion beam at the rear. It is also equipped with ventilated disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear.
For safety, the Ciaz is equipped with dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, and 3-point seatbelts for four occupants.
The best selling point of the 2021 Suzuki Ciaz is the affordable price in the Philippines. For just Php 888,000, you get a subcompact sedan that’s very competitive in terms of design, performance, and comfort. Suzuki even updated the model to make the features more relevant than ever. The roomy interior is also a major bonus to many consumers.