CANBERRA: Suzuki Australia’s popular and long-serving Alto hatch has retired at last, replaced by the all-new Thai-built Celerio revealed early last year.
It won’t be a quick transition, however, with news of brake failure in the British motoring press moving Suzuki to delay the Celerio’s launch until the issue is resolved.
For now, Australian availability is an “until further notice” affair.
Suzuki remains upbeat, however, promoting the new model’s respectable 4-Star safety score and announcing keen Australian pricing this week.
When the new Celerio does hit showrooms, it will launch with a drive-away price of just $12,990 in manual form, and $13,990 for those that prefer an auto.
The outgoing model was priced from $11,790 plus on-roads, although drive-away pricing had also been offered at times through the model’s life at $11,990 and $12,990 respectively.
As with the outgoing Indian-sourced Alto, a capped-price servicing program will also be offered with the Celerio, although details of that are still to come.
The Celerio will be offered initially in just one trim grade and, like the Alto, it will be powered by a 1.0 litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing 50kW at 6000rpm and 90Nm at 3500rpm.
Fuel consumption is rated at 4.7 l/100km for the five-speed manual model and 4.8 l/100km with the CVT automatic.
The Celerio seats four, again mirroring the Alto’s layout, although the new model is slighty larger at 3600mm in length (up 100mm) and 1540mm tall (up 70mm).
The wheelbase is long at 2425mm (up 60mm), but both share the same 1600mm width.
Those slightly larger dimensions contribute to increased rear storage space, growing from a seats-up 110 litres in the Alto to 254 litres with the Celerio, comparing well to the Mitsubishi Mirage (235) and the Barina Spark (170).
Rear legroom increases also, up 55mm compared to the Alto.
The Celerio is also better equipped than the Alto, with power windows at all four doors, power mirrors and remote central locking now all standard.
There’s also an improved four-speaker audio system with integrated Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, along with a USB port.
Suzuki also promises enhanced noise, vibration and harshness qualities, with new insulation materials through the cabin.
Safety features include dual frontal, side chest (first row) and side head-protecting curtain airbags (first and second row) as standard. Antilock brakes (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD) and electronic stability control (ESC) are also standard.
Advanced seat belt reminders are fitted to all seats on the Australasian model.
Stay tuned for word on the Celerio’s availability. Speaking with TMR today, Suzuki Australia General Manager, Andrew Moore, said that he anticipates sales to begin “in the next few weeks”.
