2022 Suzuki Celerio GL AGS Review | Philkotse Philippines

Driving a fuel-efficient car now matters more than ever as oil prices continue to skyrocket. This is why car brands in the Philippines are taking the initiative in offering cars that are efficient when it comes to burning fuel.

Subcompact hatchbacks are among the vehicles that can fit the bill in giving out fuel-efficient drives. Its tiny dimensions and pint-sized engines serve as a one-two punch, especially during this time.

The Suzuki Celerio is one of the small hatchbacks available in the Philippines that aim to offer just that. With the all-new model launched, Suzuki Philippines is pitting its hopes with the Celerio when it comes to offering a hatchback that can make the most out of your drive.

That said, can the all-new Celerio satisfy the market’s demand for fuel-efficient cars? More importantly, how does the Suzuki Celerio square up against its segment rivals? Find out in this Philkotse 2022 Suzuki Celerio full review.

The all-new Suzuki Celerio comes with halogen headlights as well as a black grille, fog lamps, and a black accent on the bumper. It comes with an all-new look, featuring a quirky appeal that’s more relaxed, and smoother than the old Celerio.

2022 Suzuki Celerio now comes with an all-new look

The front end is not as assertive as before since Suzuki forgo of the crisp character lines. It now comes with a more rounded fascia, resulting in a beefier look. I like how the black accent on the grille and bumper complement the Celerio’s fascia. It gives the small hatchback an assertive stance when viewed from the front. But, a part of me also says that the older Celerio has a more likable design.

The side profile has a simple demeanor but does not look too plain. The half-circle character line on the wheel arches provides enough style points for the all-new Celerio. Not to mention, the blacked-out 15-inch alloy wheels add character to the vehicle. It also comes with power-adjustable side mirrors but doesn’t come with a power-folding function.

It is equipped with blacked-out wheels

One thing that sort of took me aback is the Celerio’s door handle, which I find to be quite outdated especially when you compare it to other small hatchbacks in the country such as the Honda Brio, Toyota Wigo, and Kia Picanto. But, one thing that you’ll appreciate in the all-new Celerio is its high ground clearance rated at 170mm.

Quirky design from front to rear

Similar to the front end, the all-new Suzuki Celerio’s rear design now comes with a more rounded look. The rounded shape is highlighted by the LED taillights as well as the tailgate finish. The Celerio’s curves are accented by its angular bumper that’s integrated with reflectors.

The 2022 Suzuki Celerio is indeed a quirky subcompact hatch, and its overall exterior design is up for one’s preference. I wish that Suzuki went down a notch by reducing the Celerio’s quirkiness.

Stepping inside the Celerio, you’ll instantly notice that its cabin is filled with hard plastic materials, which is already expected. The interior also gets a major revamped as seen on the dashboard design, new instrument cluster, as well as the placement of vehicle buttons.

The buttons are something that makes the all-new Celerio unique among its class but it’s not the most ergonomic design as far as I’m concerned. The button for the door lock and front power windows are placed on the dashboard, below the infotainment system. While it is easy to reach when you’re seated in the driver’s seat, I find the placement of buttons odd.

Hard plastic materials are evident, which is expected at its price point

Muscle reflex dictates that I need to search for the said button/s on the left door panels. As such, there are several instances when it took me longer than usual to put the windows down to get the parking ticket or card. This is also the scenario when I want to unlock the doors when someone wants to get in or out of the vehicle.

Is that a design fault on the part of Suzuki? No. The Japanese automaker decided to put the said buttons in an unusual place to be able to maximize space. The Celerio’s sides gained more space by removing the familiar placement of controls on the dashboard. This design approach is also seen on the S-Presso.

Seats come in fabric, and it offers good cushioning considering the vehicle’s price point. It also comes with a urethane steering wheel featuring a tilt adjustment as well as a 12V accessory socket.

Rear seats can accommodate up to three individuals

Up to three passengers can sit at the back but the one seated in the middle should settle for having a tight space. Aside from having a compromised elbow room, the middle passenger will also have to let go of having a decent leg room.

Rear passengers are treated with power windows but they have to look for the buttons in case they want to put down the window. To gain more space, Suzuki placed the power window buttons on the center console behind the handbrake.

Cargo loading is versatile thanks to the 60:40 folding rear seats

Loading cargo is relatively manageable with the all-new Celerio. It can easily accommodate three to four overnight bags with room to spare. I also like that the rear seats come with 60:40 folding seats, allowing you versatility when it comes to cargo loading.

The all-new Suzuki Celerio is integrated with the essential tech and safety features you could expect from a subcompact hatchback. Placed right at the center of the dashboard is a 6.2-inch infotainment touchscreen with Bluetooth function. Sorry to disappoint but the Celerio still doesn't come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

New instrument cluster design

Suzuki wants to give the Celerio a modern touch by revamping its instrument cluster. It now comes with a small digital tachometer that’s integrated with the analog speedometer. While the steering wheel is now mounted with audio controls.

The Celerio is also equipped with an Engine Start Stop (ESS) system, a feature that makes the Celerio unique from its current segment rivals. The ESS system shuts down the engine when you come to a full stop, allowing the car to save on fuel.

Other features you can find in the all-new Celerio are the following: front airbags, ISOFIX tethers, anti-lock brake system, brake assist, electronic stability control, immobilizer, and rear parking sensors.

Powered by a new K10C enigne

Aside from the redesigned exterior and interior, the Celerio also comes with a new engine but it is still a 3-cylinder power unit. The K10C 1.0-liter Dueljet gasoline engine is said to burn fuel more efficiently. It puts out 67 hp and 89 Nm of torque along with a 5-speed Auto Gear Shift (AGS) transmission.

The AGS is a technology developed by Suzuki. It’s a type of automatic transmission that uses an actuator to shift gears. Think of it as driving a manual transmission-powered car but you don’t have to worry about operating the clutch. When you feel the need to upshift, lift your foot off the gas pedal slightly then apply pressure to it once again, which will prompt the AGS to shift gears.

While the concept behind the AGS sounds simple, it takes a bit of time of getting used to how it works. During my time with the Celerio, I experienced slight inconsistencies with the AGS system, especially when I want to shift from first to second gear. This resulted in hurting the Celerio’s overall ride comfort since the transmission gives a jarring effect.

The all-new Celerio has a distinctive design

The AGS also did take away some confidence when I want to overtake the vehicle ahead. This is because the shifting is not consistent. You can counter this by using the Celerio’s manual mode where you can dictate the gears as you wish.

What you’ll appreciate with the Celerio is its light steering feel, which is useful during city drives as it lessens fatigue. However, part of me wants the steering to have more road feedback but that’s asking too much considering the vehicle’s price point.

It absorbs road impact within reason, resulting in a decent ride. But, you can feel the vibration of its three-cylinder engine when the car is idle or when you’re waiting for the traffic light to switch from red to green. This is not surprising since three-cylinders are known for having this characteristic. The vibration starts to get less once you start to gain speed.

You also need to set your expectations when it comes to sound insulation. Outside noise creeps into the cabin but it’s not that bothersome.

When it comes to fuel efficiency, the all-new Suzuki Celerio posted 13 km/l while driving in the city at an average speed of 20 km/h. Previously, we had the Honda Brio RS test unit that returned 16.3 km/l when driven within the city at an average speed of 40 km/h.

It can do 22 km/l on the open highway

Before you jump to conclusion that the Brio RS is more fuel efficient than the Celerio, you have to note that traffic was lighter during our city fuel eco test for the Honda hatch. Good thing though, we managed to get hold of another Brio RS unit that posted 8 km/l in moderate traffic. That said, the Celerio seems to be the more fuel-efficient car when it comes to city driving.

On the open highway, the all-new Suzuki Celerio returned 22 km/l at an average speed of 90 km/h. In comparison, the Honda Brio RS yielded 20.7 km/l when driven on the expressway.

Suzuki did integrate a number of updates with the all-new Celerio. It now comes with a refreshed exterior look that gives a more youthful appeal. The interior layout has been redesigned to maximize cabin space, which is important in subcompact hatchbacks. It also has a new engine that goes with a new transmission.

2022 Suzuki Celerio

The addition of the new features is something good for the consumers. The way I see it, the all-new model is not for everyone’s preference. The exterior look alone is up for debate while the cabin layout can cause confusion since the buttons are not placed in the usual positions. Another thing is the AGS transmission, which requires a bit of a learning curve for you to maximize its use.

Despite that, the 2022 Suzuki Celerio is one of the fuel-efficient subcompact hatchbacks in the local market today. Priced at Php 754,000, it now undercuts one of the segment favorites, which is the Honda Brio RS. Only time can tell if the Celerio’s new design direction is enough to sway car buyers from driving home a unit.