Suzuki previews Eeco microvan for PH

Remember when Suzuki Philippines Inc. received regulatory approval for a light-duty vehicle powered by an 1197cc gasoline-powered engine? Based on the numbers and our research, it appears the automaker is gearing up to launch the Eeco microvan soon.

Fast forward several months later and Suzuki has previewed the Eeco to PH customers. While the automaker has yet to officially announce whether they will actually launch it for the local market, the fact they previewed it at this year's Philippine Commercial Vehicle Show likely means they're gauging customer interest.

Back to the microvan itself, the unit Suzuki previewed recently appears to be a cargo van version of the Eeco. Not only does it have two seats in the front, but the rear compartment features a flat floor along with a cage divider to prevent any kind of payload from flying towards the front. It also has a sliding door on the side to allow easier access to the cargo area besides the tailgate.

Official specifications have yet to be shared by Suzuki. Based on the regulatory approval, however, the Eeco will likely get a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 81 PS and 104 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Despite having a curb weight between 935 kg to 1,035 kg, the Eeco has a cargo-carrying capacity of 920 kg which is perfect for small and micro businesses.

There's no word yet if there will be any other variants of the Eeco besides the cargo van that was previewed last week. But given that Suzuki PH appears to be gauging customer interest at this time, perhaps they're not yet ready to show all body styles and variants.

Do you think Suzuki will eventually launch the Eeco as a commercial microvan to join the likes of the APV and Carry? Let us know what you think in the comments below.