Suzuki S-Presso for India gets Start/Stop tech, more safety features

If you take a look at Suzuki's lineup in the Philippines, their most affordable vehicle is the S-Presso. With a starting price of PHP 563,000, this high-riding hatchback is small yet spacious and is easy on the fuel bills thanks to its 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

But given that it's already a few years old, Maruti Suzuki has decided to give it some updates for the Indian market. The result is the 2022 S-Presso. While it still looks the same design-wise, Suzuki gave it more features, as well as a more fuel-efficient powertrain.

The S-Presso is now powered by a 1.0-liter K10C three-cylinder engine. Like the older K10B, it makes a similar 67 PS with 90 Nm of torque. However, the K10C benefits from Idle Start/Stop technology which further improves the S-Presso's fuel consumption. Suzuki says the vehicle can now achieve 25.3 km/l when fitted with the Auto Gear Shift (AGS). The 5-speed manual, meanwhile, can average 24.76 km/l which is still an impressive feat.

When it comes to safety, Suzuki decided to go all out for the updated S-Presso. Aside from having anti-lock brakes (which the PH-spec S-Presso already has), the India-spec S-Presso now comes with an electronic stability program and hill-hold assist. The extra safety features are only available on the AGS version.

For extra peace of mind, the high-riding hatchback now comes with dual front airbags for added safety. We first saw this in action when the Global-NCAP awarded the S-Presso with a 3-star safety rating which is a big improvement over its 0-star rating two years ago.

With the upgraded S-Presso now available in India, perhaps it's only a matter of time before Suzuki brings this to the country. Hopefully, they will bring the AGS version in order to cater to buyers who prefer an automatic complete with added safety features.