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2020 Suzuki S-Presso Review

Not loaded with features, but loaded with personality.

Earl Lee
Suzuki S-Presso Full review
Contents

When it comes to small cars, Suzuki knows how to build quite a few good ones. Affordable, compact, and quirky are among the few adjectives that we would use to describe the brand’s more entry-level cars. However, this time around, the Suzuki S-Presso may just be the most fascinating one of the bunch and not because it is new, but because it seems very suited to the Philippine roads. 

Coming into the review of the S-Presso, we kept an open mind and kept the price of it, which is just P518,000 in the back of our heads the entire time. Considering its price point and the reputation that Suzuki Philippines has in the market, the S-Presso ticks a lot of the right boxes, and should be enough for your daily tasks as long as you set your expectations just right, let’s dive in. 

3.8 / 5
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Review
Performance
Engine Output (HP), Acceleration, Transmission, Handling 3.0/5
Design
Exterior & Interior Design, Quality, Fit and Finish, Ergonomics 4.0/5
Ride Comfort
Cabin Comfort, Suspension, NVH Insulation 4.0/5
Safety and Technology
Convenience Technologies, Active and Passive Safety Features 3.5/5
Value for Money
Amount of the vehicle you get for the price, Fuel Efficiency 4.5/5
What You Will Like
  • Surprising amount of space
  • Frugal 1.0-liter engine
  • Ground clearance
What You Won't Like
  • NVH insulation is not the best
  • Interior is just okay compared to the exterior
  • No automatic transmission option
How We Do Our Reviews
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Exteior Front Quarter
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Rear
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Rear clip +1

Looking at the S-Presso is easy. There is an abundance of personality. We admit, however, that it is not the sexiest-looking car given that its proportions are a bit on the stubby side, but that’s what makes it a rather cute-looking car. The proportions of it are very compact, it has wide eyes and a grille that’s not actually a grille, and a bottom end that is only partially open. Black cladding can be found all over, but we’re more neutral about this design since it is lifted, and the black plastics will take dirt and grime a bit better than paint. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso Exterior Side Mirror
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Exterior 14 Inch Wheels
2020 Suzuki S-Presso headlight

On its side, you do see just how short and stubby this little car can get. The antenna is long and can make it seem like an RC car. You also get a 14-inch steel set of wheels with hubcaps, which is fine for the price, though it would have been a sweeter deal if it was an alloy set. 

There are a lot of cost-cutting measures here, we’re not going to lie. You only get one windshield spray nozzle, one reverse light, and no fender liners. We can forgive the single windshield washer or the single reverse light, but admittedly, a set of fender liners would have made the tall wheel wells a lot less of a standout. That’s the thing though, aside from the nitpicks, it has a personality about it, a sort of charm that just makes you look at it. It’s a novelty to see this thing in person because it is so quirky. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso Interior Dashboard

We’re not the biggest fans of the interior design of the S-Presso. It is different from many other cars, but we would have liked to see some of that personality from the exterior make its way to the interior. Though somewhat lackluster, it makes sense from a durability standpoint. There’s not a lot of soft-touch material, granted, but that means that the interior panels can take a beating and should last quite some time. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso Interior Rear Seats
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Interior Rear seats legroom
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Front Seats

However, space is one of the most surprising things about this cabin. The S-Presso somehow manages to fit individuals nearly 6-feet tall with little to no trouble. The seating position in the S-Presso is taller than usual, and the headroom is good. The front seats are also elevated allowing for rear passengers more space to situate their legs and feet. Though, side to side, it’s not that wide in the first place so fitting 3 people in the back will be a tight squeeze. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso Cargo space rear seats up

Another great thing about the S-Presso is its storage space. At 239 liters of cargo volume with the rear seats up, which is par for this cars’ class. The rear seats can also fold down to allow even more cargo space to be freed up which is expected since it has a two-box design. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso Rear Ground Clearance

In the city, the S-Presso was reasonably comfortable. You do get quite a bit of space for such a small car, which allows you to stretch provided only 4 occupants are inside. Although, it does feel light over bumps, but nothing too alarming thanks to the ground clearance of 180 mm. The suspension is also standard for its class, with MacPherson struts in the front and a torsion beam in the rear. On well-worn roads, expect a few bumps to penetrate the cabin. 

On the highway, we have to note, however, that the engine does tend to get a little loud. Tire noise also creeps as does wind noise at higher speeds. The lack of sound dampening and the boxy profile of the body is mostly to blame here, which means that the S-Presso is a city slicker through and through – to us at least. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso Steering Wheel

While the interior is rather basic, the infotainment is a step up from that. It’s passably good considering the price and considering that it at least has Bluetooth connectivity, a feature that we deem a must-have, especially in today’s age. Apart from that, you get two 12-volt sockets, one in the front, and one in the rear. You even get a USB socket in the front which is a nice addition to have.  

Apart from that, there isn’t much tech that goes on inside the cabin, which is understandable given the price point. You also get an LCD digital speedometer, with no tachometer, which is odd given that it is a manual transmission model only, and power windows for the front only. The switches for said windows are in the center console, meanwhile, the rear gets classic windy windows. It’s a cost-cutting measure for sure, and call it being spoiled by technology, but aren’t electronic windows supposed to be standard nowadays? However, we would give it a bit of a pass because if that meant that we would have to trade power windows all around for rear parking sensors, we’d rather take the rear parking sensors if we’re being honest. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso 1.0-liter engine

All those qualms disappear once you get behind the wheel of this tiny car. Equipped with a 1.0-liter engine that produces 67 hp and 90 Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. This engine, even if it is small, is enough for the weight of the car and a few passengers. Once loaded up, the small 3-cylinder engine will struggle a bit, and you will find that you have to give it a bit more gas than usual. It’s not a deal-breaker, even when loaded up the car still performed well enough within the city. On the highway, however, it will take a while for the S-Presso to get up to highway speed. If you want to merge quickly or overtake, you do have to shift to the appropriate gear and put the engine at an optimal RPM to get as much power out of the 1.0-liter mill as possible. We do wish that this model did at least come with an automatic or a CVT. 

In the city, though, the S-Presso is a joy to use. Its tall stature means that you won’t have to worry about potholes scraping your undercarriage. The lightness also allows it to have extremely nimble steering and handling characteristics, which make it a great city car to take through tight city streets, parking lots, or through rush hour EDSA. The clutch is also light, and not that bothersome to use. Shifting through the manual transmission is a breeze and is reasonably notchy. We do have to give it some flack, however, about its handling at speed. While it is a light car, the higher center of gravity makes it a little unsettling in corners, but the manual transmission and the lightness really make you want to drive it and engage with the car, so proceed with caution. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso Rear Badge

Apart from that, you’re looking at fuel economy figures that are quite astronomical considering that the S-Presso’s engine should be overworked. The truth is, however, that with two people inside the car, you can get up to 11 km/L in the city, 19km/L once things clear up, and up to 25 km/L going on the highway when you eventually get to 90 km/h, which is great. Suzuki cars are known for being very frugal a lot of the time, so the S-Presso’s performance is no shocker. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso Rear Taillight

The theme of you get what you pay for, subsists in the S-Presso’s list of safety features, but you do get a standard kit, which includes dual front airbags, ABS, Child Proof door locks, an engine immobilizer, and ISOFIX Tethers. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso 5-Speed Manual Transmission

For P518,000, you have to know what you are getting. The main selling point of the Suzuki S-Presso is that it offers a crossover-like ride and drive at a price that is way more affordable than almost anything in the market. When shopping at that price point, the S-Presso starts to make sense. Other rivals would also come with manual transmissions, basic infotainment, and not nearly enough ground clearance. 

So if you are looking for a car with a manual transmission, everything you need, quite a bit of space, and a load of personality to boot, then the Suzuki S-Presso definitely should be one of your top picks. If this will be your first car, consider that you will be driving stick with the S-Presso, and to us, it’s a good learning experience, unless you want to go straight into an automatic. That being said, however, it makes a great secondary vehicle. 

2020 Suzuki S-Presso Exterior Front Quarter
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Rear S-Presso Badge
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Exterior Headlight +13
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Interior Front Seats
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Interior Steering Wheel
2020 Suzuki S-Presso Interior Dashboard +5

Specifications

Engine

1.0 L

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Performance

67 hp @ 6,000 rpm

Transmission

Manual

Summary

Name Suzuki S-Presso GL MT
Body Type Hatchback
Price ₱563,000
Transmission Category Manual

Engine

Performance

Economy & Environment

Dimensions

Safety & Security

Features

Technology

Colors

Suzuki S-Presso White White
Suzuki S-Presso Sizzling Orange Sizzling Orange
Suzuki S-Presso Granite Gray Metallic Granite Gray Metallic
Suzuki S-Presso Fire Red Fire Red

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