Test Drive: Suzuki Splash GL - 2010

JAKARTA - Selling a city car like the Suzuki Splash is not easy. Suzuki Splash and also his friends face several challenges in the field.

First, most of Indonesian people prefer a family car that can carry 5-7 passengers so that the entire family and luggage can be ingested at once. Second, unfortunately, the price is tangent to the family car (MPV). Call it the Toyota Avanza, with the price of USD 133-171 million range, making gestures Splash and its competitors are very limited.

Although titled mini-MPV, the Splash, the least expensive berbanderol Rp 139 million (ST). Splash Splash we drive is a removable GL USD 145 million - most expensive model. The difference between the two is the absence of alarm and audio systems, and application of alloy steels, on Splash ST.

And, the position of Splash, in terms of price and dimensions, is placed between Karimun Estilo and Swift. You can imagine how difficult developing Splash.
However, the show must go on. Splash and his brother, the Opel / Vauxhall Agila, engineered in Japan with initial construction (chassis development, design, evaluation, test drive) is done in Europe. So, it seems there is no reproach brought by Splash.

Splash Swift stood on the platform but trimmed about 30 mm. With dimensions (LxWxH) 3715 mm x 1680 mm x 1618 mm, and wheelbase 2360 mm, Splash fairly compact. However, its interior still relieved, with headroom (front and rear) Splash higher than the Swift. Note Suzuki UK, Splash has 175 liters of luggage capacity, and when the rear seats folded forward to produce 520 liters of cargo volume.

Splash has a lot of interior storage. Pockets in the door trim to hold bottles of 500 ml and atlases. While the cupholder on the console, the floor can hold 750 ml bottles. There is one drawer on the dashboard that allows storing books, toll tickets, etc..

Interior Design Splash spelled 'nyeleneh' with tachometer at the top of the dashboard, separate from the meter cluster. Views meter cluster is also sporty thanks to a white color that became his background.

Unfortunately, Suzuki does not provide electric side mirrors. Sometimes we should be bothered to set back the side mirrors with manual method. However, the relief, all the glass can be opened and closed electrically.

With 85 hp power and 113 Nm of torque, Splash fun driving. On the streets of Splash was sharp. While on the freeway 'breathing' is also quite able to serve, not out of breath. Turn of the gear is not too short and long, so that we can make hurried on a city street.

Pengendaraannya not soft, but not too hard. When bulldoze a hole or uneven road surface, suspension damping can still be accepted by us. And this makes maneuvering Splash sharper.

For those who have problems with parking space, often through narrow roads, traffic congestion and the dimensions of large cars, the Splash can be a primary choice. Additionally, Splash can make two adults plus one small child sitting quite comfortably in the rear.