Second-generation Suzuki Spacia

Four years ago, Suzuki replaced the Palette with the Spacia kei minivan which competes with the likes of the Daihatsu Tanto and Honda N-BOX. With its rivals going on their current stages, the time is just right for the most fuel-efficient kei minivan in Japan to regenerate for its second-generation model, and months after it was previewed at the Tokyo Motor Show last autumn, the new Spacia from Suzuki promises to be better than the previous Spacia as well as its opposition.

2018 Suzuki Spacia

2018 Suzuki Spacia Custom

Yes, the Spacia is back for the second generation and for this new model, Suzuki promises to be the most fuel-efficient in its class not just because of its mild hybrid system but also because the platform promises to be more engaging than the previous model, something that makes its rivals quaking their boots.

2018 Suzuki Spacia

2018 Suzuki Spacia Custom

As always, the Spacia is available in two different styles to choose from. There was the normal Spacia that has the front lamp of the Ignis and the grille of some Suzuki minivan not sold in Japan that I can't mention what that is due to search query reasons, and then there's the stylish Spacia Custom that has the front of a Toyota Crown. See any resemblance? I think there is but still, they're here to satisfy different kinds of first-time buyers. With the normal Spacia starting at 1,274,400 Yen and the Spacia Custom starting at 1,517,400 Yen, you can possibly afford one more than today's Honda N-BOX, making it a fair value.

2018 Suzuki Spacia interior

2018 Suzuki Spacia Custom interior

The interior is all new and when you check through the dashboard, it looks exactly like every other new Suzukis ever witnessed like the Ignis and today's Wagon R but because this is a tall car for tall people, the generous dimensions make it possible for someone as tall as I am to live with. 1,410mm of interior height and 2,155mm of interior length, that's how generous the Spacia's interior space is and also, the rear seats can be folded to accommodate some added space for your things.

2018 Suzuki Spacia

2018 Suzuki Spacia Custom

Like today's Wagon R, the all-new Spacia is powered by Suzuki's Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a lithium battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine. Thanks to this fuel-efficient measure as well as Suzuki's HEARTECT platform that makes it lighter and more rigid compared to the previous Spacia, fuel efficiency is around 30.0km/L in JC08 Mode standards while Custom variants can do 28.2km/L (with turbo variants exclusive to the Custom can do 25.6km/L). While this is the most fuel-efficient kei minivan in its class, it's surprisingly less efficient than the previous Spacia despite the mild hybrid technology so why are you wondering why buy a new Spacia that is less efficient than the old Spacia. That's a good question because Suzuki wanted to be honest about the Spacia's fuel efficiency so they wouldn't disappoint their customers.

Leaving the fuel efficiency fiasco aside, the new Spacia is the safest in its class and it was the first to introduce SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT, a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Driver Detection, High Beam Assist, Road Sign Recognition, and advance car departure notice function. Apart from that, you can have the Spacia equipped with an omnidirectional monitoring camera that can detect both sides of the car and an around view monitor featuring for the first time on a kei car, a 3D view of your car that makes parking a lot convenient. Other safety features include the Emergency Stop Signal, Hill Hold Control, Dual Sensor Brake Support, False Start Suppression Control, backward erroneous start suppression function, and also first for a kei car, ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to detect obstacles behind the vehicle.

Sure, it may take some time before the new Suzuki Spacia will get noticed but when the time comes, although you may find the design a bit questionable by kei car standards, you will appreciate the efficiency (despite being less efficient than the previous model), the interior, and the safety this kei minivan delivers as well as the pricing. So, fancy having one? Err...Not quite yet but let's wait until someone rings a bell about the second-generation Suzuki Spacia.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation