It seems a long time since I tested the Suzuki Ignis, and it's fair to say it's changed very little since I first drove one back in 2017.
A facelifted version arrived in 2020, but the looks have barely changed. And that's fine, because it's always been unique enough to stand out from the crowd.
It's actually quite hard to pigeonhole the Ignis. It's predominantly a city car, but it could also be labelled as an urban crossover, or even a diminutive SUV, because it's available with all-wheel-drive.
More than anything though, it's small, light, cute, a hoot to drive, and remarkably practical and versatile. It might be a familiar sight these days, but it's no less endearing.
The mid-life facelift added a shinier grille, better sound deadening and some interior tweaks, but the bigger news was the addition of a 12v mild-hybrid system which we've seen in other Suzukis.
This is essentially little more than a clever stop-start system that takes the strain off the engine and helps it sip fuel more slowly, but it's very effective. Fuel economy is certainly one of the Ignis's strengths.
The new tech has actually meant the engine is slightly less powerful than it was at launch, not that you'd notice. 82bhp from the fizzy 1.2-litre petrol engine is healthy enough for a car this light, even through an all-wheel-drive system and, while you'd never call it quick, its agility makes up for any acceleration shortcomings.
Brisk progress isn't really the point of the Ignis though, or any city car for that matter. Point-and-shoot steering, an eager chassis and the normally-aspirated engine give the car plenty of character. And that's more important in a city car.
The previous versions of the Ignis suffered from a choppy ride, especially for those sat in the back. I'm told by Suzuki that tweaks were made early on to improve this, but the facelift brought further improvements. It's still a lively ride, but somehow it suits the car.
On longer runs, or motorway jaunts, the Ignis feels less at home than it does in the urban sprawl, or even pootling across a field, but it copes well. And the fuel economy doesn't suffer as much as you might expect.
Ah, fuel economy. Suzuki claims it's good for about 55mpg, but I beat that a few times on rural runs, and it does very well around town too. It's fair to say there aren't many city cars that drink heavily these days, but the Ignis stands up well to its competitors.
Not that you could really find that many direct rivals. It's a very different proposition to the likes of Volkswagen's Up! Or Kia's Picanto, and while you might think it compares to the Toyota Aygo X, the Ignis is more versatile.
That said, the Ignis is starting to show signs of premature aging when it's compared to cars like the Aygo. There's some flimsy bits here and there, the interior certainly feels dated in some areas, and the infotainment system could do with a refresh.
But in the long run the Ignis would be the better car to live with. It's more frugal, more practical, and just feels more robust.
There's two versions available, a base-spec SZ-T from £17,349 and the slightly more plush SZ-5 which starts at £18,349. The difference will be less pronounced on monthly PCP charges, so the SZ-5 would certainly be my pick.
When I first drove the Ignis, I quickly developed an affection for it. Like all small Suzukis, it felt quirky without being outrageous, and versatile without feeling utilitarian.
And all these years later, I'm still extremely fond of it. I'd go as far as saying it's still the pick of the small-car line-up. And I can't praise it any higher than that.
