Suzuki celerio vs nissan micra st

Suzuki Celerio Vs Nissan Micra ST – [A Comparison Review] Well, are you looking for a compact car that comes at an affordable price and at the same time it can comfortably seat your small family, however, you don’t want to compromise on style and simplicity.

The compact car segment sales figures precisely indicate that people today are more concerned when it comes to comfort, ease of use and affordability compared to the past years.

Last year, overall sales in the compact car segment came down by 31%, which is witnessing further decline of about 37.5% in the current year of 2015.

When it comes to sales, Mitsubishi Mirage is truly the leader that comes around $13,500 drive

away price right now as per the very recent comparison review though not for ease of use or design.

At the beginning of 2016, we’re going to witness the arrival of the all-new Holden Barina Spark, however, the current one has not performed so well as per our past comparison tests.

Thus, we’re left with 2 compact and lightweight cars, which have good inner space, comes with 4 doors, and most importantly at a price tag which even a university undergraduate student can quite easily get hold of. We’re talking of none other than the Nissan Micra that was recently upgraded and the champ Suzuki Celerio which is carried over. The test and review has been performed with just its basic specifications, no-cost white paint and with standard manual gearboxes.

About Interiors What to expect? In both Celerio and Micra ST, you’ll find that cabins are simple and clean, amazingly spacious and though made from lowpriced and scratchy plastics, they are well-built and sturdy. Both don’t have either reach-adjustment on the steering column or passenger-side seat height adjustment. On the styling part, it’s the Micra that have an upper hand as it looks and feels classy and a bit more modern. It takes infotainment system from costlier Nissan models and its sleek black and silver inserts adds elegance and sophistication. It feels a little tighter in its build precisely because it has genuine cloth inserts in the front doors as compared to the Suzuki’s coloured plastic. For instance, it would have been really good if the Celerio’s instrument compartment could be shifted around a bit more. As far as their overall build quality is concerned, both felt purely Japanese though Celerio is made in Thailand and Micra in India. As stated, the Micra provide a good padded folding driver’s arm rest, steering wheel audio controls and cruise control. The Celerio has Bluetooth buttons setup towards the side. Compared to Celerio’s one vanity mirror, Micra has two vanity mirrors and its sun-visors are much more robust. The Celerio provide enhanced under-thigh support, a slightly longer front seat bases and more driver’s knee space.

Nonetheless, Celerio hooks back some credibility in the back seat as it has got fairly improved rear foot/legroom than in the Micra, and good head space too. However, both can fairly fit 2 persons above 6 foot. What’s more, its design is like a van and has got bigger side windows and a straight belt line facilitates awesome outside visibility.Although compact the Micra is in fact the bigger car than Celerio. When compared to Celerio, it’s entirely 225mm longer at 3825mm. At 1665mm, it’s also 65mm broader and nicely sits on a 10mm longer wheelbase at 2435mm. However, Celerio is the winner when it comes to height as its 20mm taller.

Thus, if you really want to have a compact car, Celerio has an edge over Micra.

A ski-port is lacking in both the cars, and both of them are pretty narrow as is, and both come with 60:40 split-folding rear seats. And both cars provide 2 ISOFIX anchor points and toptethers for child seats. However, the real deciding factor is Micra can fit in 5 persons whereas Celerio can only accommodate 4 persons comfortably.

As far as the cargo space attached to the rear seats is concerned, both cars have quite similar storage space – 251 litres in the Micra and 254 litres in the Celerio. The main difference is that Micra is the only one with a suitable full-size spare wheel when compared to the Celerio’s little space-saver which restricts your speed. Certainly, Micra has a clear advantage here.

Economy and Performance When it comes to fuel economy, Suzuki has always passed the test. Here also the same promise is delivered as Celerio recorded a combined cycle reading of around 5.2 litres per 100km whereas Micra recorded 6.4 litres per 100km. However, the fuel tank capacity of 41 litres of Micra can hold 6 litres more fuel compared to Celerio.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what is there under the bonnet of both these cars. The Micra is equipped with a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder engine that comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox that renders 56kW of power at 6000rpm and 104Nm of torque at 4000rpm. Whereas, the more compact Celerio is equipped with a 1.0-litre (998cc to be exact) 3-cylinder, non-turbo engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox, which is a bit less compared to the Micra. Thus, it does not surprise when it gives a bit lower 50kW of power at 6000rpm and 90Nm of torque at 3500rpm.Don’t get upset looking at those numbers as both the cars are quite capable and rides comfortably beneath a heavy foot and drives smoothly at highway speeds without any constraints.

What’s important to note is the fact that both are cars in the light weight category – Suzuki Celerio has a kerb weight of just 830 kg whereas Nissan Micra ST is 943 kg. Thus, power to weight ratios match up.

When you’re driving up the hills, the lack of low-end torque becomes very evident, very quickly in both these vehicles and so you’ll have to work with the gears often.

This is where the Micra has an upper hand – though both have pretty light little shifters, Micra’s clutch pedal gives a better feel compared to the unnecessarily flexible and light Celerio that has a slightly fuzzy start-up point that certainly takes a while for getting used to.

Specifications & Pricing Although, you can also settle down for Mirage, the Suzuki Celerio is certainly the most lowpriced compact car that comes with a drive away price tag of about $13,000. In comparison, the Nissan Micra comes at a drive away price tag of about $16000 which is a bit higher than Suzuki Celerio. The difference of $3000 is not to be taken lightly, and for someone who is looking for an affordable car and is on a tight budget, this can definitely be a deal-breaker.

Bigger, cosier and better-equipped competing vehicles like Volkswagen Polo, Kia Rio and Renault Clio have been officially selling for a drive away price of about $16000 on promotional campaign for a while lately. Given the scenario, you may feel strongly that Nissan dealer

should certainly cut down on the price so that there is a strong reason to opt for Nissan Micra over these other vehicle makes.On the opposite side, if its style that you want and you certainly can’t settle for Fiat’s 2 door model then without doubt Nissan Micra has an upper hand and is a clear winner – It has got style, sparkling design and decent space. In comparison, the Suzuki Celerio offers great practicality over style. Nevertheless, it has got clear space advantages that we’ll talk about shortly.

Celerio and Micra aren’t loaded with all the advanced features though they both come with decent basics which include driver’s seat adjustment, all-round power windows, decent airconditioning and heating, USB/AUX inputs, tachometers, basic trip computers, Bluetooth phone and audio (each pairing effortlessly and working consistently), map lights, and 14-inch steel wheels. However, it should be noted here that only Micra has steering wheel audio controls, a driver’s folding armrest, and cruise control.

Parking sensors are missing in both as they aren’t the part of standard accessories; however, they can be fitted from your dealer at an extra cost. Nonetheless, in their absence, Celerio’s bigger windows and shorter overhangs make it a bit easier to park. Both get a 4-star ANCAP safety ratings, front, side and curtain airbags – the Micra against 2011 standards (when the pre

face-lifted car launched), and the Celerio against 2015 standards. Both are also equipped with brake assist functions that work under emergency stopping and electronic stability control (ESC).

Available in manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT) forms, the Celerio is a singlespec model. Whereas, the Micra is obtainable in 2 specification levels (it was 3 before last month’s update). Compared to the ST variant, Micra Ti costs $3500 extra. It is because Micra Ti has features like satellite navigation on a 5.8-inch touch screen, a reverse-view camera, 15inch alloys and a standard automatic transmission as standard fitment.

Service and Warranty 3 Years warranty covering 100,000km is what Suzuki provides as standard. It also facilitates capped-price servicing which covers 5 years or 100,000km. The servicing intervals are every 6 months or 10,000km, whichever comes earlier.

All of the visits to your Suzuki dealer will cost around $199 with the exclusion of 4th and 8th visits, which are at present capped at $289 (although it may get altered as with most carmakers).

Nissan also provides 3 years warranty covering 100,000km and also facilitates capped price servicing which covers a period of either 6 years or 120,000km. The servicing intervals are either 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes earlier.

At the present rates, it will cost $244 for 8 of these visits to your Nissan dealer while it will cost $440 for the 4th visit and $272 for the 10th visit and $508 for the 8th and 12th visit. That’s why Suzuki dealers are considered low-priced when it comes to vehicle servicing and maintenance.

Bear in mind that additional servicing or repair/replacement of spare parts is generally not listed for each standard scheduled service in the capped-price plans for both Suzuki Celerio and Nissan Micra.

What’s not included: Normal deterioration of spare parts which need extra maintenance and care (example: brake pads, fuses, wiper blades, wheel alignment corrections, batteries, tyres), fluids or additives, a replacement pollen filter and accident damage.

Ride and Handling Both Celerio and Micra render minute kerb-to-kerb turning circles of 9.0 metres and 9.4 metres respectively, and both are quite comfortable to ride within the inner city. At different speed levels, it is the Celerio’s electric-assisted power steering that feels a lot lighter as it’s simpler to twist when parking yet it’s less absorbing and enjoyable when compared with Micra’s hydraulic setup with the exception for a rare onset of confrontation at very low speeds which at times brings both vehicles to be almost equals.

Now, looking at the normal ride quality, the Celerio with its 65-aspect tyres, feels reasonably gentler in the dampers and thus better at absorbing up things like tram tracks and speed bumps than the Micra. However, in this sphere, both cars are value for money than most expensive cars.Additionally, with a shorter nose, the Suzuki has 34mm extra ground clearance at 150mm. This precisely means that you’re less likely to stroke the sump guard or undercarriage when going through ramped car parks and similar type of things. No doubt, both vehicles facilitate skinny 165mm-wide tyres (plumper 70-aspect items on the Nissan) and little in the way of sound absorption. Nonetheless, at highway speeds the Celerio proved around 1.0dB louder than the Micra.

Agreed, Celerio is lighter, and so it can be easily manoeuvred to change direction and also makes it possible for quick turn-ins. However, with a better-sorted chassis, more engaging steering and better handling and body control, Micra has an edge over Celerio as far as normal driving dynamics are concerned.Both cars come with independent front suspension and basic rear suspension (a 3-link firm axle for the Celerio and torsion beam with coils for the Micra).

Very rightly, the Micra feel less prone to axle hop. You can have a bit more fun speeding around roundabout roads if you so wish and you can steer it easily into a corner with more confidence.

Both cars are equipped with ventilated brake discs at the front and drums at the rear, however, bear in mind that neither weighs much. Yes, both cars provide true value for your hard earned money.

What’s the Final Word The first clear cut point is obvious that these are two compact stylish cars which you can easily afford for without investing a large sum of money.

When it comes to affordability, Suzuki’s Celerio is definitely the best buy because it costs less by approximately $3000 than the Nissan’s Micra. The Micra is more stylish and charming and it will look stunning in your driveway. What’s more, it has a striking cabin design and some added handy features like steering wheel mounted audio controls and cruise control, full-size spare and an extra rear seat that can accommodate one more person compared to Celerio.

Nonetheless, when the vital factors are looked at such as overall running costs (fuel plus ongoing maintenance and servicing), cabin space and comfortable city driving, Suzuki’s Celerio is the winner. There’s absolutely no doubt that Micra is a better car not only because it looks great and can also accommodate one extra person. However, when it comes to ease of driving in urban areas that has narrow lanes, it’s the Celerio that fits in perfectly and cost to own is also a bit less.

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