The Suzuki Splash is a city car introduced in 2008. It was developed jointly by Suzuki and Opel, which sold its own version as the Agila, and it shared its chassis with a shortened Swift wheelbase.
Suzuki Splash at a glance
| Introduced | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Concept | Paris Motor Show 2006 |
| Production debut | Frankfurt Motor Show 2007 |
| Development | joint programme with Opel |
| Opel twin | Opel and Vauxhall Agila |
| Chassis | shortened Suzuki Swift wheelbase |
| Engines | 1.0 three-cylinder, 1.2 four-cylinder, 1.3 Fiat MultiJet diesel |
| Japan launch | 20 October 2008 |
| Indian name | Maruti Suzuki Ritz |
| Replaced by | the second-generation Ignis in 2016 |
History of the Suzuki Splash
A joint city car
The Splash appeared as a concept at the 2006 Paris Motor Show and in production form at Frankfurt in 2007, going on sale in 2008. It was developed jointly by Suzuki and Opel, which marketed its version as the Agila, with different front and rear styling. In Europe the Splash sat below the Swift on a shortened version of that car’s chassis, while in Japan it slotted between the Swift and the Solio. It came with three petrol engines — a three-cylinder 1.0 and 1.2 four-cylinders of 1,197 and 1,242 cc — and a 1.3-litre Fiat MultiJet turbodiesel. Japan received it on 20 October 2008 with the 1.2-litre engine.
The Indian Ritz
In India the car was sold as the Maruti Suzuki Ritz, because Ford had already registered the Splash name there. More than 200,000 Ritz were sold within the first 37 months. Indian buyers could choose ten specifications across five equipment levels with petrol or diesel power. The petrol was Suzuki’s 1.2-litre K12M, an all-aluminium unit of 85 PS and 113 Nm, while the diesel was Fiat’s 1.3 MultiJet with 75 PS and 190 Nm, returning about 17.7 km/l in town and 21 km/l on the highway. A refreshed Ritz arrived in 2012 with a new ZDI trim, and the 2015 model got a new front fascia, grille, headlamps and bumpers.
Other markets and the end
The Splash reached Indonesia in March 2010, imported from India, with a facelift in April 2013 and sales ending in 2016. Changhe Suzuki launched it in China at the end of 2010 and kept it on sale as the Changhe Spla with a 1.4-litre petrol engine until 2018, also exporting to South America. New Zealand got the Splash in 2011. Production ended in Europe at the end of 2014, with the second-generation Ignis replacing it in early 2016; the Ritz left the Indian market in February 2017.
Design and features
- Shared with Opel: one programme, two cars: Suzuki Splash and Opel Agila.
- Short Swift platform: city-car size with Suzuki hatchback mechanicals.
- Indian success: more than 200,000 Ritz sold in just over three years.
- Petrol and diesel: Suzuki petrol engines and Fiat’s 1.3 MultiJet diesel.
Suzuki Splash versions
- Splash (2008): European and Japanese city car.
- Opel and Vauxhall Agila: the Opel-badged twin.
- Maruti Suzuki Ritz: the Indian version, facelifted in 2012 and 2015.
- Changhe Spla: the Chinese version with a 1.4-litre engine.
The Splash replaced the European Wagon R+ and was itself replaced by the Ignis; its chassis came from the Swift. More Suzukis are in the Suzuki collection.
Video: Im Test: Suzuki Splash | Motor mobil
Video by DW Deutsch on YouTube.
Sources
- Suzuki Splash, English Wikipedia: development, engines, markets, end of production
