What are your considerations in getting a vehicle? Is it the capacity? Technology? Its aesthetic presentation? Affordability? Whatever your criteria in choosing a vehicle may be, the decision comes down to whoever's using or getting it. The 2022 Suzuki S-Presso is the most affordable model you could get today at around half a million pesos. But what's beyond that a little more than half a million-peso S-Presso?

Pros

It is the most affordable car on the Philippine market.

Not just nowadays, but we have always considered affordability in getting the perfect car. That is why at times we lower our standards to keep our budget tight and do not get swayed by marketing tactics and unnecessary features. On that note, you will never have to lower your standards if you found the Suzuki S-Presso the best for your liking, as it is the most affordable car on the market today. It is priced from Php523,000 up to Php568,000, which is more easily achievable than its competitors not just in the same category, but in the whole automobile lineup. For just a little more than half a million pesos, you get to have a car that is competitive enough.

It has a head-turning appeal.

The Suzuki S-Presso is considered and categorized as a hatchback vehicle. But the good thing is, it has a better approach to being a hatchback as it presents itself with an SUV vibe. The exterior has faux skid plates that are found on SUVs and pickup trucks. The ground clearance is higher than other crossovers like Hyundai Kona and many more. The car may be small, but it comes with a cute yet mature appeal fit for first-time car owners, students, and others who like the vibe of the Suzuki S-Presso. Its appearance on the road makes most of the people around turn their heads because of its cuteness over maturity.

It has a good ground clearance.

Having said that one of the characteristics that make the Suzuki S-Presso stand out over its competitors in the same class is its good ground clearance, which gives the vehicle an edge in terms of capabilities. If a vehicle comes with good ground clearance, there is a lesser possibility to damage the components under the cabin. It will also give the driver enough height clearance to take arduous surfaces and slopes without worrying about the under chassis. To give you an idea, its ground clearance is better than some crossover SUVs in the market like the Hyundai Kona, which is unlikely and makes it stand out in the hatchback vehicle category.

Its 1.0-liter engine performs surprisingly impressive.

The 2022 Suzuki S-Presso comes with a 1.0-naturally aspirated K10B gasoline-powered engine that makes 67 hp and 90 Nm of torque output, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. To be honest, we wouldn't expect much from a Suzuki hatchback of its price point to have a blasting performance on the road, as it is not for a speedy ride. However, surprisingly, the Suzuki S-Presso has a decent performance output than expected. Although it is not the best, and that's given, considering its affordable price point in the market, it doesn't disappoint. The torque power is decent enough to pull a small car.

Cons

The instrument cluster is located at the center of the dashboard panel.

The instrument cluster of the 2022 Suzuki S-Presso is located at the center of the dashboard panel, together with the infotainment system, which is very unlikely. Although several vehicles come with this kind of cockpit setup, it is not the most ideal and efficient location for an instrument cluster as the driver must have an easy way to peek at the information from the gauge cluster. If the driver has to turn his head to look for the information at the center of the dashboard panel, it could lead to unfortunate circumstances. That is also why car manufacturers are putting information on the windshield nowadays, to help the driver see the information he needs with minimal head turns and peeks.

It only comes in manual transmission.

If you're thinking of getting the 2022 Suzuki S-Presso in an automatic transmission, think twice, as it is only available in manual transmission for all the variants. It may be odd to think that there is no automatic transmission or a CVT, but this favors manual transmission enthusiasts. Not only that it gives you nostalgia, but it gives you full control of driving. Although, I don't think it will be ideal for the elderly to take it on long drives.

Some functionalities are manually-operated.

What would you expect for a vehicle worth just a little more than half a million pesos? Of course, there are some compromises if you opt to save on the sale price. The Suzuki S-Presso comes with just the necessary features to keep you going on city errands. And most of the functionalities are manually operated, like the rear windows. You get to open the rear windows manually, just like how your childhood family car does. To access the cargo space at the back, you can open up the tailgate manually. Several other features are manually-operated in the S-Presso; nonetheless, you have to fit your expectation according to the price of the vehicle.

There is a possibility of body roll over.

Since Suzuki S-Presso is a small vehicle, the chance of it rolling over is high, especially since it also comes with a high ground clearance than the usual hatchback. That is why drivers should take extra care when taking turns, overtaking, and avoiding obstructions on the road; to avoid the possibility of body rolling.

Also Read: 2022 Suzuki S-Presso Enters the Market with Affordability and Fuel Efficiency