Auto / Maruti Suzuki Ignis facelift deliveries to start by first week of March, hatchback gets more safety

Maruti Suzuki India is expected to start the deliveries of the Ignis facelift by the first week of March. Bookings for the updated version are already underway. SUV-styled hatchback is sold through Nexa dealerships alongside Baleno, S-Cross and Ciaz. Alpha and Zeta variants of the 2019 Ignis will come with roof-rails. Ignis is available only in four-cylinder 1.2-litre VVT petrol engine churning out 82 bhp of power.

Earlier this month, it was widely reported that Maruti Suzuki India had stopped the production of Ignis and was working on its mid-life upgrade. A facelift does not come as a surprise as more than two years have already passed since the car was launched in India in January 2017. So far as the numbers are concerned, the company has not been able to attract as many buyers for Ignis as there are for the premium hatchback Baleno.

With regard to the changes in the Ignis facelift, there is confirmation about all the variants getting additional safety features like speed alert system, co-driver seat-belt reminder and reverse parking sensors as standard.

Also, Alpha and Zeta variants of the 2019 Ignis will come with roof-rails. Besides, these two trims will feature the Smartplay Studio infotainment system, which is available in the recently launched third-generation WagonR and Baleno facelift.

Roof-rails and Smartplay Studio infotainment system will not be available with Sigma and Delta variants of the Ignis facelift.As of now, Ignis is available only in a four-cylinder 1.2-litre VVT petrol engine churning out 82 bhp of power and 113 Nm of torque. The powertrain is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox with an option for an automatic transmission as well. The car gives a mileage of 20.89 kmpl, as claimed by the company. Earlier, there was an option for a diesel motor as well. But owing to low demand, it was discontinued in June 2018. The facelift is expected to feature the same petrol engine.

Ignis makes use of Maruti Suzuki's HEARTECT platform giving it more stability and safety. The hatchback gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and seat belt pre-tensioners with force limiters as standard across all variants. It also meets compliance criteria with regard to pedestrian protection, full frontal impact, frontal offset impact and side impact.