QUESTION – VERA (QUESTION FROM 4/4/2017):

I want to buy a small new car but due to a back problem, I need higher clearance. I don’t necessarily want an SUV but this seems to be my only option. Are there any small cars with higher clearance? What is the best small SUV? I want auto, four door, good economy and safety features.

BUDGET:

$25,000

ANSWER – NATHAN PONCHARD:

Two options that immediately spring to mind are both from Suzuki.The smaller and least-expensive of the two is the new Ignis. Its upright design not only looks good, but packages together a brilliantly roomy hatch-on-stilts with excellent entry/egress, great vision and loads of storage. And if you opt for the up-spec GLX ($18,990 RRP with a CVT automatic, not including on-road costs), you get a sliding rear seat to prioritise either rear-seat passenger room or boot space for luggage.Besides some off-the-line lag from the continuously variable transmission (CVT), the main issue with the Ignis GLX is its firm ride. Wearing 16-inch alloy wheels, it feels firmer than the lower-spec Ignis GL on smaller 15-inch steel wheels (not available with the sliding rear seat). So if you place value on a plush ride, or you live somewhere with poorly surfaced roads, the Ignis’s ride may become irritating. Otherwise, it’s a ripper.

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Read Vera’s follow up question here!