R199,000 Suzuki Eeco going on sale in South Africa soon – What you get

The Suzuki Eeco will soon hit the shelves in South Africa for R199,900.

An “extremely easy to use” panel van, the Eeco “offers fuel-efficient point-to-point transport of goods at the lowest possible price,” said Brendon Carpenter, brand marketing manager at Suzuki Auto South Africa.

Only one version of the vehicle will be available at launch with a 3-year/100,000km mechanical warranty included in the price.

“The Eeco is being shipped to dealers and will soon become available at all 95 Suzuki dealers across Southern Africa,” said Carpenter.

Easy to use

Suzuki has designed the Eeco to be easy to use in tight city environments, as the panel van has a footprint of only 3,675mm in length and 1,475 mm in width, a ground clearance of 160mm, and a small turning circle of 4.5 metres.

At the back is a roof-to-bumper door that opens upwards, and the sides feature two sliding doors which are independently operated.

This opens up a load bay measuring 1,620mm long, 1,300mm wide, and 1,070mm high, and allows to fit a “full-sized South African pallet” as well as other large and bulky items up to a maximum of 615kg.

Other amenities include a manual air conditioner, 12V power socket, rear parking sensors, two airbags, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, and electronic stability control.

Two pre-wired speakers and an antenna are also standard with a radio to be installed by the buyer.

Suzuki has then opted for a single exterior colour, white, “to allow for easy branding, quick and cost-effective repairs in the case of dents and scratches, and low insurance costs,” it said.

Easy to fix

The Eeco is equipped with a 1.2-litre, petrol engine producing 59kW and 104Nm, and power is delivered to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual box.

The drivetrain is rated for an average fuel consumption of 5.4l/100km and has been tuned with a focus on low-down torque for lugging around heavy items.

“To prove that it is the complete package, the Suzuki Eeco is unmatched when it comes to general maintenance,” said the manufacturer.

“The K12N engine is well known for its uncomplicated design and easy access to maintenance items such as spark plugs, engine oil, and filters.”

Reaching these components is done by folding the driver seat up and forward to expose the motor.

Additionally, the commercial vehicle gets 13-inch steel wheels with a “small centre cap that requires no maintenance,” said Suzuki.

Suzuki Eeco