Second generation (FE; 2014)
The second-generation Celerio was launched in India as a standalone model with six variants.[6] The diesel version of Celerio was introduced in the second quarter of 2015. The hatchback is currently available in petrol and CNG fuel options.[7] The Celerio X is a premium variant of Celerio with a sportier look, equipped with AGS technology, Striking X graphic and grille design.
The petrol engine is a Suzuki K-series K10B latest revision called K-Next (not same as Wagon R K10B, because Wagon R has compression ratio of 10:1 while Celerio/Cultus has 11:1).[8][9] The gearbox is basically a manual transmission with a transmission control unit (TCU) that actuates the hydraulics to shift the gears.[10]
It was launched on the European market in the second half of 2014, having its European premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014.[11] However, the British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand market (ceased being built for UK/IE market in 2019, 2021 for Australasia) were produced in the Suzuki's Rayong manufacturing plant in Thailand. The Australasian market model lacked a fifth seatbelt.
The Pakistani version of the Celerio, using the Cultus nameplate, was launched in 2017 after the previous generation of the facelifted Suzuki Cultus was discontinued due to poor sales and an outdated exterior. Pak Suzuki Motors had launched the rebadged Celerio in three variants: VXR, VXL, and VXL AGS. While the VXR variant lacked airbags, power mirrors, ABS, and fog lights, both the VXR and VXL variants were offered with a 5-speed manual transmission, while the VXL AGS variant was offered with a 5-speed automatic gearbox. Later in 2020, Sat-Nav was also available on VXL models. This was also the first Pakistani car that had AGS technology.
The Pakistani variant of the Celerio was offered under the original name by Maruti Suzuki in India and Suzuki Motor Thailand in Rayong Province Thailand. The Celerio replaces the A-Star and Zen Estilo.[12][13]
Safety
The India version of the Celerio was awarded zero stars by the Global NCAP 1.0 after a test conducted in May 2016 (similar to Latin NCAP 2013) The basic version of the Celerio in India and Pakistan does not include airbags nor ABS and the body shell of the vehicle was rated by the Global NCAP as "unstable".[14]
Latin NCAP 1.0 awarded the Indian-made Latin American version with 2 airbags 4 stars in 2013.[15]
The European Suzuki Celerio scored 3 of 5 stars when tested by Euro NCAP in 2014 (similar to Latin NCAP 2020) and 4 of 5 by ANCAP in 2015.[16][17] ANCAP and Euro NCAP received criticism claiming they underscored the Celerio relative to other cars that had fewer airbags or performed worse in crash tests.[18]
