Suzuki EECO

Like the exterior, the interior of the Suzuki Eeco is also simple and has a dated appeal, with the cabin lacking even many of the modern essential features. The cabin layout is a straight lift-off from the now-discontinued Suzuki Versa, and here, it features a dual-tone black and grey theme.

The driver’s cockpit of the Suzuki Eeco has a very unique layout, with a panel behind the three-spoke steering wheel housing the analogue instrument console with a digital MID. The wraparound and asymmetric centre console has rounded rectangular AC vents at the top, a rectangular panel for the manual AC knobs below it and an empty provision for an audio system at the bottom. 

The lower-most part of the centre console of the Suzuki Eeco houses a 12V socket and a small open storage bin, with the co-passenger side of the dashboard having a usable glovebox. The Suzuki Eeco sold in the UAE is a commercial van, which gets two seats in the cabin and a luggage bay at the back, which is separated from the front row with a grille.

A rebranded version of the Suzuki Versa/Landy from the past, the Suzuki Eeco follows a cost-effective approach in its overall design and appearance, which looks too basic. However, for its price, the dimensions of the Eeco are decent enough, giving it the visual appeal of a traditional compact van.

The Suzuki Eeco has a boxy design, which might not be the most modern one. It has a slanted front bonnet that ends up at the almost-flat fascia. This all-black plastic fascia has a trapezoidal grille with rounded lower edges and trapezoidal halogen headlamps, which also have rounded upper and lower edges. The front bumper also looks basic and lacks fog lamps, though there are provisions for rounded fog lamp units. 

The Suzuki Eeco has a traditional van-like design for its side profile, with it having sliding doors for the rear luggage compartment. The lack of plastic wheel covers and blacked-out door handles and rearview mirrors make the Eeco look even more basic. The boxy appearance of the Suzuki Eeco is retained at the back too, where this van gets a very simple-looking flat boot lid with a rectangular license plate housing and vertically aligned rectangular halogen tail lamps on side edges. 

The Suzuki Eeco has a bare-bones suspension setup comprising Macpherson struts at the front and leaf springs at the rear. This suspension setup might not offer the plushness of an everyday car but feels durable and rugged enough to sustain the heavy loads which the Eeco is meant to carry in everyday usability. The steering too is light and engaging for a commercial vehicle. 

The Suzuki Eeco is powered by a small-capacity 1.2-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine, which is one of the smallest-sized petrol engines for a commercial vehicle sold in the UAE. This engine is coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission and produces a maximum power output of 79.7 bhp and a maximum torque output of 104.4 Nm. The engine impresses with its refinement and fuel efficiency of 19.71 kmpl, and has a decent amount of punch to pull the van in its fully-loaded condition.

While the Suzuki Eeco is an entry-level commercial vehicle, it is complete with essentials like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and reverse parking sensors. 

The Suzuki Eeco might not be one of the newest and most advanced commercial vehicles, owing to its cost-conscious engineering. However, with basics in engine refinement, efficiency, reliability and durability of other mechanicals, the Suzuki Eeco is a tried-and-tested workhorse in its price range.