SUZUKI HUSTLER
BOXY COMPACT
Mat Ranasinghe drives the Suzuki Hustler to test how well it would fare on Sri Lankan roads
When the Hustler came out in 2014, it was an almost instantaneous hit. Although it was a new model, its design language had a uniquely retro vibe that set it apart from other Kei hatchbacks of the time. The second generation Hustler was released at a time when there was a ban on vehicle imports – so the car came to Sri Lanka only after 2025…
By that time, there was competition from models such as Daihatsu’s daftly named Taft, which shadowed its popularity. The Hustler is also produced by Mazda and branded as that marque’s Flair.
The second generation Hustler’s design is boxy, bold and upright. It’s not as cute and appears more rugged than the first generation, and apparently takes its inspiration from Suzuki’s own Jimny. Every panel sits almost upright or flat and hints at Hustler’s tough aspirations.
The colour combinations have been expanded while two-tone options are also available. Depending on the option code, multiple combinations of colours (including two-tones), wheels, body styling and interior colours can be specified, giving customers the ability to individualise their ride.
Step inside and the cabin feels roomy; and again, the rugged Jimny like ambience continues. There are three large pods on the dash. On the right in front of the driver is the speedometer and driver information screen, while the middle pod houses the audio and navigation systems and the left pod contains a small covered storage shelf.
The windscreen is upright and adds to the rugged feel, and the dash materials are also easily wiped down and have a rough textured finish. Scratchy plastic surfaces are present; but visually, the Hustler gets away with them due to its rugged ambitions.
You may regret putting it through its paces on anything tougher than a gravel road. The rear seats are able to slide forward and back, giving occupants the ability to adjust legroom to their desired specifications while providing the 235 litre boot space with a little more flexibility.
The Hustler’s main competitor in the compact Kei crossover SUV category is Daihatsu’s Taft; which, in spite of its daft name, delivers a healthy dose of competition. Styling wise, the Taft is even boxier than the already boxy Hustler.
In terms of fuel efficiency however, the Hustler wins – averaging between 20 and 22 kilometres a litre while the Taft sits in the 17 to 19 km a litre range.
While behind the wheel, we soon realised that the Hustler isn’t the fastest kid on the block. In fact, it’s rather frustrating to drive in a spirited manner since the 0-100 kmph sprint takes a lazy 19 seconds in the naturally aspirated (NA) model and 12 to 14 seconds on the turbo model – most units sold here would be NA. Furthermore, it exhibits considerable body roll around corners and the rear brakes are drums.
The usual safety features are available including dual camera brake support, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, traffic sign recognition, high beam assist, reverse brake support, rear parking sensors, and antilock braking system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) and electronic stability programme (ESP).
Comfort levels are acceptable and the ride quality isn’t bone jarring as experienced in some other compacts. Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels are substantial, and we could feel that the body didn’t have much insulation from the way road noises infiltrated the cabin.
If space in the tiny Hustler is an issue, there is a larger version called the Xbee that looks similar but has larger dimensions. The Xbee doesn’t share too many components with the regular Hustler and it’s also similar to other compact cars while not fitting into the Kei category.
So the second generation Hustler is a great choice if you are in the market for a compact SUV immediately. But if you can delay your purchase until the end of the year, we suggest that you wait for the third generation Hustler. However, you can expect the price to be considerably higher.
SUZUKI
HUSTLER
MODEL
Suzuki’s Hustler is an ultra compact Kei crossover SUV that has been around since 2014. It’s an important model for Sri Lanka because it fits the requirements of small families, as well as small business owners and those needing the ability to park in tight city spaces.
POWER PLANTS
Japanese domestic model (JDM) Hustlers come with a 658 cc 3-cylinder naturally aspirated engine with a mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) system to assist the petrol engine. There is also a less common version with a 658 cc 3-cylinder turbocharged MHEV engine. This model offers considerably better drivability than the NA version. Then there is the Indian manufactured Maruti Suzuki Hustler that’s equipped with a naturally aspirated one litre K-series engine. We are not sure whether the Indian Hustler will be sold in Sri Lanka.
TRANSMISSION
Continuously variable transmission (CVT).
DRIVE
Front wheel drive is standard but there is
also an all wheel drive version available.
VERDICT
The Hustler is a wise choice for Sri Lanka. It’s compact and fuel efficient, and its ground clearance is perfect for negotiating many of the island’s terrible roads. It’s one of the few compact cars that’s manufactured in Japan, and another plus is that the Hustler offers fantastic value for money.
