Is Suzuki PH launching the Eeco microvan?

Suzuki PH receives approval for a light-duty vehicle with a 1.2L engine

It seems Suzuki Philippines is looking to expand its lineup of workhorse vehicles. While they already have the likes of the Carry and the APV in their portfolio, the brand appears to be planning to add another model that can take on multiple roles.

Recently, Suzuki Philippines was given regulatory approval for a light-duty vehicle with an 1197cc gasoline-powered engine. This translates to a displacement of 1.2 liters which likely means it’s a K12 engine. Moreover, the light-duty vehicle has a reference weight of 1,035 kg. What’s more is that based on the approval, the car will supposedly come from India.

After crunching the numbers and doing some research, it seems Suzuki Philippines has already arranged plans to bring the Eeco microvan into the country. Also called the Suzuki Every Plus and the E-RV in other markets, the Eeco is a stripped-down version of the now-discontinued Suzuki Versa for the Indian market.

While the Eeco microvan is not exactly the most stylish vehicle out there, it can carry plenty of cargo or serve as a 7-seater people carrier. Despite only having a 1.2-liter three-cylinder K12N that makes 81 PS and 104 Nm of torque, the Eeco has a cargo-carrying capacity of 920 kg. This is surprising given that its curb weight only ranges between 935 kg to 1,035 kg, depending on the variant. Power is then sent to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Size-wise, the Eeco measures 3675mm long, 1475mm wide, 1825mm tall, and has a generous 2350mm wheelbase. It can seat a total of 7 people although there’s a 5-seater variant available. Last but not least, it has a turning radius of 4.5 meters which makes it easy to drive, especially on narrow roads.

For those who want to treat it as a cargo van, all the rear seats can be removed in order to make the Eeco into a low-floor cargo vehicle. Heck, there’s even a dedicated ambulance version of the Suzuki Eeco available in India.

For creature comforts, the Eeco is equipped with air-conditioning, a multi-info display with a trip meter & digital speedometer, a 12V power socket, seat back pockets, and headrests for all rows of seats. For safety, the Eeco is fitted with anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution (ABS+EBD), reverse parking sensors and dual front airbags.

With Suzuki Philippines already making plans for what could be a new light-duty vehicle via the Eeco, we’re curious how the automaker will price it.