First Drive: 2023 Suzuki S-Presso AGS to Baguio and back

Ever wondered how a cup of Espresso is made?

Despite being served in a tiny cup, a shot of Espresso is enough to give you the necessary jolt to get you through the day. An Espresso is made by forcing very hot water under high pressure through finely ground compacted coffee and is usually served in a small colorful cup.

With a name like S-Presso and a drive up to Baguio City in Benguet (known for its coffee, winding mountain roads, cool weather, food, and scenery), Suzuki aimed to answer the age-old question… “aakyat ba ng Baguio yan?”

The winding uphill mountain roads going to Baguio are a benchmark for many Filipino (from Manila) motorists for a vehicle’s performance since time immemorial. Cars like the S-Presso with its 1.0-liter naturally aspirated engine, have become more efficient and able to produce more power despite their minute displacement.

Suzuki finally released the AGS-equipped version of its small and tall S-Presso 5-door hatchback. AGS or Auto Gear Shift is Suzuki’s version of the automated manual transmission. And the update wasn’t just with the transmission, but a host of updates. To show off its new features, Suzuki Philippines wanted to give us a brief experience with a drive going up to Baguio and back.

Along with the new transmission, Suzuki included a host of updates that include Engine Auto Start-Stop (EASS) for better fuel economy, with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hill Hold Control (HHC) as active safety features.

The 2023 S-Presso's power comes from an updated version of the K10C Dualjet engine, which is rated at 67 PS and 90 Nm. Paired with the AGS, it did not feel slouchy at all going up to Baguio despite having to overtake some slow vehicles along Aspiras-Palispis (Marcos) Highway.

Inside, Suzuki also gave it a new display audio with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity which made the long drive more enjoyable. In fact, this might be the most affordable brand-new vehicle to come with the aforementioned smartphone connectivity features.

So yes, the S-Presso AGS can definitely bring you up to Baguio and back with less than a full tank of fuel. It’s actually a fun car to drive. But do remember it is primarily designed as a city car and ergonomics for long drives is not the most ideal.

For someone looking for a low-priced fun daily car that has a little bit of height against floods, the PHP 660,000 pricetag for the S-Presso 1.0 GL AGS seems to fit the bill quite well.