Respect. Suzuki gets less than it deserves. Consider some facts. Suzuki Motor Corporation took 35 years to sell 1 million vehicles per year worldwide. 15 more years to reach 2 million vehicles in 2005. Nearly 2.4 million vehicles last year. And in fiscal year 2009, expects to produce 3 million vehicles.
Continue reading "New York Auto Show 2008 – Suzuki Concept Kizashi 3" »
Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck
Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputations for quality and value. Suzuki won't sell enough Equators to justify creating and building a pickup of their own, but partnering gets them a strong product at a price they can afford.
Officially, we haven't yet seen the production Equator (on sale until fall 2008), as Suzuki presented three concepts in Chicago. Each highlighted another branch of Suzuki's recreational business, carrying Suzuki ATVs and motorcycles and hauling a boat with Suzuki engines. Supporting the relationship between Suzuki cars and trucks, Suzuki's Gene Brown drove on stage on their V-Strom motorcycle. And in the Windy City in a February snowstorm, images of warm-weather outdoor activities were all the more compelling. Suzuki linked the two sides of the company and demonstrated why a truck can be a sensible addition.
The concepts should inspire customizers and Suzuki's planning teams, looking for possible special editions and factory-backed accessories. Suzuki showed the Equator being used to maximizing free time, giving it a fun image from the get-go. Equator has a solid foundation, if a weak name, and a team behind it with a clear sense of what buyer to target and a good road map for getting there.
Continue reading "2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki" »
Concepts at Frankfurt and Tokyo Foreshadow Suzuki's Mid-Size Intentions.
The Kizashi at the 2007 Frankfurt show and the Kizashi 2 a month later at the Tokyo motor show, according to Suzuki, "illustrate Suzuki's progress toward developing a D-segment entry." For American buyers, those are cars similar in size to the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Azera. Suzuki's GM-Daewoo-supplied Verona tried to compete here, but was not a particularly good example of a family sedan, expensive for the Suzuki franchise, and it was dropped from the range after a short sales run in the USA.
Among the interesting elements of these two international concept cars is that both carry a wagon bodystyle; Suzuki is due to show a third development next year in the United States and it would be a good bet that that car is a sedan and closer to what the production vehicle will be. Suzuki is well aware of the need for the production car to at least include a sedan, having indicated that they are planning a new flagship sedan, despite theses wagon concepts. In the States, four-door sedans dominate car segments. Few wagons survive for long in the cutthroat U.S. mid-size market, and those that do sell a fraction of their sedan counterparts. Wagons fare much better in international markets, where buyers did not take SUVs to heart quite as deeply as Americans. Simply, in the USA, SUVs killed the idea of a conventional station wagon.
The Kizashi 2 in Tokyo takes more aggressive, nearly SUV cues, compared with the sleek Kizashi, but it is still a wagon. Suzuki is looking for a D-segment entry that focuses on status and signals the maturity of the brand.
Continue reading "Suzuki Kizashi and Kizashi 2: A Brand Looking to Grow" »
This month, Suzuki offers new competition for Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Kia Spectra, Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer, and Chevrolet Cobalt and replaces the slow-selling Aerio. The SX4 Sport sedan is related to the SX4 Crossover launched last summer, and most distinct from the Crossover in that it carries a trunk and is not available with an all-wheel-drive system. The SX4 family is more competitive than the Aerio hatchback and sedan they replace and continue to offer lots of standard features at a reasonable price point.
On a hot and muggy August day in Traverse City, Michigan, we had our first drive and spent some time with Suzuki product planners and marketing executives. Suzuki developed the SX4 Sport to be a stylish compact with emotionally rewarding driving experience at an affordable price, but also wanted to bring something new to the market. In many ways, and within the context of the compact segment, they met these goals. The SX4 offers a quirky style and an affordable price, but we did not see where it brings something new or unique to the standard compact sedan formula.
Steady and Quiet, Rain or Shine
A strong downpour covered the morning and first of our drive, though the sun opened up and dried out the roads over the course of our three-hour drive. The small, narrow SX4 felt as planted during a strong downpour as on dry pavement an hour later. Though a deep puddle tried to swallow the little car, the SX4 would have none of that and pushed through with the determination of a larger vehicle. The SX4 Sport is nimble and offers a manual gearbox with direct action, little slop, and a light but predictable clutch. Though entertaining for a $15,000 ride, the SX4 doesn't offer as much pure fun as a Mazda3 nor does it feel quite as substantial as the new-for-2008 Mitsubishi Lancer (click for our drive review of the Lancer). It does, however, offer an interior environment surprisingly free of road or wind noise.
Continue reading "2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport: Value Conscious Style" »
Grand Vitara won in its segment with narrow margins in five categories in addition to strong wins for ingress/egress and interior storage. To win an Ideal Vehicle segment Award, a vehicle needs to be an all-rounder. The visibility-challenged Toyota FJ Cruiser and the relatively underpowered Jeep Wrangler may be a little too focused to beat out the more all-purpose well-rounded Suzuki Grand Vitara.
High Content, High Style, Expected Low Price
Suzuki is on a roll. They've seen double-digit sales increases for the last three years, last year crossing the 100,000-unit mark for the first time. Their SX4 crossover SUV has been well received, and at this year's New York show, Suzuki showed the 2008 SX4 sedan for the first time in the States. The small sedan was developed from the European Swift platform, and the Swift has won several international awards and critical acclaim. The SX4 uses much of the chassis bits from the Swift, including steering and suspension tuning.
When SX4 arrives in dealers in fall 2007, it will be with a long list of standard equipment, including sharp seventeen-inch wheels and tires, aero body kit (though a rear spoiler is optional), six airbags, and four-wheel antilock disc brakes. There is only one engine option, a 143HP 2.0L DOHC 16v I4, mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The SX4 sedan shares a platform with the SX4 crossover SUV, but doesn't offer the crossover's standard all-wheel-drive system.
The SX4 sedan promises to be a nice addition to Suzuki's lineup, with good looks inspired by a Japanese Kabuki mask. The sedan has personality, but isn't quite as quirky looking as the SX4 crossover.
We have been wanting to drive the new Suzuki XL7 ever since we heard that it would be a larger derivative of GM's Theta platform that underpins the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. What separated the XL7 from its GM brethren is its 3.6L V6 engine with 252HP . The GM models have a 3.4L V6 with 185HP. The staffers at AutoPacific and VehicleVoice have just finished a week-long evaluation of the new 2007 XL7.
XL7 Can Be Priced Above $30,000!
To match its size and power, the XL7 is base priced a bit above $22,500 and tops out at $29,000 for a Limited AWD model. Add the nav system like our evaluation XL7 had and the price peaks at $31,200. Wow! A Suzuki priced above $30,000. Base-to-base the XL7 is about $1,000 over the smaller Pontiac Torrent but reaches much higher. BTW: a base Ford Explorer XLT is $24,600 (V6), about $2000 higher than the XL7 and can top out over $33,000. But the Suzuki is certainly in the same price category.
Apparently this pricing strategy has caused Suzuki dealers some indigestion and they have asked Suzuki to shift the model mix being produced from being heavily loaded models to more base models. This will give them models at a lower price point at the dealership.
XL7 is LARGE
The XL7 has a 112.4-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 197.2-inches, overall width of 72.2-inches and overall height of 68.9-inches. We were lucky enough to have an Explorer in our parking lot to compare with the XL7. Explorer is 113.7x193.4x73.7x72.8... longer wheelbase, shorter overall length, a bit wider and a bunch taller. It's surprising that the Suzuki is actually larger in some respects that the Explorer.
The photo below shows the XL7 parked in a spot adjacent to an Explorer - almost hidden in the background.
Continue reading "2007 Suzuki XL7 - Needs Lessons in Quietness" »
Like anyone in this business, I can get pretty amped shooting images or driving a $60,000 car. Unlike many in this business, I can also get pretty excited about good cheap transportation.
Continue reading "2007 Suzuki Forenza Wagon" »
This week on Let's Talk Cars, from AutoPacific, a whole new slew of award-winning vehicles, plus a fresh look at the Mitsubishi Endeavor, and will the Suzuki Grand Vitara survive the dreaded baby car seat test!
First, "Let's Talk Cars" host Cameron Barrett chats up AutoPacific's newest analyst Keagan Patrick about the IVAs - that's the Ideal Vehicle Awards. Being new, Keegan didn't know enough to run in the other direction when he saw the Let's Talk Cars crew bearing down on him. Thanks for the interview, Keagan!
Next, VehicleVoice correspondent David Barrett takes the Mitsubishi Endeavor - winner of the AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Premium Mid-Size Sport Utilities - out for a test drive and interviews Mitsubishi stylist Robert Burns. Robert was responsible for Endeavor's 2006 facelift.
And finally, we ambushed a young family, handed over Suzuki's Grand Vitara - winner of AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for its class, and asked them to get their baby seat in and out of this compact SUV. Oh yeah, and then we asked if they could get their baby in and out of it. See how baby Elijah held up in this unique test drive.
In Suzuki's first win ever, owners of the all-new Grand Vitara rate it best in the Compact SUV class in AutoPacific's 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. New styling, larger, up-graded interior, up-graded powertrain, affordable pricing and a more-than-competitive warranty, make Grand Vitara a satisfying value proposition. With the introduction of the new Grand Vitara Suzuki proves they can achieve impressive satisfaction results with their customers.
XL7 Was the Star, But SX4 Made U.S. Debut in New York
Suzuki's show stand at the New York auto show introduced two new entries for their 2007 model year lineup, one at the entry level and one to sit at the top of the range. The SX4 was officially introduced at Geneva in March and its small size means it will be a lower-volume vehicle for Suzuki, so the XL7 had top billing in New York. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific were there in the audience and got to take our first look at the new entries.
Has Suzuki Finally Solved the Equation for Success?
Point, Counterpoint... more Point: With these two new entries it appears that Suzuki may finally hit stride in the United States. Well styled and well priced, the concept for each of these new SUVs seems to be on target. No longer does Suzuki have to apologize for weirdly styled and packaged SUVs. These are mainstream and competitive - at least from a styling and package perspective. In the final analysis, it may be how well they drive.
SX4: AWD for $15,000
The SX4 is based on a European Suzuki product called the Swift, which is a small front-drive car. Suzuki is targeting the $15,000 to $18,000 price ladder for this entry product, though pricing will be finalized closer to launch. The powertrain is a 2.0L DOHC four-cylinder, standard with a five-speed manual or optional with a four-speed automatic. The SX4 slots in below the Grand Vitara and functionally takes the place of the Aerio all-wheel-drive wagon, which is being dropped. We covered the SX4 in a previous VehicleVoice blog entry.
Suzuki's First Mid-Size SUV Offers Real Room for Seven
The real news for Suzuki in New York was the XL7, which the company reinvented with help from GM, losing the small, truck-based package and gaining a product that seems just right for the market today. The XL7 takes advantage of Suzuki's involvement in the joint GM-Suzuki CAMI plant in Ontario, Canada. The previous Grand Vitara was kicked out when GM started building the Theta-based Chevrolet Equinox at the facility. In the form of the XL7, Suzuki adds a variant of the Chevrolet Equinox, though the XL7 takes the package further and offers more seats and more power.
With a new platform also comes a minor change to the name: The old, truck-based version was spelled XL-7. With the 2007MY, Suzuki dropped the dash and the model is now just XL7.
Continue reading "Suzuki Reinvents the XL7 and Shows New Entry AWD SX4" »
Suzuki's new small Post-Modern SUV (or crossover, or sport wagon) joins its North American lineup after an introduction at the 2006 New York show in April, 2006. Sales are scheduled for late Summer 2006 in the States, and the U.S. and European spec versions will carry similar styling. The SX4 is the result of a joint project between Fiat and Suzuki, with production by Suzuki at their plant in Hungary and using a Suzuki platform. (The Fiat, called Sedici will, of course, not be seen Stateside.) While this product is well-suited for international markets, its appeal in the States is likely to be limited and largely driven by a combination of value-pricing and its relatively fuel-efficient 2.0L DOHC I4 drivetrain. North American buyers will choose between a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.
Continue reading "Suzuki SX4: A Post-Modern SUV for Suzuki" »
