Suzuki cars and SUVs come to the fore during lockdown

Suzuki has made further in-roads into New Zealand new car buying preferences by achieving a record August market penetration for the brand.

In a total market constrained by Covid-19 Lockdown restrictions, Suzuki captured 9 percent of the new car and SUV category for the month to make it the third most popular marque. Suzuki ranks fourth highest brand in 2021 year-to-date sales with a share of 7.6 percent and places Suzuki ahead of brands such as Mazda, Hyundai, and Nissan.

Suzuki only bettered this market share level during the April and May 2020 Covid-19 Lockdown period.

Suzuki’s Swift, the longtime most popular compact car, has made further gains, according to official Motor Industry Association statistics. Sales of new Swifts in New Zealand are up 30.7 percent so far this year, with the model accounting for almost a third of the total light car class.

Demand for the Suzuki Baleno five-door hatchback has also romped ahead, with year-to-date sales more than doubling as the model moved to 11.3 percent of the light car division. At the same time, the popular and trendy Ignis hatchback registered a 44.6 percent increase in sales for the January to August period.

The versatile Suzuki Vitara that is available with the option of turbocharged power and all-wheel-drive posted a 26.5 percent increase in year-to-date sales results.

Suzuki’s smallest Four Wheel Drive model, the highly affordable new generation 1.5 litre Jimny, continues to break local sales records, almost trebling sales for the eight month period as demand continues to outstrip supply.

Total sales of new Suzuki car and SUV models increased from 3,698 during January to August 2020 to 5,483 for the same period this year, an increase of 48.3 percent and comfortably ahead of the total industry average increase.

Accolades have flown in Britain where Suzuki was found to be a top brand for reliability. In a survey of 30 car brands by the What Car? website in the last 12 months, Suzuki rated equal third best, ahead of many more expensive car makes.

The survey investigated feedback around dependability over a one year period for drivers of vehicles up to five years old. Judges said the results proved accurate reliability information for buyers of both new and nearly-new cars.

“Suzuki reveals you don’t have to break the bank to buy a dependable model,” said What Car? In the small car class the Swift ranked in the top three, with owners reporting 99.3 percent reliability during their ownership period.

Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car? said, “The Suzuki Swift majors on value for money, but that’s not at the expense of dependability. In fact, the Swift is one of the most dependable small cars you can buy, according to owners of cars up to five years old.”

“Suzuki recording record market share levels during the times of uncertainty shows people are looking to Suzuki for affordable motoring and reliability”, say Collins, GM of Automobile. “It is exciting for us that a small vehicle specialist can be selling at such high levels in our market with Suzuki’s fuel efficiency proving in high demand.”

Including a five year, 100,000 km warranty package and five year roadside assist, Suzuki offers a range of 24 fuel efficient models in New Zealand, all with engine capacities of less than 1.6 litres.