Suzuki's road to recovery

The global financial crisis is now in the pages of history but car makers like Suzuki are still feeling its impact.

In Japan, the GFC hit hard and most makers wound back on development spending and also on the quality of their cars. The lifespan of some cars was stretched and others were renewed with a lot of carryover parts and thinking.

The likes of Honda, Mitsubishi and Subaru reasoned they had to step back to go forward but Hyundai and Kia of Korea accelerated briskly at the same time and that's why they now build a lot of Japanese-style cars — think i30 and Sportage for a start — that are better than Japanese cars.

At Suzuki, the GFC hit particularly hard. The Kizashi has not been renewed, the latest Swift is only a minor improvement and we're still waiting to see what will happen to the Grand Vitara. But there is a new S-Cross in the SUV space and the Alto tiddler, a car that only sells on price, has just been rated by motor clubs as the cheapest car to run in Australia in 2014.

The man who guided Suzuki through the GFC, Tony Devers, has just moved to a strategic post at Suzuki Australia and acknowledges the difficulties it caused. But he is typically upbeat.

"It is evident that Suzuki Motor Company took a very conservative approach throughout the GFC. However the research-and-development investment is now fully deployed and exciting new product is guaranteed for the short and mid-term," he says.

"Indeed, we will have at least one new Suzuki model every year for the next five years. You will see an aggressive marketing campaign from us in the short term as we build toward the arrival of exciting new product in the Celerio and iV4 in early 2015."

Despite the setback, Suzuki cars are still among the best on warranty claims in Australia, they have a bulletproof reputation on the used-car front and, Devers says, pricing will stay sharp as the company gets on top of supply problems last year that have affected its sales total this year.

"I enjoy a challenge and am confident of our ability to turn around a slow start with a strong finish," he says. "The pipeline is now back at full production and May signals the return to normal stock levels for the first time this year."

He takes issue with the view that Suzuki dropped the S-Cross price twice. "We launched the car at $23,990 drive-away for the GL to cover the initial shipment, which was not as big as we would have liked," Devers says.

"Last month we moved that price to $22,990, which was always our intended price point when we had sufficient stock."
  
CHOICES

Suzuki Swift - From $15,990 - see reviews
Rating: 3.5/5
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cyl, 70kW/130Nm
Transmission: 5-speed man, 4-speed auto; FWD
Thirst: From 5.5L/100km

Lowdown: A long-term Carsguide favourite, though it's not as much fun as it once was and price pressure has made some rivals — including the VW Polo — more attractive. Four-speed auto is a fail but still honest and solid value, reflected in its class leading sales.

Susuki Kizashi - From $28,990 - see reviews
Rating: 3/5
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cyl, 131kW/230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed man/CVT; FWD/AWD
Thirst: From 7.9L/100km

Lowdown: A sharper price would help its cause, as there is rabid battling in the medium-car class. It is a great drive and quality is good but it comes up against Camry and the crew and suffers because the cabin is more pinched than its rivals
 
Suzuki Grand Vitara - From $24,990 - see reviews
Rating: 3.5/5
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cyl, 122kW/225Nm; 1.9-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel, 95kW/300Nm
Transmission: 5-speed man, 4-speed auto; AWD
Thirst: From 6.8L/100km

Lowdown: Hidden gem that's easy to recommend to friends and people who need a realistic 4WD. Not just a show pony and can handle proper off-road challenges and towing without breaking the bank. Not as flashy as some rivals.

SECOND-HAND

The Swift has become a Carsguide best-buy for parents with first-time drivers. It has a reputation for reliability to match any Toyota, is cheap to run and is pretty good on the safety front.

It's also light to handle, easy to park and gentle on the bowsers. For youngsters, it also has a trendy look that is enhanced with a Sport Package that doesn't go crazy on the performance side of the deal.

It's good to drive but not a monster. The Swift is always worth a look if you're shopping for a Yaris or Mazda2 for city-and-suburban work, and can make a value choice from a Japanese brand that is as bankable as the best.