Suzuki News

Road rage is such an ugly part of driving, but the type of car you own could be a magnet for bullies. Having driven thousands of cars over 15 years of testing, here are three of the best cars I think will help you avoid the wrath of other drivers and three that might attract more hate when on the road.Your guess is as good as mine as to why whenever I drive a D-Max ute I get treated with so much respect despite probably doing things that’d get me honked at in other cars. Honestly, all utes command respect, patience and better treatment from other motorists, but maybe it’s the less glitzy and more down to earth rural appeal of the D-Max that makes it one of the best cars to drive if you want others to cut you a bit more slack.On the flip side its ute drivers I find to be the most aggressive out there — this is all anecdotal of course, but I’m sure there are many out there who will back me up. So perhaps a wariness of utes drivers and not a respect for hardworking tradies is why they’re treated better.Perhaps it's because police forces all over Australia use the Kia Sorento to chase baddies or it could be that this large SUV just looks tough. Whatever the reason, if you want other drivers to let you merge into their lane this is your car.The Sorento is large and pretty menacing looking from the front and back. But then so too are lots of SUVs, but what I think what wins over other drivers is the Kia badge. It's a brand that’s established itself at a grass roots level in Australian sport and community. It’s more aspirational than Toyota, but still not pretentious.I should point out that Toyota Klugers also command respect, so too do other large SUVs, like the Mazda CX-90 and the Ford Everest.  The Volkswagen Multivan looks like a toaster, only five metres long and two metres tall. And while the sheer size of it makes other road users think twice about cutting one off in traffic, it's more than that. I think it's actually connected to the iconic Kombi van and the good feelings that van conjures. You know we grow up excited to see Kombis as kids, which still hits us with a sense of “awww” even now as adults when we see a van with a VW badge. The good treatment isn’t restricted to Volkswagen Multivans, all vans are treated incredibly well despite many of them carrying out manoeuvres that defy logic, like double parking, spontaneous U-turns and driving slow while searching for an address. And that’s because we know most vans are delivery trucks on a mission and the bad driving is not down to incompetence … most of the time.I’ve picked the Porsche 911 mainly because it’s one of the cars I’ve received the worst treatment in continually but I’ve found this goes for any high-end sports car.Perhaps it’s the sight of an expensive sports car that brings out some jealousy in other drivers but I’ve never been tailgated more by other drivers than when in an expensive sports car. As for being let into traffic — that’s also a problem.This behaviour, like all road rage, is dangerous and does nothing more than reduce safety and cause stress, unnecessarily.The Suzuki Swift is great in many ways — just not how some people treat you when you’re driving it. This seems to be a problem with most small cars and I can’t help but think that there are some drivers who assume the person in the Swift is young and inexperienced. Yep there is definitely some kind of automotive pecking order out there on the road and I can be in a ute I’m testing and then move into a small car and suddenly be honked for not moving the instant a traffic light turns green.If other motorists are ‘punching down’ on young drivers then this is a huge concern that could put the inexperienced under too much pressure and lead to a life-threatening mistake.Car reviewers joke that the answer to, “what car should I buy?”, is always “Toyota Camry’ because the value for money, reliability and comfort equation is almost impossible to match. But when behind the wheel of a Camry I’ve found I’m treated in much the same way as a small car, with other drivers seemingly becoming impatient and wanting to overtake rather than sit behind me.I can only speculate as to the reason but perhaps other drivers might think Camry drivers are older and in less of a hurry, or maybe that the person behind the wheel is a rideshare driver that could stop suddenly to let a fare out.Whatever the reason, road ragers should beware that  Australia’s police forces use unmarked Camrys and so the next one you bully, could land you a ticket.   

With local arrival on track for June this year, Suzuki Australia has confirmed details of the brand’s first-ever pure electric vehicle, the e Vitara.Underpinned by Suzuki’s ‘Heartect-e’ EV-specific platform, the compact SUV will be powered by a single electric motor producing 106kW/193Nm in the two-wheel-drive Motion grade, while the dual-motor set-up in the top-spec, all-wheel-drive Ultra produces 135kW/307Nm.A 49kWh LFP battery in the Motion delivers a claimed range of 344km, while the Ultra’s 61kWh pack extends that distance to 395km.Outright charging capacities are yet to be confirmed but Suzuki said charging times under initial development for both models have been targeted at 45 minutes for a 10-80 per cent DC top up, 5.5 hours for 10-100 on 11kW AC three-phase power and nine hours from 10-100 per cent on a 7.0kW AC single-phase outlet. An integrated heat pump battery thermal management system, aimed at optimising battery performance, driving range and charging efficiency, is standard. Pricing will be released closer to the car’s launch but the e Vitara will be lining up against competitors like the BYD Atto 2 (from $31,990, before on-road costs), Chery E5 (from $38,990, drive-away), Leapmotor B10 (from $38,990 drive-away) and MG S5 EV (from $40,490, drive-away).Local specification has been set with standard feature highlights for the entry-grade Motion including 18-inch alloys, LED headlights (with auto high-beam), multiple drive modes, rain-sensing wipers, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, 10.1-inch centre multimedia display (with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity), a leather-trimmed steering wheel, climate-control air, 12-colour interior ambient lighting, fabric seats and four-speaker audio.As well as additional power and AWD capability, the Ultra adds adaptive high beam, front (LED) fog lights, a glass roof (with shade), Infinity audio (with subwoofer), wireless charging, fabric and synthetic leather seat trim, heated front seats and electric seat adjustment for the driver.ADAS crash-avoidance tech is extensive, including adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking (AEB), lane keeping assist and lane departure prevention, forward collision warning, ‘High Beam Assist’, blind spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera view plus front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert.If all that isn’t enough to avoid a sheet metal interface there are seven airbags onboard and multi-collision brake is fitted to minimise the chances of subsequent impacts after an initial crash.In announcing the e Vitara details, Suzuki Australia General Manager - Automobile Michael Pachota said, “Ahead of its Australian introduction, the e Vitara has already received strong interest and positive reception across global markets, reinforcing confidence in Suzuki’s electric vehicle strategy.”

The new-generation Suzuki Across plug-in hybrid SUV has just been unveiled.It shares much of its design and features with the Toyota RAV4, being more-or-less a rebadged version of the popular family car. It is unlikely we will see the Across in Australia, as its previous generation was a Europe-exclusive model, but there is potential for that to change.The outgoing Across was introduced to Europe to help with tightening emissions standards in Europe, which was not the case Down Under at the time. That has now changed.There is now increasing pressure from Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), with brands facing penalties for selling vehicles that emits CO2 over a certain threshold. This threshold gets lower every year.Suzuki could be subject to this, given its Aussie lineup is entirely made up of purely petrol-powered cars, apart from the Swift hatchback, which is a mild hybrid. The Across would have the same rivals in Australia as the RAV4, including the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5.It's plug-in hybrid set-up would offer something different to those big-hitters.Suzuki Australia has been contacted for comment as to whether there are any plans for the Across to launch domestically. It will employ the same plug-in hybrid system as the coming RAV4 PHEV, which includes a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 105kW and 226Nm, and two electric motors.The front electric motor produces 150kW and 271Nm, with the smaller rear motor making 40kW and 123Nm, which takes total system output for the Across to 225kW. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 6.1 seconds, with a top speed of 180km/h, and comes as standard with an all-wheel drive systemThere is a 22.7kWh lithium-ion battery, which in the RAV4 is claimed to deliver about 100km. It is hard to spot the difference between the Across and the RAV4, with it featuring the same boxy overall design, as well as the standout grille and fenders.On the inside, the car gets a 12-3-inch digital driver display and 12.9-inch central touch screen display.There is also a head-up display, and heated and power-operated front seats as part of the standard gear. It gets plenty of valuable safety equipment like auto-emergency braking, lane-change assist, lane departure warning and a 360-degree camera. 

It’s a brand new year and brand new car buying thoughts turn to vehicle build plates. Dealers are keen to shift their existing stock before prior year manufacturing dates become a millstone around their automotive necks.But what if the model in question has been publicly put to the sword and it’s not just a matter of a ‘2025 Plate Clearance Sale’?Some of these cars may have been around for quite a while. In rare instances, slow sellers celebrating a birthday (or two?) in retail captivity, waiting hopefully for a new owner to take them to their forever home.These are affectionately referred to as zombie cars. Still offered for sale but the production tap may be about to be turned off, or it’s even been twisted to the right some time ago.If you’re looking for a cut-price new car and you don’t mind if it’s been sitting on the shelf for a period of time, here’s a rundown of some four-wheeled zombies to give you a little extra leverage when twisting a salesperson’s arm.BMW Z4 - This sleek two-seat roadster was developed in a joint-venture with Toyota that also spawned the (similarly discontinued) fifth-generation Supra.Production is scheduled to end this March with a ‘Frozen Matt Black’ Final Edition model     including four- and six-cylinder variants, the order window for the car opening and closing this month.But don’t get too excited. Sadly, the Final Edition won’t be available in Australia. However, there are still Z4’s on showroom floors here and there around the country. After all, three found homes in December last year. Get in quick!Fiat 500 - The internal combustion version of this diminutive Italian (in Fiat and Abarth form) ceased production in June 2024 thanks largely to EU safety regulations sending it out of bounds.A 500 Ibrida Hybrid is due to begin production imminently, but it’s quite a different car designed to supplement 500e production (global demand for which has been underwhelming) and riding on the same platform.The ICE car is still offered up on the Fiat Australia website, in 1.2L four-cylinder Dolcevita form at around $30,775, drive-away.Hyundai i20 N - Hyundai has made no bones about the fact its i20N hot hatch is kaput, with production scheduled to finish this March.But Hyundai Australia has reached into the cash drawer and ordered up enough cars to satisfy predicted local demand through 2026.So, this brilliant little performance car will be a zombie in name only. But we wouldn’t leave it too late to get your hands on one. With 150kW/275Nm in a brilliantly responsive compact package it’s not to be missed.Jaguar E-Pace / F-Type - There isn’t a car company on the planet that’s been more transparent about ending production of a current model. In fact, (almost) every one of its models!Jaguar suspended manufacturing of its then existing internal combustion cars in mid-2024  in preparation for a brave new all-electric, ultra-premium future… except for the F-Pace SUV, soldiering on at JLR’s Solihull plant.Amazingly, local sales of the E-Pace SUV grew four per cent year-on-year in 2025 despite the manufacturing halt. And examples of the stunning F-Pace sports car continue to trickle out into the world.Jeep Grand Cherokee - The Aussie axe fell on Jeep’s Grand Cherokee early last year, the once hugely popular model discontinued locally in response to a less than stellar sales performance after launching here in 2023.Part of the problem was a solid price hike for the fifth-gen version and having ripped off the Band-Aid by announcing its local departure, parent company Stellantis promptly dropped the price of the Limited variant to $60,000, drive-away (previously $72,950, before on-road costs).Lo and behold, year-on-year Grand Cherokee sales ticked up 4.3 per cent for 2025, but registration numbers are dwindling now. It’s still up on the website, so it might be the perfect time to move in for a super-sharp deal.Suzuki Ignis / S-Cross - The pocket-sized Ignis SUV was confirmed for departure from the Australian market in early 2025 in response to new Australian Design Rule (ADR) requirements mandating more advanced AEB performance.Examples of the 1.2-litre four-seat city SUV were still rolling out Suzuki showroom doors in December last year so there are cars floating around the brand’s retail network.Same story for the compact S-Cross crossover, which struggled with that ADR compliance and reached the end of the road production-wise around the same time. Again, a number are still finding homes close to 12 months after its death notice was issued.Toyota Fortuner - A clear oversupply of large three-row SUVs was tidied up by Toyota Australia with an announcement to confirm the axing of its Fortuner model in November last year. Which still leaves the Kluger, LandCruiser Prado and LandCruiser 300 as available seven-seat Toyota options.Sharing the same body-on-frame platform as the HiLux ute, the off-road capable Fortuner will finish production around the middle of this year.  The Fortuner battled for clear air in the mix with its in-house competition, attracting just 3407 customers in 2025, while the Ford Ranger-based Everest sold 26,161 units. 

Only a few years ago a budget-focused new car story like this would have well and truly dipped under the magical $20,000 threshold.But, the sad news is there’s just a single new car option left standing in the Aussie market wearing a five figure price tag that starts with a one.And that’s the entry-grade Kia Picanto Sport with a five-speed manual gearbox at $19,190, before on-road costs. Tick the box for the four-speed automatic transmission and all of a sudden you’re at $20,790, BOC.So, we’ve raised the new car budget bar to $25,000 and looked at the five most popular models with an entry-price under $25K from 2025 full-year sales.1) Chery Tiggo 4 Pro - From $23,990, before on-road costsTalk about an impressive entrance. Chery lobbed a hand grenade into the budget end of the small SUV segment in late 2024, with the Tiggo 4 Pro’s first full year sales exceeding 20,000 units in 2025.Two versions of the compact five-seater are offered locally, the Urban and Ultimate, each available in pure-combustion and petrol-electric hybrid form.2) MG MG3 - From $21,990, drive-awayWith competition from new challenger brands intensifying and the MG model line-up growing, the MG3 dipped in terms of year-on-year sales but still did enough to grab second spot under $25K with more than 8000 examples finding a new home.Three grades are offered here - Vibe, Excite & Essence - pure-petrol in all three with the option of hybrid in the upper two.  3) Hyundai Venue - From 23,000, before on-road costsNow a veteran of the ‘light’ SUV category the city-sized Venue remains a strong seller in Hyundai’s small car portfolio.In fact, sales were up a solid 14.1 per cent in 2025 to 7927. The range starts with the entry-grade at $23K, before on-road costs, with the Active and Elite above it. 4) Kia Picanto - From $19,190, before on-road costsA popular choice among city dwellers, the diminutive Picanto also ticked up in total year-on-year sales for 2025 to 7166.Sadly for micro car Verstappen wannabes the 1.0L turbo GT is a thing of the past, but the top-tier GT-Line Picanto brings some of its racy personality to the party. 5) Suzuki Swift Hybrid - From 24,490, drive-awayThe fourth-generation Swift has taken mild-hybrid form with its 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine featuring an enhanced starter/generator/electric motor picking up some of the slack in terms of powering the stop-start system and adding 60Nm of torque.Sales were down in 2025 to 3446, but there were still enough buyers to land the latest version of the city car icon in fifth spot.   Australian Top 5 sellers under $25,000:  

The Australian new car market is going through one of its biggest changes to date.A wave of budget-focused Chinese brands has washed over the market in the past two years, eating away into the sales of many established carmakers.The emergence of new technologies such as hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles will change the cars we drive forever.Despite that, some things have stayed the same. Diesel-powered utes and 4WDs are the dominant force in Aussie motoring, but new models are snapping at their heels.Here are the best selling 100 vehicles in Australia during the past year.

In the years since the likes of GWM and MG established a beachhead for Chinese automotive brands in the local new car market a slew of others have followed.Economics 101 says increased competition in a mature market will quickly stimulate activity, generating big winners and significant losers.And the reality of 2025’s vehicle registration data, compiled by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI VFacts) and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), has graphically validated that economic theory.More than 30 of the 60 passenger car and light commercial brands monitored by VFacts and the EVC went backwards in terms of sales volume in 2025 compared to 2024.But the winners were BIG, the top two improvers experiencing spectacular growth; the overall champ almost sending the needle off the clock.Of course, some were coming off a relatively small sales base, with increasing supply and expanding model line-ups inflating percentage figures. So, for context, we’ll also note outright volume increases and only include brands that recorded full-year sales in 2024.Here are our top five countdowns for biggest new car sales winners and losers in 2025.5) Rolls-Royce: Okay, it’s 13 extra cars for 2025 over 2024, but when each one of them retails for a minimum of $700K that’s some handy incremental profit margin. Obviously, for a select few it’s a case of ‘cost-of-living crisis be damned’, with no less than eight extra Cullinan SUVs and the same number of sedans finding a home last year. 4) Mini: A big year for Mini, including a major JCW-focused refresh across the range as well as a burst of sales for the pure-electric Aceman line-up. There were substantial boosts for the Cabrio (+100 per cent), Cooper (+45.2 per cent) and Countryman (+19 per cent).   3) Polestar: It was a case of swings and roundabouts for the Swedish EV specialist with the Polestar 2 liftback dropping sales while the larger 3 and 4 SUVs expanded total numbers by close to 40 per cent. Stand by for the performance-focused Polestar 5 GT’s impact when it arrives here mid-year.2) BYD: Market appetite for BYD’s products grew in parallel with its model range, the Chinese giant’s Aussie line-up expanding from four to eight models. Newcomers like the Atto 1, Atto 2 and Sealion 7 grew its share of the pie dramatically, but the star of the show was the Shark 6 hybrid ute, racking up more than 18,000 sales for the year.1) Chery: The sharply-priced Tiggo 4 Pro small SUV has proved a smash hit for Chery with sales building steadily over 2025, to the point where it’s nipping at the heels of the category-leading Hyundai Kona and MG ZS. Adding the large Tiggo 9 large SUV also delivered handy incremental sales.5) Suzuki: Despite the addition of the Fronx small hybrid SUV mid-year (which captured a handy 1667 sales) the evergreen Japanese brand went backwards in 2025, with stocks of the discontinued Ignis dwindling, Swift sales decreasing and even the cult-favourite Jimny in decline.   4) Jaguar: Kind of a no-brainer given the brand very publicly pulled the pin on production of everything except the F-Pace SUV for 12 months in preparation for a new, more premium range ramping up through 2026 and 2027. The big surprise is sales of the E-Pace growing four per cent year-on-year despite the manufacturing halt. Must have been a few in stock.  3) Maserati: Sales volume dropping by close to a third is rarely a good thing but with the Maserati Levante SUV falling off the radar there weren’t enough Grecale SUV buyers ready to pick up the slack. The Granturismo and Grancabrio coupe and convertible GTs were also missing in action creating a low ebb for the iconic Italian. 2) Jeep: Speaking of iconic brands, Jeep has been fighting well-publicised head winds in its US home market thanks to a seemingly ill-advised move to a more premium positioning with prices to match. Despite a slight sales uptick for the Grand Cherokee as it leaves the local stage, serious falls for the Wrangler 4WD and Gladiator ute also took the wind out of Jeep’s sales here.1) Lotus: Who would have thought a brand famous for simplifying and adding lightness in producing race-ready sports cars would be punished for heading down the pure-electric path with a heavy SUV (Eletre) and big four-door GT (Emeya). Even the internal-combustion mid-engine Emira (despite a stay of production execution) dropped by more than 50 per cent.   

As we prepare to close the curtain on 2025, the Australian new car market looks a very different place than it did at this time last year.

There’s something about spotting a Honda S660, Subaru Sambar or Suzuki Hustler in local traffic. A pang of regret that we’re denied mainstream access to the Kei car smorgasbord on offer in Japan.

Suzuki Australia is urging customers to not use the rear seats of its new Fronx small SUV until a fix can be identified.The Japanese carmaker is now officially recalling certain examples of the Fronx following a major safety defect that was uncovered during crash testing by independent Australian safety authority ANCAP.A total of 324 examples of the Fronx are being recalled due to a manufacturing defect that may cause the rear left seat belt retractor mechanism to not work as intended.As a result, excessive seat belt lengths may be released in the event of crash or hard braking.A total of 324 vehicles are affectedVehicles were produced during 2025VIN lists are attached here and hereIf you own an affected vehicle, Suzuki Australia advises customers to “immediately cease” using the rear seats.The Japanese carmaker is still undertaking “urgent investigations of this phenomenon”. It will detail any further actions required from affected customers at a later date.This follows the Fronx receiving a one-star safety rating from ANCAP.It received 48 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 40 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 65 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 55 per cent for Safety Assist.Due to a number of issues noted in the frontal offset physical crash test, the Fronx received zero points in the test.Protection for the driver’s chest was weak and adequate for lower legs, rearward displacement of the pedals was excessive and protection of the driver’s feet marginal, plus structures in the instrument panel and dashboard were found to be potential sources of injury to occupants.Additionally, rear passenger chest protection was poor, with high chest deflection and high seatbelt load.“What concerns us is that this particular vehicle could have been purchased by an ordinary consumer, and in an on-road crash this failure could have had serious consequences for the person sitting in the back seat,” ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said.“ANCAP’s view is that adult and child passengers should not travel in the rear seats of the Suzuki Fronx until the reason for the failure has been determined and relevant rectifications have been carried out.”Suzuki, at least at surface level, has been struggling to achieve high ANCAP safety ratings over the past few years.Before the Fronx’s one-star rating, the Swift had a one-star rating that was then revised in 2025 to a three-star rating following additional front-end reinforcement to align it with the European-specification model.The Jimny and Vitara are now unrated as it has been over seven years since they were last crash-tested.Earlier this year Suzuki Australia Managing Director Michael Pachota weighed in on the company’s relationship with ANCAP and whether the scores are affecting sales.“Obviously, ANCAP exists, and it's an independent body that does crash testing for Australian consumer knowledge,” Pachota told CarsGuide in August 2025.“But with that said, our safety features, the safety suite, are constantly advancing, and accident avoidance or prevention technology is getting better and better.“Our, for example, Swift is a much safer car than the previous car, but with the goal posts moving so quickly on the ANCAP ruling, the previous car outgoing was a five-star safety rating, and all of a sudden the new one was a one-star. So tell me how that works.“Look, safety is a high priority, absolutely,” added Pachota.“But with that said, we believe our vehicles are definitely safe and fit for purpose. Otherwise they wouldn't be allowed into the country. ADR, strictly has requirements to make sure the vehicle is safe. “So the vehicles allowed in the country, and ADRs in Australia, as you know, are quite, quite strict in terms of comparison to other countries.“Then tell me that car’s not safe.”When asked about the differences in specifications between Australia and the rest of the world, and whether our cars were up to scratch in the global context, Pachota pointed to the average age of cars on Australian roads.“Absolutely. It's funny, you know, like you can get a car that a decade ago got a five-star safety rating, five years ago got a five-star safety rating and wouldn't even be eligible for a one star or even a zero at this stage. “ majority of the Australian car park is nowhere near ANCAP’s ratings now. Nowhere near. So tell me, is everyone not safe now? Should we be scared?”According to the most recent Australian Motor Vehicle Census released in 2021 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average age of vehicles registered at the time was 10.6 years, a figure unlikely to have changed dramatically in the time since, given previous similar figures.Pachota added, “I think it's not about if it's important to Suzuki or not, it's whether or not it's important to the customer, and if the customer can see the safety features and understand what's in the vehicle, and if they need to go to a third party source to get an evaluation, that is entirely up to the customer, and we respect that in the customer's journey.”