Suzuki LJ80 Reviews

The Suzuki Vitara will go down in history as one of the true pioneers of the modern automotive history.The 1988 original sparked the SUV era with its urban off-road chic, prompting Toyota to refine and greatly capitalise on the concept for the seminal, first RAV4 of 1994, that instantly became the template for others to follow.Strangely, Vitara wouldn’t go full SUV until the fourth-generation arrived in mid-2015, after years of holding on to Suzuki’s proper 4x4 roots in the same way that the ultra-successful Jimny still does today.That Vitara, known as the LY series, remains current to this day, helped by great design and superb proportions that have helped keep the Japanese SUV from The Grim Reaper all this time.It’s also a sporty and even fun drive, with direct steering, predictable handling and an actual, torque-converter automatic transmission, instead of the continuous variable transmission (CVT) alternative favoured by many, far-more mundane rivals.But there-in lays the problem with the latest, Series III facelift, released earlier this year and now dubbed the Vitara Hybrid. Its age plus a lack of real change are really starting to show.Take, for instance, the Hybrid badge emblazoned on the (completely unchanged since 2019 Series II facelift) tailgate.Today’s small SUV buyers expecting an advanced, series-parallel hybrid petrol-electric powertrain as (again) trailblazed by Toyota nearly 30 years ago will, instead, be met with a mild-hybrid system with a 48-volt integrated starter motor generator acting as an electric motor, and small 48V 8Ah lithium-ion battery. Admittedly, that’s more than what Mazda’s so-called “M Hybrid” system provides, but that’s not saying a lot.Though Suzuki’s hybrid does add an additional 12kW/50Nm of power and torque respectively, adding 15Nm more torque overall than before, the ageing 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo ‘Boosterjet’ engine it is paired to is 21 per cent less powerful than the proceeding non-electrified version.That would be OK if there was a corresponding 21 per cent drop in fuel consumption, but the ADR 81/02 consumption figures have only edged down incrementally, by 0.1 and 0.3 litres per 100km depending on grade compared to before. The best average figure is 5.8L/100m, which is only in the region of a 1.7 to four per cent slide.If you’re seeking a Vitara Hybrid with Toyota-hybrid levels of fuel economy, you may be disappointed, as the larger Corolla Cross hybrid returns 4.2L/100km while the smaller Yaris Cross hybrid is at just 3.8L/100km.Especially as the Suzuki also prefers to sip from the more-expensive premium unleaded petrol bowser.And speaking of prices, there’s the $39,990 drive-away pricing for the base Vitara Hybrid 2WD, extending to $45,990 for the (albeit better-equipped) AWD version.That’s a lot more than what the preceding non-Hybrid 1.6-litre model started at (from $31,990 before on-road costs), though – in fairness to the company – reflects the huge increase in the cost of shipping from the Hungary plant that provides Australia with its Vitaras.But that’s somewhat more than the Yaris Cross GX hybrid’s $31,790 and just a bit under the larger Corolla Cross GX hybrid’s $37,440 (both before on-road costs), and exactly the same as the Honda HR-V e:HEV starts at (returning 4.3L/100km), which, like the Toyotas, is newer, more-modern and technically-advanced than the Suzuki.Surely 11 years of production have amortised the development costs of the fourth-gen Vitara. Shouldn’t it be cheaper as a result?The last point about modernity is also obvious inside, as the Vitara continues with much the same dashboard design, layout and hardware as the 2015 original. Again, back then, Suzuki’s stylists were clearly ahead of the game, as the basics remain sound and the whole thing is well built, but there is very little for current owners to trade-up to the 2026 model when, trim changes, digital speedo, updated multimedia set-up and removal of the analogue clock in the centre air vent aside, the cabin feels nearly identical. And, in contrast, every rival seems at least one-generation newer inside.What we’re saying is that the Vitara remains a good car, but one that cannot compete on value for money, fuel economy or performance compared to its many, fierce strong-hybrid competitors from Japan, South Korea, China and Europe. Expectations must be tempered.Throw in a now-void five-star ANCAP crash-test rating (it expired years ago due to age), as well as a very average five-year warranty against some others’ seven and even conditional 10-year schemes, and we reckon we deserve a newer, better Suzuki small SUV.Luckily, the e-Vitara all-electric small SUV looks very, very promising, so don’t dismiss Suzuki yet. Let’s just hope the pricing is as sharp as the styling and packaging are.Watch this space.

In a press conference the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has declared the country’s once-dominant national car industry is “on the brink of survival”.The body said collaboration between Japan’s automakers was becoming more important than competition amongst each other, as it faces never-before-seen external challenges.It admitted that the “international competitiveness” of its members had to be brought into question.Speaking as part of a panel, JAMA Vice President and CEO of Honda Toshihiro Mibe said: “The global competition environment is becoming more fierce every day. Against this backdrop, the automotive industry in Japan is now posed with the question of whether we will be able to survive or not.”“Looking back, the structure of the automotive industry has worked well. There was the structure of Keiretsu which indeed worked for the last few decades against that environment. But we believe the existing areas of collaboration are not enough.”The Japanese term “Keiretsu” refers to the unique connection between Japanese companies, with cross shareholdings and shared business goals, which promotes stability and financial resilience, as well as faster and more efficient supply chains. It allows companies in these networks to engage in long-term planning and keeps money in Japan.A result of this interdependence means a brand like Toyota (widely recognised as the head of one of the largest Keiretsu networks) has vast shareholdings in brands which would normally be its competitors, as well as deep ties with Japanese parts suppliers.But it seems this system is struggling to be competitive in an environment of aggressive and often state-backed Chinese automakers making technological leaps and bounds and sales progress across the world.“So, the area of collaboration is required with a sense of speed. I think it is going to be key.” Mibe said. “We need to dismantle the old structure or else we will not be able to create new areas of collaboration.” Some areas earmarked by the organisation for focus were hiring more “software-related personnel” with Japanese automakers focusing too much on the “hardware part in our history.” according to Mibe.The group also earmarked the future use of artificial intelligence and more robotics in order to address what is expected to be a 20 per cent shortfall in the number of available workers to staff manufacturing plants in Japan.However, the JAMA members also re-committed to a “multi-pathway” strategy as the “winning pathway” in order to stay on the right side of both tightening emissions regulations, and a tough tariff environment in Europe and the US in the face of a surge of electrified Chinese models.“This is not just about how we compete with China, but how Japan can make a contribution to each country in a way which is suited to the local community,” said JAMA Chairman and CEO of Toyota Motor, Koji Sato.As to the recent Middle East crisis, Sato said 800,000 vehicles were currently exported to the region, and that would be the bare minimum economic impact, but also some shipping costs would double as routes remained closed around the Middle East.A larger concern is the sourcing of aluminium and raw materials required for plastics.“About 70 per cent of it comes from the Middle East, so if the issue is prolonged, needless to say we’re going to have a procurement problem.” Sato said.Locally, a Toyota spokesperson said it is not anticipating any impact from the war in Iran on supply or costs for Australian-delivered vehicles at this time.Meanwhile a seismic shift has taken place in the Australian sales charts, with Japan being unseated as the top country-of-origin by China.This is against a backdrop of BYD, GWM, MG and Chery all occupying spots in the top-10 best-selling automakers in Australia, unseating old favourites from Japan such as Nissan, Subaru and Isuzu.Mitsubishi, which is clinging to eighth position, is expecting to drop out of the top-10 this year as it faces a reduced range of vehicles, and more expensive new-generation offerings soured from Europe.

Suzuki’s first electric vehicle (EV) is more than it seems.Badged e Vitara, it will be aimed directly at the BYD Atto 2 and Kia EV3 small SUV set when sales commence mid this year.And, despite the familiar name, this is like no other Suzuki that’s come before, as our preview test drive demonstrates.But let’s get one thing straight first.The existing, fourth-generation Vitara, released way back in 2015, continues with a facelift, upgraded mild-hybrid turbo-petrol engine and updated multimedia. That starts from a hefty $40K drive-away, raising the question: how much will the e Vitara cost?Suzuki’s not saying just yet, but we’re thinking from mid-to-high 30s for the e Vitara Motion 2WD, placing it in between the BYD Atto 2 and evergreen Atto 3.That base grade comes with a slightly smaller battery than most rivals. It's a 49kWh LFP item courtesy of BYD and capable of 344km WLTP range, yet is well specified, with a heat pump for greater thermal efficiency, climate control, 10.1-inch touchscreen, 360-degree camera, fabric seats, ambient lighting, a slide/recline rear bench and 18-inch alloys as standard.There’s also a decent level of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), including auto emergency braking (AEB), rear cross-traffic alert and lane-keep tech.Then there’s the e Vitara Ultra that’s expected to start from under $50K, adding AWD, a 61kWh battery for 395km of WLTP range, as well as adaptive LED headlights, a glass roof with sun shade, wireless charger, Infinity audio upgrade, heated front seats and artificial leather upholstery.Helping keep this electric Suzuki cost competitive is down to economics – the petrol Vitara comes expensively from Hungary while the e Vitara arrives from India, where it is built, in big volume, alongside its Toyota Urban Cruiser clone.Yep, there’s a Toyota version. There’s also a lot of Toyota underneath Suzuki’s freshman EV.Dubbed 'Heartect e', this box-fresh skateboard architecture was co-developed with Toyota, and features a Suzuki SUV-first multi-link suspension.Larger than the old one, the e Vitara measures in at 4275mm long, 1800mm wide and 1635mm high, while its 2700mm wheelbase represents a sizeable 300mm stretch. For an EV, a kerb weight between 1700kg and 1860kg is commendable.Yet the chunky design reflects Suzuki’s heritage with its exaggerated cladding extending up and over the wheel arches, broad stance and handy 180mm ground clearance.That sizeable wheelbase benefits interior packaging too.Two things stand out the second one steps (easily and effortlessly) into an e Vitara.Firstly, the cabin is longer and broader than the diminutive exterior proportions suggest, with decent space front and rear, including for headroom. Nice.And, secondly, this is a junior Toyota bZ4X/Subaru Solterra in its dashboard shape, style and character.We’re talking about the long, rectangular screen, the graphics within the 10.25-inch electronic driver display, the central touchscreen layout, the row of (thankfully) physical buttons and volume knob below for the climate control, as well as the entire ‘two storey’ centre console set-up, down to the gear selector, armrest and lower-level storage.Even the squarish steering wheel and related switchgear seem Toyota.These, along with the comfy seats, excellent driving position, strong ventilation, general practicality and high-quality presentation, really elevate the brand’s interior presentation. The e Vitara feels solid and expensive inside.The same applies with the rear seat, that also benefits from a slide and recline function for the split-fold bench. USB ports, ventilation and cupholders speak to family-friendly functionality.Except… out back. The floor is high and the aperture smallish. With the rear bench slid all the way back, VDA capacity is just 238 litres, rising to 306L pushed forward. With backrests down, that rises to 562L. And there’s no spare wheel, just an infernal tyre-repair kit. Not happy, Suzi.At the other end, the e Vitara offers a choice of two powertrains – a single, AC synchronous electric motor driving the front wheels, as well as second electric motor on the rear axle for AWD.The 2WD models make 106kW of power and 193kW of torque, compared to the AWD’s combined 135kW and 307Nm, as a result of the rear e-Axle, made up of an electric motor, inverter and reduction gears working simultaneously, contributing 48kW and 114Nm.Are these outputs enough for a 1.8-tonne electric SUV?A brief spin on mostly suburban and rural back roads around outer Sydney in the base FWD model revealed a quiet, smooth and competent EV.Designed to be as benign as possible, a squeeze of the throttle resulted in brisk acceleration, with plenty of power in reserve once speed quickly increased.Suzuki says the AWD can scoot to 100km/h from standstill in a lively 7.4 seconds, some 2.2s faster than the 2WD, yet the latter certainly seems rapid enough.Like the related Toyota bZ4X, a push of a button provides some single-pedal slowing-down braking ability.As with the regular Vitara, the electric version brings light yet responsive steering, so it’s quite enjoyable to dart around busy traffic.And even on bad roads, the suspension seemed to do a good job isolating us from bumps and noise intrusion. You’d never call the chassis sporty, but there’s an underlying solidness keeping things under control.In fact, and not surprisingly, the e Vitara seemed very Toyota-like in its dynamic abilities during our brief drive.Toyota, with Subaru’s support, also helped develop the electric Suzuki’s AWD system, which includes variable torque distribution between the axles according to traction needs, as well as a limited-slip diff in Trail Mode for extra-slippery conditions.A very short stint around a controlled 4WD course provided evidence of some decent off-road prowess.A promising start, then, but what will the electric Suzuki really be like on Australia’s roads? You’ll need to check back in with us when our full testing commences mid-year.That’s when we’ll also find out if the e Vitara’s efficiency claims come anywhere near the stated combined average WLTP figures of 14.9kWh/100km for the 2WD and 16.6kWh/100km for the AWD.It’s also worth noting that, while there is room for improvement with a 2025 European NCAP rating of four stars, the e Vitara is better than Suzuki’s recent form with the three-star Swift supermini.We’re also hoping the newcomer improves on the brand’s existing, mediocre five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is below many rivals’ seven-year schemes nowadays. More info, including service intervals and pricing, will be revealed closer to the e Vitara’s mid-year launch.

The enduring family workhorse of the small SUV segment, the ageing Suzuki Vitara finally goes hybrid for its second facelift, adopting a mild-hybrid 48V ISG (Integrated Starter-Generator) set-up similar to the one proven on the smaller Swift supermini, to bring consumption down whilst keeping prices reasonable. But, has the Japanese engineered and European-built small SUV changed enough?

$19,990 drive-away is back! The sub-$20,000 barrier has been breached by a popular new model in Australia, bucking a long-term trend of continuous price hikes.More importantly, and in a first since the Suzuki Swift jumped well beyond $21,000 at the beginning of this decade, the car in question is not based on an older or outmoded design nearing the end of its lifecycle, but something released relatively recently as an all-new proposition.That model, inevitably, is the latest iteration of the second-generation MG3, which has already seen a couple of price cuts since the entry-level Vibe CVT automatic grade arrived in Australia during the second half of last year.Initially set at $21,990 drive-away, it dropped by $1000 last month, but is now retailing at $19,990 drive-away until the end of March.However, this latest price is conditional, since it comes with the proviso that is highly unusual at a national retail level - that a member of the buyer’s family must be, or have been, an owner of an MG vehicle.Snappily branded as the “MG Family $1,000 Off” campaign, an MG dealer told CarsGuide that it “includes existing and previous owners and their immediate families, taking in spouses, children (including step/adopted ones) and parents.”Whether previous family ownership extends to the pre-Chinese ownership era of MG Rover models from before 2005, like the ZT, ZS and ZR, as well as the TF and MGF roadsters of the ‘90s, could not be confirmed.In some cases, proof may also be required before the $19,990 drive-away price can be applied at the point of sale – otherwise the Vibe CVT grade returns to the standard $20,990 drive-away.Furthermore, the sub-$20K pricing applies only to new (so not demonstrator) MY25.5 MG3s (so already built and presumably landed in Australia), and in white or black and with a black interior, and while stocks last. They must be sold and delivered to the customer by March 31, 2026, and excludes fleet, government and rental buyers.The real significance of this is the fact that, unlike the previous first-generation MG3 that first entered production all the way back in 2011, the newer (ZP22) version only dates back to 2024.This means it has significantly more safety features, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and some advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) technologies.As we said earlier, this hasn’t been the case since the contemporary Swift jumped in price during 2021.And while the MG3 currently has a four-star crash-test rating with ANCAP, its nearest competitor on price, the one-segment-size-down Kia Picanto, remains untested.Note, too, that, even at $20,990 drive-away, the MG3 Vibe CVT is by some margin currently the cheapest new vehicle in Australia, undercutting the base Picanto Sport manual at $22,140 drive-away by over $1100, and $2250 for the auto version that is the more-appropriate point of comparison.Well specified, the Vibe CVT is powered by an 81kW/142Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, driving the front wheels via a CVT continuously variable transmission.Standard features include 15-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, a reversing camera, a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, adaptive cruise control, AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning/assist, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign recognition and a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty (like Kia’s), but increased to a 10-year/250,000km conditional guarantee of serviced at an MG dealer.

The new Suzuki Vitara hybrid has been priced in Australia, as it looks to take on popular competitors in the compact SUV segment.

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.