YEAR

News Release

Suzuki SX4 Sweeps to Record Sales in New Zealand Market

The Suzuki SX4 world car has made further advances in New Zealand car market, boosting sales substantially last year.

While total new passenger car and sport utility vehicle sales in 2008 dipped by 5.2 per cent over the previous year, registrations of new SX4 models increased by a solid 48.5 per cent.

The versatile, high-riding SX4 took a larger share of the small car sector, lifting its penetration from 4.4 per cent to 6.3 per cent, according to Motor Industry Association figures.

At the same time, local sales of new SX4 models were up from 894 in 2007 to a record 1,328 last year.

With increased emphasis on fuel efficient motoring, the small car class increased by 5.1 per cent in 2008.

Small car sales topped 20,000 last year, or 20.9 per cent of the total new car market to make it the largest class.

Suzuki’s SX4 finished fourth overall in the sector to emerge as one of the most popular compact cars in New Zealand.

“The SX4 range has been a great success for us and has rapidly risen up the sales charts,” said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand Limited.

Arrival of a sedan version of the SX4 in 2008 widened the appeal of the model - a car that has become Suzuki’s best-seller in the United States, and is also selling well in Canada.

Designed by the Italdesign studio of Giorgetto Giugiaro in Italy, the SX4 was originally intended for European markets, but it soon became apparent the car had international appeal. The car is now built in Japan, Hungary, India and Russia.

In five-door form, the SX4 is regarded as a distinctive “crossover” car and a fusion of compact hatchback, MPV (multi people carrier), SUV and four wheel drive.

Originally introduced in all wheel drive mode, the range was extended with the front wheel drive variant and then the saloon option.

Suzuki New Zealand now offers eleven versions, with the choice of two and four wheel drive, and 1.6-litre or 2-litre engines in the five-door hatchback configuration, while the booted sedan comes with a 2-litre engine and two wheel drive.

Prices start from a highly competitive $22,600, including all on road costs, a comprehensive three-year warranty and full five-year roadside assistance plan.

The SX4 recently won the small lifestyle/leisure class in the New Zealand AA Energywise fuel economy rally.

In the USA the SX4 took out the Wards interior of the year award for 2008 and was one of only two Japanese cars in the top finalists in the 2007 World Car of the Year Award.

Other Suzuki models have also been doing well in New Zealand.  In addition to the Swift securing record sales and winning the light car class yet again, the brand’s SUV four wheel drive lifestyle models posted strong results.

Although total new SUV sales were down 16.8 per cent in 2008, sales of thrifty Suzuki Jimny registered a slight improvement while Grand Vitara increased its share of the four wheel drive market.
 

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