New Zealand Consumer Survey Rates Suzuki Tops for Reliability

Suzuki has been deemed the most reliable car in New Zealand according to a recent automotive survey by Consumer New Zealand.

The survey, which covered 10,350 vehicles, involved 23 brands of cars and a total of 69 models. Vehicle owners were asked about serious, major and minor failures with their cars in the past 12 months. They were also asked how satisfied they were with their cars and how likely they were to recommend the model to friends and family.

Only 20 percent of a total of 432 Suzuki owners who participated reported a major failure compared to the industry average of 33 percent across all brands.

New Zealand’s most popular car to private buyers, the Suzuki Swift, was rated the most reliable small car in the survey and owners also rated it the most satisfying small car.

The Consumer survey is but one of several accolades recently accorded the top-selling Swift which was named winner of the Automotive Researchers and Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC) 2018 award on November 14. This was the third consecutive generation Swift to win the award and also marks the seventh RJC award win for Suzuki.

“Judges praised the Swift for its driving performance, maneuverability and sporty performance,” said Gary Collins, General Manager of Automobile Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand. “A total of 5.77 million Swifts have been sold world-wide since 2004, and the car also won the RJC award in 2005 and 2010.”

Meanwhile in the latest AMI Insurance New Zealand Autocar magazine Car of the Year awards announced on November 23, the latest generation Swift was named best sub-$30,000 car for 2017.

The publication said the Swift GLX “seems like excellent buying” when it came to value for money, and described the more powerful Swift RS as a “sophisticated baby”.

“This is the least expensive car to get active cruise control and it also features lane-keeping, LED headlamps and auto headlamps with high-beam assist (auto dipping),” said Autocar. The magazine praised the RS performance, describing the compact hatchback as “the new junior bang for buck machine”.

Both the Suzuki Swift and Celerio have been named winners in the Green Apple Environmental Awards held at the House of Commons in London. These new awards salute the greenest cars available and, crucially, cars motorists enjoy owning and driving.

A total of 27 British motoring writers reaching seven million readers in print and on-line voted in the Green Organisation awards and 2017 marked the third year the Celerio has been accorded a Green Apple prize.

One judge said, “Small cars with small but sprightly and highly efficient petrol engines are helping to transform the automotive industry currently and Suzuki’s offering in the shape of the Celerio is one of the best.”

In the “small family” group the Swift had to meet an incredibly wide number of demands - and stay economical. Judges rated the Swift highly because “it combines space, economy and a great drive with a welcome dash of fun.”

The Swift has also been named Scottish Eco Car of the Year, earning commendation from Stephen Park, president of the Scottish Motoring Writers Guild. “The new Swift with the 1-litre Boosterjet engine is the title holder for 2017,” said Park. “It won praise due to the fact that it proved genuinely capable of achieving the exceptional real world fuel economy claimed by its maker coupled with lively performance.”

This was a double win for Suzuki as the new Ignis was voted Compact Car of the Year by the Scottish writers, and Park said both the Ignis and Swift were priced and equipped to deliver.