Suzuki Swift Domination Boosted by Sport Model in NZ

Class leading sales of the Suzuki Swift in New Zealand have been further boosted by the popularity of the 1.6-litre Sport model.

Although it was on sale for just ten months of last year, the new highly specified Swift Sport accounted for 25 per cent of all Swift hatchback sales.

The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) version of the frisky Sport has been in high demand and actually out-sold the 6-speed manual Sport in 2012, according to Motor Industry Association figures.

 “The 5-door Swift Sport has been a big success for the brand, so much so that we are currently evaluating the 3-door variant for possible local introduction in the first quarter of this year,” said Tom Peck, general manager of marketing for Suzuki New Zealand.

“For the eighth year in succession, the Swift was New Zealand’s best selling supermini, and in overall new car sales last year was still the number two most popular passenger car. It was also the best selling new car to private buyers,” said Tom Peck.

Sales of new Swifts in New Zealand achieved an impressive 3,316 in 2012, and were up 14.6 per cent on the previous year. The biggest selling version was the GLX model with automatic transmission.

“The continued success of the award-winning Swift was a key factor in Suzuki experiencing its best ever result last year,” said Peck.

As the local sales figures were confirmed, ‘What Car?’ magazine, Britain’s biggest car buyers guide, announced in London that the Swift Sport had been awarded the Best Buy accolade for the second year in a row. The award was for hot hatches costing less than 15,000 pounds, or about NZ$30,000.

Chas Hallett, the editor of ‘What Car?’, said, “The Suzuki Swift Sport is proof that you don’t need a lot of money to have an awful lot of fun. It scores well on insurance costs and real world fuel economy, but it will also put a huge grin on your face.”

In December the Swift was given two further accolades, winning the 2012 small car award in the Automobile Association/New Zealand Motoring Writers Car of the Year contest while the Sport version carried off the AMI Insurance/NZ Autocar Small Car of the Year title.

The Swift has been the most successful Suzuki automobile ever marketed in New Zealand.

Other Suzuki passenger car models also did well in the local market last year. Demand for the versatile 5-door 2-litre SX4 rose 16.5 per cent to make it the second best selling Suzuki model.

Bucking the trend for small cars with automatic transmission, cost-conscious buyers found favour with the manual gearbox Suzuki Alto. Manual and auto sales of this entry-level hatchback were split fifty/fifty, and demand increased 15 per cent over 2011.

The Suzuki Splash achieved its best sales result, while demand for the ever-green Jimny four-wheel-drive rose 32 per cent last year. Sales of the larger Grand Vitara SUV also increased over 2011, with the LTD automatic the most popular of the seven variants on offer.