What to do with Suzuki?

[YSSMAN]

It was announced today that Suzuki is discontinuing their extremely slow-selling Verona sedan, as it was neither recieved well by the press nor by the public.

With performance so low at Suzuki, what can be done to help them become a car company worth considering? Suzuki says that they will be selling a new small pickup truck built together with Nissan within the next few years, and the Swift will be comming to the United States no later than 2010, but can it be enough?

Well, I can offer one simple solution: Build cars that people would actually want to buy!

I had the pleasure to drive a Verona, and at best, the car was underwhelming. Yes, the car was fairly quiet, and build quality felt up-to-snuff with most of the American and Japanese models, but it lacked the feel that was needed to make the model a "good car." The most dissapointing feature of the car was the straight-six that was co-developed with Porsche, as it made very little power, and felt rather coarse in operation.

...But what do you expect when the car can't get any more expensive than $22K?

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What it all comes down to, atleast for me and a few editors at Car and Driver, is that Suzuki SHOULD be a successful car company, given their stellar record of building motorcycles that are the standard of their industry. Suzuki had attempted to inject the livelyhood of their motorcycles into their automobiles before, with several concepts, and apparently they have done it with the Swift as well... But can it not be done with anything else?

If anything Suzuki should be building cheap, fun to drive coupes and sedans that are easy to operate, and not embarassing to be in.

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So, what do ya'all think?

 

[Jay]

Suzuki seems to be doing pretty well over here with their Swift, not sure why it takes so long to introduce it to the US.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, atleast with the Swift, it has to go through all of the emissions and crash testings here in the US before it can go on sale, and along with that, mechanical things may need to be adjusted for the US market as well. To me, it would seem as simple as selling the German-market model in the US with the UK-Market stickers on it, and call it good.

...With the US and AUS regulations on emissions and crash testing being so close, I really don't see why it would take so long to get it here...

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But if there is a car in the Suzuki portfolio to turn things around in the US and get their sales figures above 100,000 like they have planned for the last 10 years, the Swift would be the model to do it!

 

[ND4SPD]

They totally need to bring over the emphasis of performance and excitement that they put into their motorcycles into the vehicles that they produce. Then again they are kinda owned by GM so I see a completely slim chance of that ever happening.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Acutally, GM dumped the majority of their holdings in Suzuki and Isuzu in the spring, and Suzuki has announced that the last of their GM-shared models will be gone after 2007.

Good move on GM's behalf, as the company is a money pit in the US market, and nothing more...

 

[Raghavan]

Suzuki will need to stand out of the crowd of Accords, Altimas and Camrys. There's no point in trying to go after them. Suzuki should be like their motorcycle division and be sport oriented only. An RWD family sedan would certainly stand out, and help Suzuki get recognition with the enthusiast crowd, and that'll help them become a sport oriented, low sales brand.

 

[Tornado]

Good move on GM's behalf, as the company is a money pit in the US market, and nothing more...

In Suzuki's defense, the only reason that is true is because all GM did with Suzuki (istead, of you know, selling there good cars here) is throw crappy versions of already crappy cars that pretty much destroyed consumer confidence (Suzuki Samurai, anyone? In Izusu's defense, the same thing applies to them.). However, does Suzuki not still have the Aerio? That was widely praised as a good alternative to the Toyota Matrix and Kia Spectra5 in refinement and sportiness.

 

[JCE]

Suzuki did a good job with the Aerio--I like it. And the Verona is a good looking comfortable saloon for the price--can't say the same with most of GM's saloons at this point. The problem with Suzuki is the US don't have the current or previous generation Swift. The Swift would sell VERY well here. I just don't get GM, it's like they are purposely sabotaging Suzuki so everyone will buy a Saturn, Chevy, or Pontiac nameplate. More reason for me to hate GM. Screw Daewoo, Suzuki is the real deal.

 

[YSSMAN]

1) GM no longer has control over the Suzuki brand, but will continue their technological partnerships with the brand

2) It is Suzuki that uses Daewoo parts, not the other way around. That said, now that GM has taken over Daewoo, they are far more respectable than what they once were.

3) What cars other than the Swift has Suzuki actually built that was worth buying in the US? I can't think of a single one that was sold here, as all of the good stuff stayed in Europe, Japan, or Australia.

...Don't go blaming Suzuki's failure on GM, as they had very little to do with it.

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

Who cares about their cars? To me, they've never been very intersesting. Nothing of theirs stood out. Their motorcycles have always been badass. They just need to make something a little different, something to make their car division stand out a little more.

 

[Jim Prower]

You know, one of my favorite cars in GT4 to drive is the GSX-R4. I put a wing on it, and some wheels with the big nuts in the center (what are those called again? Center-locks?) and it looks like a little LMP2 car. drives like one, well, kinda, doesn't quite stick to the ground like one.

perhaps Suzuki needs to consider something like that. there's a big gap between Motorcycle-philosophy and Car-philosophy, here. Honda's much closer in their Motorcycle-car relationship, and look at their success.

Think Honda, Suzuki. Think Honda.

 

[Poverty]

suzuki should be a niche company, making light rear wheel drive cars, and use theyre motorbike excellence and stick some of that spirit into fun quirky cars.

 

[GM]

I was'nt ever really into their cars, (exept maybe the concepts which appear on GT4), but they made great motorbikes and would be a shame to see them go.

 

[Carl.]

In its category, the Gran Vitara should do well, it's nicely packaged, competitive and well priced. The old one was starting to be a real joke (as their current fugly XL-7).

Besides that, it's not looking very good at the moment. They should bring the Japanese/European Swift ASAP to North America, seeing how well the Fit and Yaris are doing. The Aerio is long due for an overhaul, too.

 

[Leonidae]

they should put new edition of capucchino out.. with Hayabusa engine, priced like regular capucchino... that would bump the sales upwards.

 

[YSSMAN]

...I thought they dumped the Aerio for the Reno?

 

[Sage]

I don’t think so – I think their plan is to develop a car that will replace both the Aerio and the Reno, since they’re both rubbish.

Suzuki either needs to go the Korean route (increase quality dramatically, undercut price), or the Mazda/Nissan route (add a huge dollop of sport with a noticeable increase in quality), and frankly, I don’t think the Korean route would fit in with their image. I’m admittedly apathetic though – once they start making good (not decent – good) cars, I might start caring.

 

[socomplayer2]

my dad has a '04 suzuki xl-7... extremely nice suv for about $17,000 (USD)after hours(upon hours) of haggling i will most likely get it and use it for the first year or so of driving. has alot of nice things like an outstanding sterio system and nice feel( i have driven many times) and even some pep

 

[Firebird]

In Suzuki's defense, the only reason that is true is because all GM did with Suzuki (istead, of you know, selling there good cars here) is throw crappy versions of already crappy cars that pretty much destroyed consumer confidence (Suzuki Samurai, anyone? In Izusu's defense, the same thing applies to them).

You're so woefully misinformed it's funny.

First of all, the Samurai was a Suzuki through-and-through. GM didn't have any input on that one.

Second of all, the reason Suzuki has been rebadging Daewoos for sale in the US market is because they own 11% of GMDAT. The Reno, Forenza and Verona (and Swift+ in Canada) weren't "forced" upon a helpless Suzuki by "big, bad GM". It was Suzuki's decision.

Third, what the hell are these mythical "good Suzukis" that never made it to the States? Do you even know the Suzuki lineup outside the States? I'm willing to bet you don't, 'cause if you did you wouldn't say something so ignorant. Name two "good" Suzukis that didn't make it.

The only other Suzukis, the Suzukis that didn't cross the Pacific, are Kei-cars. The only one worth having would have been Cappuccino. That's it.

 

[Tornado]

First of all, the Samurai was a Suzuki through-and-through. GM didn't have any input on that one.

I meant the Sidekick. I get the two confused.

Third, what the hell are these mythical "good Suzukis" that never made it to the States? Do you even know the Suzuki lineup outside the States? I'm willing to bet you don't, 'cause if you did you wouldn't say something so ignorant. Name two "good" Suzukis that didn't make it.

The Cappucino and the current Swift.

The only other Suzukis, the Suzukis that didn't cross the Pacific, are Kei-cars. The only one worth having would have been Cappuccino. That's it.

An opinion not shared by a good lot of people in Asia.
But since none of this is GM's fault, I guess it's Suzuki's fault that they can't release a Kei-car here, or develop a car specifically for this market. Can't compete with the Cobalt or Aveo, now can we?

 

[YSSMAN]

Don't get me wrong, their cars aren't nearly as bad as what the Korean cars used to be, but when you are being overtaken at a pace at which Kia and Hyundai have done, what the hell is wrong with Suzuki when they cannot do the same thing?

I mean for God's sake, Daewoos are even getting decent reviews from what I hear, and when you have editors at major magazines baisically saying that they would rather have an Aveo than a Reno, then we have problems. HUGE PROBLEMS!

Suzuki has the means, but I don't think they want to do what the market demands. That is the entire problem. They are so focused uppon building cars they think the public would want, but I doubt anyone in their right minds are actually going to cross-shop a Reno or Aerio against a Civic or even a Cobalt.

Small-ish, reasonably priced, fun-to-drive cars are all that they need to turn the company around. My suggestion would be to drop the entire lineup outside of the Escudo/Vitara, and for the moment, sell only two models in the US. A new sedan/coupe and the Escudo/Vitara. Thats it.

...Mind you, the car does not have to be Honda Civic in quality or performance, as I am thinking more along the line of the Mitsubishi Lancer or Nissan Sentra. Nothing too special, but fun to drive nonetheless.

 

[Leonidae]

what about this?

1.6l, available with automatic and manual gearbox, continuous AWD.. trye, not perkiest of cars with around 100ish hp, but it has potential for a decent sleeper IMO.. and yes, I know. it looks like Capuccino with raised ground clearance.. and weights under a ton. could you guys believe that this car is actually rated as mini SUV?

ENGINE: 1.6-liter inline four
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 95 hp @5600 rpm/98 lb-ft @4000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: Five-speed manual/4-speed auto
FUEL ECONOMY: 25 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, 23.8 mpg test
CURB WEIGHT: 2,500 lbs
FUEL CAPACITY: 11.1 gal.
LUGGAGE CAPACITY: 8.4 cu. ft.
TIRES: P195/65R15
INSTRUMENTS: Speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, water temperature, oil pressure, battery voltage,
digital clock.
EQUIPMENT: Power windows, power door locks, air conditioner, AM-FM stereo radio with cassette, anti-
lock braking, dual air bags.

 

[YSSMAN]

...I can't help but laugh every time I see one on the road... Especially the ones with the convertable tops... lol!

 

[Leonidae]

I thought they're pretty rare in US? oh, and this should make you worried: Suzuki is going to update X90, and the lineup possibly includes sports model with 300bhp, turbocharged 2.7l V6..

 

[YSSMAN]

I havent seen too many of the X90s, but they are around here in the summer quite often. If Suzuki is just getting to the point where they might sell 100,000 cars per year in the US, I can't imagine how few of those numbers before it were X90s.

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

You know, one of my favorite cars in GT4 to drive is the GSX-R4.

Exactly. But it's just a concept car. But it's exactly the kind of vehicle that could spur interest in Suzuki's car division and spice up their vehicle line. Right now they have unimpressive sedans and little kei cars. They need something sporty, something high performance, like the GSX. A car like that could do wonders for them.

 

[Firebird]

I meant the Sidekick. I get the two confused.

GM didn't have anything to do with the Sidekick!

The Cappucino and the current Swift.

Didn't make it here. Past tense. The current Swift still might make it.

An opinion not shared by a good lot of people in Asia.

Who gives a damn what a good lot of people in Asia think?

But since none of this is GM's fault, I guess it's Suzuki's fault that they can't release a Kei-car here, or develop a car specifically for this market.

"They can't release a Kei-car here"?!?

They WON'T release a Kei-car here. They're smarter than that. They either CAN'T or WON'T develop a car for the U.S. market because the U.S. market is not receptive to Suzuki cars, and frankly American Suzuki has done such a poor job they've reinforced their dowdy image to the point it's almost insurmountable.

 

[turbo_swift]

hmmm... my blood is starting to boil reading some of thes comments!
firstly a good suzuki is not a 'legend'. look at the swift gti(cultus in japan). if you think these cars are rubbish you know nothing about cars. maybe you just get crap ones in the states but here they actually design and make good cars that know what corners are! so dont tar the whole range with the same brush!

 

[YSSMAN]

Whoa, I forgot about this thread...

Firstly, welcome to GTPlanet.

Secondly, I started this thread after reading an article about Suzuki. It isn't that we hate the company, its that we are frusterated with the company overall. Why can't a company that builds some of the best motorcycles in the world build cars to match their persona? Quite frankly, its outrageous, and models like the Reno and Verona aren't going to cut it.

Granted, in America we are baisically stuck with re-badged Daewoos outside of the Aerio (argueably the best car Suzuki has made in more than 10 years) and the Grand Vitara/Escudo. They should be building small, sporty economy cars and hatchbacks, and maybe one "extreme" coupe to match the exelence of the Miata and S2000.

Sure, from what I understand the Swift is a great car, but untill we see it in the US, Suzuki's position of being a not-so-great car company in trouble still stands!

 

[Firebird]

hmmm... my blood is starting to boil reading some of thes comments!
firstly a good suzuki is not a 'legend'. look at the swift gti(cultus in japan). if you think these cars are rubbish you know nothing about cars. maybe you just get crap ones in the states but here they actually design and make good cars that know what corners are! so dont tar the whole range with the same brush!

So, which of the supposedly "not rubbish" Suzukis that didn't make it to the States should have made it to the States, beyond the aforementioned Cappuccino?

Alto? Ignis? They'd have been laughed off the market.