Kizashi related goods... or lack thereof. Word from Suzuki.

sx4rocious · Fri Aug 01, 2014 4:33 am

well the original SX4 has been retired as of the 2014 MY (to my knowledge) so the S-cross is taking the spot. It's actually a very capable unit and the interior os on par with the Kizashi as far as quality and design go. I think it compares almost exactly to the Ford Escape in design characteristics and versatility. If you remove the SX4 from the Suzuki lineup and inject the S-cross, that would actually leave the Swift as the sole compact/hot hatch in the lineup and make the S-cross the small crossover SUV offering. If they introduced a Swift sedan, I think it would compete very nicely with the Versa, Sonic, Focus, Accent, and Civics out there.

murcod · Fri Aug 01, 2014 5:37 am

sx4rocious wrote:7 If they introduced a Swift sedan, I think it would compete very nicely with the Versa, Sonic, Focus, Accent, and Civics out there.

Careful what you wish for, some cars should just be left as hatches.

I must say, I haven't seen (or noticed?) any S Cross's in my travels. (It might just be because the design does tend to blend in.)

Woodie · Fri Aug 01, 2014 9:14 am

KuroNekko wrote:I honestly think that the Swift should have come to the US when the Kizashi did.

No, the Swift should have been brought to the USA ten years ago, when it first came out and won "European Car Of The Year". Barring that, it should have come at the redesign in 2010.

Swift doesn't compete with SX4 in any way. Compared to some model ranges, they're miles apart. The current offerings in Europe are Alto, Splash, Swift, Swift Sport, SX4, S-Cross, Kizashi.

sx4rocious · Fri Aug 01, 2014 9:17 am

eww... nevermind...

As far as the S-Cross goes, sales have been a bit slow out the gate. There are a few reviews on Clubsx4.com, but not many of the international members have purchased one yet. It appears to be a really nice vehicle tho, but I'm not real sure how it will sell in EU since they tend to prefer more of a car, and less of a SUV. There is WAAAAAAAY more competition in the small SUV market in EU than the US. I think it would have sold better here, but alas, we'll never know...

Fri Aug 01, 2014 9:26 pm

Woodie wrote:
KuroNekko wrote:I honestly think that the Swift should have come to the US when the Kizashi did.
No, the Swift should have been brought to the USA ten years ago, when it first came out and won "European Car Of The Year". Barring that, it should have come at the redesign in 2010.

Oh, I agree. In fact, it should have been here a long time ago and those Daewoo POS should have never been badged as Suzukis.
However, what I meant is that between the Kizashi and the Swift, the Swift is the one that should have come first then the Kizashi. Suzuki executives opted to do the opposite and when the Kizashi failed to sell decently, they scrapped the Swift plan and left North America altogether.