American Suzuki, Suzuki’s U.S. sales arm, recently issued a news release saying that its total April 2011 sales were up 9 percent over its sales for the same month a year earlier. That seems admirable, until you look at the numbers — 2,132 Suzuki models sold in April 2011 vs. 1,950 in April 2010.
That top number would represent a bad selling month for the least popular product offered by any of Suzuki’s mainstream rivals. That’s too bad. It means many car buyers in the United States are missing a good deal.
Consider American Suzuki’s single biggest seller, the Kizashi sedan, whose sales for the year to date are up 111 percent compared with 2010, representing 2,571 cars sold so far in 2011 compared with 1,219 during the same stretch of last year. That sales improvement would be great for a super-exotic automobile, whose market penetration is restricted by price. But it’s lousy for any car company competing with the likes of Toyota, Ford, Honda and Chevrolet.
Front Seat Heater (if equipped)
Front Seat Heater (if equipped)
With the ignition switch in the “ON” position,
push in one or both of the seat heater
switches to warm the corresponding
seat(s). The indicator light below th ...
Ride & Handling
It's a good thing that the SX4 handles better than it looks. It's as nimble
as the pros in this class — we're talking the likes of a Lancer, Mazda3 or
Focus. The steering wheel requires a bit mo ...
Ride & Handling
Even with its 18-inch sport wheels and low-profile tires, my Kizashi rode
quite comfortably. I felt more pavement disruptions when I had three passengers
on board. In some cars it's the opposite. ...