It seems like almost overnight, Suzuki design became funky and fresh again. Sadly for our North American Curbivores, that happened shortly after Suzuki withdrew from the US and Canadian markets. For the rest of us, however, we can enjoy the spoils. Those of us in Japan can enjoy even more.
Earlier today, we looked at the outgoing Jimny. This is the all-new 2019 Jimny, only the fourth generation of Suzuki’s off-roader since its debut in 1970. The fourth iteration is as rugged as the Jimny has always been, riding a ladder-frame chassis and featuring live front and rear axles and a dual-range transfer case.
While there have been some modern additions, including a touchscreen infotainment system, autonomous emergency braking, and four additional airbags (to a total of six), the Jimny is still a refreshingly old-fashioned 4×4. As before, there’s a Kei-class version for the Japanese market that loses the fender flares and features a smaller, 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
The export model, to be sold in Japan as the Jimny Sierra, now has a 1.5 four-cylinder with 100 hp, mated to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Dimensions are almost identical to the last Jimny, the new model being an inch shorter, twenty pounds heavier, and just over an inch wider.
The fourth-generation Jimny loses the ever-so-slightly curved look of its predecessor and wholly embraces its heritage, boxy aesthetic. In that respect, it’s like the Mercedes G-Class… if the big Benz cost as much as a Toyota Yaris. If you don’t like the look of the new Jimny, wait 20 years. Although it probably won’t look much different even after the next redesign.
It’s rather sad Americans have missed out on the Suzuki Swift for so long, and even sadder that Canadians endured a Chevrolet Aveo wearing its name. The real Swift has long been one of the most impressive cars in the B-segment, being well-built, economical and fun-to-drive.
The current Swift’s exterior design has only subtly evolved over the past three generations but, while it may look innocuous in photos, it looks very charming in person. The engine lineup consists of a 1.2 four (88 hp, 88 ft-lbs) or a turbocharged 1.0 three (109 hp, 118 ft-lbs).
Even more impressive is the Swift Sport. It borrows the turbocharged 1.4 four from the Vitara crossover, good for 140 hp and 169 ft-lbs. Matched with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission and a curb weight of only around 2000 pounds, the Swift Sport is a delightful, rorty little hot hatch that can hit 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. The most impressive part is how Suzuki managed to shed 286 lbs of weight with this latest generation.
The Baleno sits above the Swift in the Suzuki line-up. While it looks bigger than the Swift, it’s only around six inches longer and roughly the size of a Ford Fiesta. Perhaps because of its country of origin – it’s manufactured by Suzuki’s Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki – it’s a tad more conservative than Japanese Suzukis. Interestingly, Maruti Suzuki exports the Baleno throughout the world, even to Japan.
This is my favorite Suzuki design: the Ignis. I’m starting to see a lot of them around town and they look fantastic in the metal. The upswept beltline is reminiscent of Suzuki Frontes and Cervos from the 1970s but this is one example where a retro throwback design actually looks better than its forebears. It’s also a lot more interesting than other cars in its segment.
It’s marketed as a crossover even though it looks like a tall hatch and is almost identical in dimensions to the Mitsubishi Mirage. However, there is the option of all-wheel-drive. There’s only one engine available, Suzuki’s 1.2 four mated to a five-speed manual transmission or a CVT.
While the 2005-vintage Grand Vitara trudges on with no sign of a replacement, the Vitara nameplate (sans Grand) is now used on a subcompact crossover roughly the size of a Honda HR-V. Its styling mightn’t seem too far out of the norm but Suzuki allows you to customize your Vitara more than other crossovers, with your choice of various two-tone paint treatments and colorful interior trim.
Based on the less funky S-Cross (which replaced the SX4), the Vitara is no longer the off-road warrior the old Vitara/Escudo/Sidekick/Tracker was but you can still option it with Suzuki’s ALLGRIP 4WD system. There’s also the option of a turbocharged “Boosterjet” 1.4 four-cylinder from the Swift Sport, providing a decent bump in power from the standard, naturally-aspirated 1.6 four.
While those of us outside of North America have this wide range of Suzuki models to choose from, Japanese consumers have even more.
Suzuki is a huge player in the Japanese kei car market, being the first Japanese automaker to offer a kei-class car, and offers myriad cars in this segment including the Spacia, Wagon R, and the pictured Wagon R Stingray (yes, really). These follow the common tall-box aesthetic of kei cars that lends itself so well to packaging. There are a couple of Suzuki keis, however, that look a little different.
One of them is the Lapin, the name being the French word for rabbit. Since the first generation debuted in 2002, the Lapin line has had the same boxy, retro hatchback look, somewhat reminiscent of a modern-day Renault 4.
It has a bright and airy interior, comes in a range of funky pastel colors, and is apparently very popular with Japanese women.
The related Alto treads a very different stylistic past. Where the Lapin is cute, the Alto is a touch more aggressive, representing a marked change from decades of inoffensively-styled models wearing this nameplate.
Nowhere is that more apparent than on the Alto Works. Dusting off the celebrated Works nameplate – as seen in Gran Turismo 2 – the new Alto Works features various cosmetic enhancements, firmer suspension, Recaro seats, and a standard, five-speed, short-throw manual transmission.
It’s a kei car so displacement and power is limited – 64 hp and 74 ft-lbs from a turbocharged 660cc three-pot – but it’s apparently a real hoot to drive. There’s even the option of all-wheel-drive.
There’s also the Hustler and its bigger, non-kei companion the XBee (pronounced “cross-bee”).
These two offer Mini Countryman-esque crossover styling, the larger XBee using the same Heartect platform as the Ignis, Swift and Baleno and using their optional 1.0 turbo triple with an exclusive mild-hybrid system.
There are other Suzukis sold throughout the world, like the SX4-replacing S-Cross and the Celerio city car and various Indian and Indonesian-specific models. None of them are bad cars but they aren’t quite as funky as Suzukis like the Ignis and Alto Works.
Tell me: do you feel like you’re missing out?
I have to say that I like most of these vehicles, even the Lapin with its shifter up higher than usual. Too bad Suzuki has left the N/A market indeed.
Suzuki makes an interesting little car, once they don’t constrain themselves to American tastes.
I would love to have a Jimny up here in Alberta. All weather capable plus good gas mileage. I would much rather have a Jimny than a Jeep Wrangler which have got way too big and expensive.
Having owned and loved two Samurais, I’d consider that next-gen Jimny in a heartbeat. The styling is clean and crisp, looks good to my eye.
In the previous Jimny article I commented that I’d seen late-model Jimnies in Ecuador recently. But not this new release. Wow! I think the styling is brilliant, and yes, very evocative of the G-Wagen (in a good way). Now even more I think this would be a hit in the US and Canada.
Yes, I do feel as though the US is missing out, or at least I am. I have a 2001 Grand Vitara that I’m quite fond of and will likely keep for as long as I can, as there hasn’t been another subcompact RWD/4WD full frame SUV with a stick sold in the US since it was discontinued. The Jimny pictured here would be a great replacement for it if there was a 4 door version available.
Of course. When we got Suzuki, what did we get? Rebadged Daewoos.
Now that they’re gone, they’re interesting again.
In my recent COAL, I tried to avoid mentioning what cars I cross-shopped in an attempt at brevity. But before buying the Corolla, I drove a 4 door Sidekick (as well as the Legacy which I did mention). I liked the Sidekick a lot, but my wife and I agreed we didn’t need a second 4wd. In an alternative universe, I would have bought the Sidekick, and perhaps never bought the Land Cruiser, T100 or Tacoma and saved a lot of fossil fuel.
I test drove a Sidekick (or Geo Tracker, can’t remember which) 4 door about 15 years ago. I like that that generation has recirculating ball steering and a 60/40 rear bench, but I remember that the RPMs of the stick at highway speeds were excessive, somewhere around 4500. The later models (99-04) turn about 1000rpm fewer at highway speeds.
Looking at the Ignis and Alto, they remind me somewhat of direct descendants of the original early 1970s Subaru Rex and/or the Honda 600.
The styling is probably just quirky enough to limit potential North American sales.
Honda 600
I felt quite a twinge of nostalgia while looking over those latest Suzuki models. They were probably wise in leaving the US/Canadian market, but they still have some interesting, old-school, goofy JDM designs.
It’s a shame Suzuki lost their way in the US for so long. I’d love one of those new Jimnys, and the rest of the lineup looks very interesting. When focused, they made a damn fine vehicle, as long as they kept things relatively simple. My ’87 Samurai was a fantastic bargain and dead reliable, if a bit crude. There was a ’94 Geo Tracker in my family from new up until just a couple years ago and it too was indestructible and ran like a top. For years I wanted a base model Vitara 4-door with 5 speed and 4X4, but a long commute made an economy sedan the wiser choice. I see a later model Kizashi almost daily on my commute these days, and still think it’s a great looking car.
When it arrived here, I thought the Kizashi was a well-designed, just-right car. Went to the nearest dealer to check them out. Read all the road tests and reviews. Seemed unwise to try and by a new car when I still owed quite a bit on my house. A few years later test drove a used SE model with the CVT. What I had really wanted was an S model with a manual transmission. Would still love to find a Kizashi with a manual that’s still in decent condition with not too many miles on it. Found a few on craigslist this week.
Most of those can be seen here Swifts are common though not sporty or fun to drive from my experience and echoed by a friend who found it gutless and too small she bought a 2.0 SX4 2wd which she still has and loves,
I’m expecting to see more of the Kei class cars show up now petrol has rocketed past $10 per gallon again, Jimnys no doubt will be popular as the older Vitaras and Escudos age out of use.
I have zero interest in modern cars, but I could be talked into a Lapin. The outside is Renaultish, the dash is a modern redo of a ’55 Plymouth.
Love the Swift, not sure about the styling of the current Vitara – and too many of them are a slightly aqua-blue – but the latest Ignis is just wrong. Passed one earlier today, and it is just too tiny ! Looks like a toy. I know cars need to be small in Japan, but in Europe you need a bit more sheer size.
We don’t get any of the other variants except the Jimny, and the new one isn’t here yet.
The new Jimny looks fantastic now I have seen it in more detail. Suzuki has always been one of the more popular brands here so I am au fait with most of the vehicles shown here, except the kei cars and the newest Alto (or Celerio in this market). Another car we get here that I didn’t see in this article is the Ciaz, which replaced the SX4 sedan.
Yes we are missing out. I would definitely have looked at a few of these when I bought my car in January.
Just to put Suzuki in perspective, globally, for the first half of 2018, Suzuki was the 11th largest automaker in the world, ranking between Mercedes and BMW. Suzuki also has a hefty sales lead over Mazda and Subaru.
https://focus2move.com/world-car-group-ranking/
I like Suzuki and wish they were more popular in the states, but after seeing their 2019 line up, it’s easy to see why sales were slow here. The only interesting vehicle they have is the jimny. The rest look boring or just plain embarrassing to own. It would be interesting to see a Suzuki sports car or sedan. Cuvs and econo boxes just don’t do it for me.
I would have definitely shopped Suzuki when I was looking a year ago. I have good memories of a 96 Chevy Tracker 4×2 softop (they got rid of GEO in 95) and it was a decent car except for the fragile plastic associated with the top. Mechanically it was fun to drive with a top speed of 95 or so. It averaged 30 on the highway at a buzzy 65mph and handled well with sticky tires.
It saddened me when they left the US market.
That Swift Sport would be occupying my driveway right now if the price had been reasonable. Hot hatches are my favorite kind of car.
There are still a lot of SX4’s running around Colorado. The small size with the 4WD made it fairly popular. (alright, it was really the 4WD that made it popular). Nevertheless it was an attractive, seemingly well built car at at decent price.
Bummer they couldn’t make it, now with Mitsu doing better again, they would have been a decent competitor. Although maybe that’s one of the reasons Mitsu is doing better, less competition at this end of the market…
Most of this new line is attractive with the Jimny one of my favorites. Thanks for compiling this!
I’m currently travelling in Pakistan, where the lineup looks a lot different to the list above. Before I came here, I didn’t realise that Pakistan is where old Suzuki models come to die (after being seriously decontented).
Their current range:
https://www.paksuzuki.com.pk/SuzukiProducts/Index/1
Due to their local manufacture, Suzukis make up a massive per centage of the cars on the road here, with the 1980s-era Mehran and Bolan being hugely popular, as well as the old Cultus which was only recently discontinued.
They have no safety features (not even rear seatbelts—although the mid-00s Corolla sedan I caught from the airport into Islamabad didn’t have any, either….) and EFI was only introduced about five years ago.
Interestingly, as Suzuki is so ingrained into the way of life here, second-hand JDM models are also very common. There are heaps of the current Alto (all very basic—definitely no Works version!) which I really like, as well as the similar but larger Ignis. I’ve also seen quite a few Xbees and Hustlers, as well as basically every other small hatchback they’ve ever made.
Attached is a typical selection of hatchbacks; there are still a huge number of FXs around, based upon the late-70s/early-80s Fronte.
Very much so. I’d love a Jimny, and Stephanie would like the Lapin. Some of the others are appealing too. But it’s not to be; they’re all too small for BIG America.
Been seeing quite a few Ignis of late. I like its c-pillar reference to the past.
A few years ago I had a Suzuki Swift while my Mazda 3 was in getting some rust warranty work done. Red with white stripes on it. As they gave me the keys I was mortified at having to drive such a stupid looking piece of crap.
By the time I had to give it back I had thoroughly fallen for its charms, stripes and all. It handled like a go-kart, while actually being a pretty handy, civilised companion. Seriously considered getting a Jimny soft top to replace an MX-5 as my daft toy car, although a nearby MR-2 Red Edition for pennies got to me first. Maybe next time…
There’s a set of lights at which I have to sit every day, where I watch three lanes of traffic steam by. I look for interesting cars, and mostly I don’t see them – just endless generic CUVs only distinguished by the badge on the grill. But these would stand out, and as such I think they’ll probably be the cars you see at “cars and coffee” and other car shows in 30 years time. Also, these little cars are going to be easier to keep going once they hit the 15 and 20 year mark, so more survivors are likely to make it through.
Does that make them future classics?
@Alimonster: Before I got my Mazda 3, one of the cars I was looking at was that generation Swift Sport but Suzuki in Austria is run by incompetents who were incapable of providing even ONE demo nationwide (even though the car was a listed model), so I passed. Apparently, they are only interested in selling cars to the geriatric set here.
Sad times – you missed out on a cracking wee car! In fairness, I enjoyed my Mazda3 too…frustrating that good brands let themselves down with useless marketing.
I’ve got a feeling that the new Micro-G-Wagen will become a success. Commercially, the outgoing Jimny couldn’t stand in the shadow of the Samurai. It just looked too much like a cuddable little toy car. The new one certainly doesn’t.
The “modern” Swift (2005 5th gen) is a very common B-segment hatchback around here. Don’t forget it has about 15 competitors in Europe. The main characters in this segment are the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo, Renault Clio and Peugeot 208.
To be honest, I don’t like the Ignis (also available here). It reminds me of a 45 km/h car you can drive without a driver’s license.
I love the Jimmy and like the Vitara. It looks like Suzuki has a really nice lineup but as PN notes above, we like things bigger here, so these would never sell in volumes that would support a decent dealer network.
I’m in Japan now visiting my in-laws, and driving on local roads makes it apparent that Suzuki is on an absolute tear. The Hustler is everywhere, its jerrycan styling and soft car underpinnings perfectly in step with the times. The Alto is maybe the first car to invoke ’70s Japanese econobox nostalgia; I want a Works 5-speed. My sister-in-law has a Lapin, and it’s amazing how much fun a tiny, lightweight car with double-digit horsepower can be when the roads are narrow, winding, and billiard-table smooth. Are we missing out? Of course, we were missing out even before Suzuki left the US market, because most of what we were getting were hoary rebadged Daewoos.
I don’t think its too late for Suzuki to make a comeback to North America. I believe most of their dealer operation is still in place as warranty coverages haven’t expired as of yet on the last of the units sold in the US and Canada. Maserati has made a successful return to North America although Alfa Romeo and Fiat are still finding sales a little slow here.
I’m normally not one to pine for the forbidden fruit. But, my gosh, that Jimny is a seriously attractive machine.
I also really like the new Jimny, GF had a ’85 Samurai hardtop, it was tons of fun and a great little off roader. This updated version would be on my (very) short list of new cars to consider.
I saw a Suzuki Kizashi in the parking lot at work today. I never knew those existed.