It’s been about 10 years since the American Suzuki Motor Corporation – also known as Suzuki – stopped producing cars in America. And while you can still get ahold of a brand new Suzuki motorcycle, anything on four wheels will have to be purchased on the used market. But is it really a good idea to buy a used Suzuki car?
If you buy a Suzuki car, then it can still be serviced
2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images
While Suzuki cars are not as popular as those from Honda or Toyota, they’re still a good buy. As Live About points out, one of the main reasons that it’s a good idea to buy a used Suzuki car is that if you do, it can still be serviced. The Suzuki Automotive website still exists and it lists warranty information for several models and can even point you to service centers in your area.
As far as reliability, Your Great Car notes that there are plenty of Suzuki cars still driving with over 200,000 miles on the odometer. What’s even better is that they are relatively inexpensive to maintain as well with mostly needing simple oil changes and routine maintenance to keep running.
Popular Suzuki cars
Suzuki produced cars in the U.S. for over three decades. However, if you’re in the market for one, then you may want to look at the models that were made in the 2000s as they are likely to be more reliable and have fewer miles. A few of the most popular Suzuki models from the early 2000s to 2010s are the SX4, the Kizashi, the Equator, and the Grand Vitara. In fact, if you were to choose between just those four vehicles, you would have one from each category – a small car, a sedan, a truck, and an SUV.
The Suzuki Kizashi is a great family sedan to buy
2010 Suzuki Kizashi | Getty Images
No, the Kizashi isn’t some type of sushi, it was one of the last sedans that Suzuki manufactured. The Kizashi was produced from 2010 to 2013 and ended up dying when the brand stopped making cars. Fortunately, you can buy a Kizashi for cheap today ($5,000 to $10,000) and if you do, then you expect a good amount of seating room for five and some basic tech features like Bluetooth. Under the hood is a 180-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that’s mated to either a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. The best is that it’s also available in front or all-wheel drive.
The Suzuki SX4 is a plucky and capable hatchback
Suzuki SX4 2009 | Getty Images
The Suzuki SX4 was a four-door hatchback that was produced from 2007 to 2013. Under the hood is a 143-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that could easily get over 25 mpg and around 30 mpg during mostly highway driving.
While gas mileage wasn’t its forte, the coolest thing about the SX4 was that it could be outfitted with a manual transmission and an all-wheel drivetrain. According to Jalopnik, the SX4 may be the “ultimate cheap winter car.” That’s true, considering you can these cars selling for around $5,000 nowadays.
The Suzuki Equator is just a rebadged Nissan Frontier
In 2009, Suzuki decided that it needed to add a pick-up truck to its lineup in order to compete with the Toyota Tacoma and Honda Ridgeline at the time. Instead of creating its own, the Japanese automaker instead decided to call up Nissan and ask if they could slap a Suzuki badge on the Frontier. Nissan agreed and the Suzuki Equator was born.
That being said, if you’re looking for a used truck and are checking out older Nissan Frontiers, switch your search over to a Suzuki Equator and you’ll get the same truck for less money. Many of them are selling nationwide for around $8,000 to $15,000 in today’s market.
Buying a used Suzuki is not a bad idea
Ultimately, buying a used Suzuki car isn’t a bad idea. However, you should probably avoid some models like the Verona, Forenza, and the Reno as they were rebadged Daewoo cars that weren’t especially known for being reliable. Otherwise, the aforementioned models will likely last as long as any Honda or Toyota, but for a fraction of the price.
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