Scrappage boosts Suzuki sales

Jan 31 2010 Ian Johnson

Scrappage boosts Suzuki sales

A LOW finance package set up by Suzuki means motorists can drive a new Alto cit car for only £95 a month.

The Japanese car maker is also continuing a zero per cent finance offer on almost all Swift superminis, the new look SX4 compact MPV and all Grand Vitara models until the end of March; enabling customers to take advantage of an easier and flexible way to buy a new car for the Spring and the '10' registration.

The new Alto Drive Plan package enables a non scrappage customer to drive away in an Alto SZ2, payable over three years at 5.2% APR with a deposit of £1,879.

The personal contract plan offers customers a way to purchase a new car with low monthly payments and the option to pay a final instalment to keep the vehicle at the end of the term or return it as a potential deposit against another new model.

Customers can add air conditioning by moving up the range to an SZ3 grade for £105 per month or top of the range SZ4 which includes alloy wheels, curtain airbags and ESP for just £120 per month.

Moving up the Suzuki range, the Swift remains popular amongst new car buyers helped by strong residual values. Prices start from £9,190.

As an example of the zero per cent campaign for the Swift an SZ2 3 door is available for a deposit of £2,757 followed by 24 monthly payments of £268 per month or under a PCP a deposit of £1,838 deposit and £125 per month, payable over three years.

Suzuki, is an esstablished player in the small car market and has benefitted from the Government scrappage scheme which runs out at the end of February.

The firm delivered more than 10,500 new cars to scrappage customers of which at least 85 per cent were conquest sales from other car brands. The Alto was the most popular model under the scheme, closely followed by Swift.

In 2009 Suzuki sold 28,539 cars in the UK - an increase of 9.4 per cent over 2008 when it sold 26,095 models. It boosted the brand's market share to 1.43 per cent during the credit crunch when total UK car sales of 1,995,000 units were down six per cent over 2008.

The Suzuki SX4 is a distinctive five-door hatchback that blends the characteristics of sporty compacts with those of lightweight SUVs. The SX4 has been revised for 2010 with numerous styling and interior changes as well as an introduction of a cleaner and more powerful 1.6-litre petrol engine.

The UK line-up offers two engine options - one diesel and one petrol.

A new 120PS 1.6 litre VVT petrol engine is available in either SZ3 or SZ4 2WD (front-wheel drive) format or as a 4x4 SZ5 model with selectable/automatic four-wheel drive. The 1.6-litre DDiS will be available in SZ4 trim from April, together with the SZ5 4X4 petrol.

The latest SX4 is available from £11,640 and qualifies for zero per cent finance until the end of March, although a 50 per cent deposit is required.