MotorWeek Review of the First Suzuki Car in the US.

[KansasKid]

Here's a little video review of the first car (not SUV) brought to the US with a Suzuki badge: The '89 Suzuki Swift GTi. A pretty good year, 'cuz it was the year I was introduced to the US too...



The first Swift seemed to have a lot in common with the Kizashi: cheap, lots of standard options, good handling, good braking, and decent power (for the time). I must say that engines looked a lot simpler back in the day...

[Woodie]

They're ignoring the 85-88 Swift, but that's not important.

This was a very cool car. 100HP and exactly half the weight of a Kizashi.

[KuroNekko]

The spirit of these kinds of little cars intended for driving enjoyment still continues in Japan.
The Suzuki Alto Works is a small turbo car with a manual trans offered in either 2WD or 4WD.
Here's the commercial for it in Japan.

[Ronzuki]

YOU'RE KILLING ME WILL ALL THIS COOL STUFF WE'LL NEVER SEE HERE!

[pakizzie2015]

Do any of you feel. that in the future Suzuki could come back to the USA. or is it over forever. I mean why couldn't they try again.. obviously they make good cars!.. it just seems like such a waste.

[nytq]

Do any of you feel. that in the future Suzuki could come back to the USA. or is it over forever. I mean why couldn't they try again.. obviously they make good cars!.. it just seems like such a waste.

Nothing is static in business. It's not a question of if, it is when. It all revolves around money. If suzuki sees a long term opportunity to get into a market, they will, just like any business. The sad part is it may not be for another 5, 10, 15 years, but at some point they may see that opportunity again. It should be easier for a company like suzuki because they still have a footprint hear with motorcycles, atv's, and marine engines.

[KuroNekko]

Do any of you feel. that in the future Suzuki could come back to the USA. or is it over forever. I mean why couldn't they try again.. obviously they make good cars!.. it just seems like such a waste.

I can't see them coming back, unfortunately. They aren't tied to another large automaker with a US presence anymore. Suzuki is also a compact/subcompact car specialist and the North American demand for these is very low. Given the recent low gas prices, the demand for small fuel efficient cars have also gone down considerably and for the foreseeable future. The Kizashi was also a car intended for markets with larger vehicles and it failed miserably in terms of sales. Suzuki took that as an omen (ironically as "Kizashi" means omen in Japanese) that they would not see success in North America and therefore exited the market. While Suzuki does still sell marine, motorcycle, and ATV products, the dealership network for these is completely different from automobiles.

I'm also not very hopeful given that other Japanese brands that left the US a while ago have not come back. Isuzu makes only trucks and are still tied to GM but have not returned. Daihatsu is a direct and close competitor to Suzuki in Japan and they have completely ignored the North American market since their brief stint in the 1980's to 90's. Despite looking like failures, these companies are doing fine in Asia. Thailand has many diesel Isuzu trucks and SUVs and Daihatsus are a common sight in Japan. Suzuki is following suit to focus on Asia. For these reasons, I don't think Suzuki will be coming back to North America for a long time, if ever. If anything, it looks like we may lose yet another Japanese brand if sales don't pick up. Mitsubishi is struggling with their lackluster line-up and low sales. While they are planning on releasing new models soon, if these don't help sales then they may follow Suzuki in leaving the North American market as well.

[KuroNekko]

YOU'RE KILLING ME WILL ALL THIS COOL STUFF WE'LL NEVER SEE HERE!

Oh, I can keep it up.
Here's the new ad for the upcoming all-new Suzuki Ignis. Basically like an Alto CUV.

[Ronzuki]

When we become a third world country, all the above mentioned will return. Not likely any sooner.
American market would rather pay $32k+ for a Buick badged made in Korea CUV. That and we like to keep buying big overly-expensive fuel hungry SUVs and trucks for a single person to DD around in.

[Ronzuki]

YOU'RE KILLING ME WILL ALL THIS COOL STUFF WE'LL NEVER SEE HERE!

Oh, I can keep it up.
Here's the new ad for the upcoming all-new Suzuki Ignis. Basically like an Alto CUV.

yeah...like that one as well.