The Auto Writer

In Spring 2008 when US domestic auto sales were beginning to slide, Suzuki was one of the few full line automakers whose sales were up. In fact, in May 2008 American Suzuki recorded their best month ever, no small feat considering that the recession had started several months earlier.

Suzuki Makes Chrysler Look Hot

Since then, it has been entirely different story for the smallest of the Japanese automakers (in terms of domestic sales). In recent months Suzuki has posted the worst month over month declines and is currently down 55.4% year to date compared to 2008. Indeed, put formerly bankrupt and restructuring Chrysler next to Suzuki and the American company actually looks pretty good. Chrysler Group, LLC’s US sales have tanked “only” 41% for the same period.

With just 2149 units sold last month – which is what Toyota sells in just two or three hours daily – something had to be done. Up until January, Suzuki saw Isuzu holding the title of “least of the Japanese automakers” a position that they relinquished when Isuzu quit selling passenger vehicles in the US. Isuzu had been ahead of Mitsubishi until this year, but its slide has been far worse sending it to the bottom of the heap.

Get Your Free Gas Card

What Suzuki has done is to offer a free gas for the summer on its SX4 line which includes a sedan, sport model and a crossover. In addition, buyers of the SX4 can receive up to $2000 in factory cash.

The free gas deal comes to buyers in the form of a debit card which assumes that drivers will travel no more than 3000 miles in that time and buy gasoline at $2.64 a gallon. Based on the gas mileage of each variation of the SX4 – 28 to 30 mg – the gas card is worth $270 to $290 depending on the model chosen. So, if you buy an SX4 your top discount would be about $2290 with dealer cash and gas card included.

A $6500 Suzuki?

The base Suzuki SX4 currently retails for $13,299 which means that some buyers could snag a new Suzuki for about $11,000. However, for those buyers with a clunker to trade it, waiting for the CARS program to kick in later this month could mean an additional discount of $4500. That means your brand new Suzuki SX4 might be had for $6500 when all discounts have been applied plus taxes, tags, registration and fees.

Source: American Suzuki

See Also — Cash Allowance Rebate System