Why isnt the Swift very popular here in the Philippines?

[Rev01veR]

I mean, it got good reviews from auto critics, like Top Gear, Carbuyer and Fifth Gear. It's a very popular car in Australia, India and UK. Won subcompact car of the year awards here and there. It has clubs all over the world, But here in the Philippines, its a bit on the limelight. Too overshadowed maybe by the popular Jazz and the great Fiesta, but still it keeps me wondering. Even here in the forums, nobody seems to talk about the Swift. Even Teamswift.tk isnt that active anymore. I may be biased coz I own one, but I loved the Swift even before I bought it. I did a lot of research online before buying it, and boy do critics love the Swift. Well, on the other hand, I like how unpopular it is, at least its a bit rare on the streets. Unlike Jazz which is all over the place. Anyway, just thinking out loud here.

[jaymd]

reviews are made by auto critics/enthusiasts. they put a premium on the cars performance handling etc. most buyers are not car enthusiasts. strong selling points for cars are Brand recognition, exterior/interior design(futuristic design), resale, parts/accessories availabililty, performance, luggage space. kaya mabenta jazz talaga. Pero swift pa din ako kahit wala luggage space, spartan interior, etc. At least may temp gauge ang swift hehe

[Walter]

Expensive parts, limited dealer network among others.

[mda]

I think that there's a certain stigma when you talk about Suzuki cars especially among the rich (who have the money to buy small compact cars to go alongside their large SUVs). I guess this is probably related or directly as a result of having a bad track record when it comes to service quality over the past few years. Plus having a broken line-up and odd pricing schemes for some cars (SX4) don't help.

[niky]

The Swift is a fantastic car. Stylish, inside and out, refined (about as refined as the Fiesta... with better plastics), smooth-riding, comfortable and yet still agile Us car reviewers don't only like it because it's fun to drive, but also because it's the complete package.

The big problem is the presence of Suzuki cars locally is small. They have limited dealerships and exposure. They have an odd line-up (as mentioned), so there's not much in the way of other family cars to draw people into the showroom. There's a (perhaps undeserved) reputation of poor dealership service. Not entirely their fault. Remember, Suzuki was used by GM previously to sell rebadged Chevrolet and Daewoo cars...

Then there's the space. Even though people who buy Jazzes, Fiestas and whatnot don't buy them for the back seat space, the perception of smallness haunts the Swift. The back seat is bigger, but still smaller than average, and the trunk is smaller than the Eon's. So while it's the nicest car in its class to both drive and be driven in, the lack of the extra passenger and cargo room that you might never use still hurts it. Also, only being available in 1.4 liters hurts. While that makes it more efficient, hatchbacks here are usually lifestyle cars, and people buying in that price range will want 1.5 and 1.6 liter engines.

Shame. Good car. Sells pretty damn well in India... but it will take a long while and some really strong marketing for it to take off here.

[vegetablejoe]

I've long wanted a Swift. But previous to the current year's model, the Swift's 1.5l engine required 98 octane gas. BIG TURN-OFF, as I was driving a '96 Corolla that couldn't use E10 either...

I see that the new 1.4L engine can use lower octane gas, so someday I will get myself a slightly-used Swift 1.4L... In the meantime, I'm loving my new Jimny.

[ben_david19]

IMO it's not very popular compared to Vioses etc. but it is selling. It's not a flop like SX4 sedan etc.

heck the Alto is the most popular car in India, but here it is not. but it is selling.

Suzuki is number 3 in japan though. Mahina lang suzuki talaga dito, maybe because of odd line ups. tsaka toyota and honda and even hyundai na ang uso dito sa mentality ng pinoys.

[niky]

Japan is a market that puts a premium on small cars, and where consumers are willing to pay extra. Just look at their line-up... the Civic is gone from Japan and the smaller and more expensive Prius C is selling like hotcakes. Here? everyone wants a Montero.

India is similar to Japan in that they like buying small cars... but cheaper ones. The Philippines has yet to catch on... we suffer from the same preconceptions that Americans do that small cars are deathtraps and will flip over if a bus passes them. But it's better for us if more cars on the road were smaller... we'd use less gas, we'd have less traffic volume for the same number of road users, and we'd have less pollution.

-

If only.

I've long wanted a Swift. But previous to the current year's model, the Swift's 1.5l engine required 98 octane gas. BIG TURN-OFF, as I was driving a '96 Corolla that couldn't use E10 either...

I see that the new 1.4L engine can use lower octane gas, so someday I will get myself a slightly-used Swift 1.4L... In the meantime, I'm loving my new Jimny.

Doesn't require it. Preferred, maybe... but not required. The only variant I can recall that requires high octane is the 1.6 Sport with the high compression engine.

[gongrhey]

another factor is brand consciousness among us Pinoys. we like to buy yung nasa "uso" and sikat.

[basti08]

For starters, Suzuki isn't as well appreciated here in RP as in other parts of the globe. That's in general. Brand cachet counts.
Perceived notion of expensive parts but low resale which hampers sales of even bigger Nissan, Ford or Mazda would definitely hurt the much smaller Suzuki even greater.
Gen1 Swift has been tagged as a guzzler in matic form, making matters worse. Gen1 Jazz and even the Yaris has been cited as fuel efficient even in matic form, much more the manual versions. Also, the Swift was late in the game in offering manual transmission. That could have build a strong 1st impression of confidence in fuel efficiency, ease of maintenance and could have emphasize its fun to drive factor.
Another, the Swift neither gen1 or gen2 isn't much roomier than a Picanto. The latest Picanto model even has bigger boot than the newest Swift. Cabin room-wise, form over function won here. For 1st timer car buyers, that's a sure turn off. For buyers that wants to keep just one car, it won't be considered either.

Still, there is a market for Swift. Those yuppies who could careless about backseat and boot space and wants a solid, stylish ride is their main target. Others could be those who wont be using it as their primary or family car (coding car perhaps?), or those who wants to stand out from crowds of Vioses, Jazzes and the likes. Which isn't so much here in RP.

[gabster_26]

This thread is really interesting to me as I have the same question regarding the sx4 crossover. I'm almost about to buy it because it seems like such a great car, I test drove it and the performance was good...the reviews are great as well. It's a nice car that has mild offloading ability, which fits my needs (90% city driving with the occasional need to go to quezon).

I keep wondering why more people aren't buying the sx4 crossover...I know the sedan was a total flop (for very obvious reasons) but the crossover seems like a great deal. Is it because of the same problems you guys talk about with the swift? Would greatly appreciate inputs before I take the plunge with the sx4...

[niky]

This thread is really interesting to me as I have the same question regarding the sx4 crossover. I'm almost about to buy it because it seems like such a great car, I test drove it and the performance was good...the reviews are great as well. It's a nice car that has mild offloading ability, which fits my needs (90% city driving with the occasional need to go to quezon).

I keep wondering why more people aren't buying the sx4 crossover...I know the sedan was a total flop (for very obvious reasons) but the crossover seems like a great deal. Is it because of the same problems you guys talk about with the swift? Would greatly appreciate inputs before I take the plunge with the sx4...

The SX4 is nice, but it's up against more modern competition like the Kia Soul or the Accent and Rio. Hell... if people want something that's "not a car" in the range, the Soul, Avanza and Grand Livina box the SX4 in... the Soul is more stylish, the Avanza is taller, and the Grand Livina is both bigger and more powerful.

The SX4 is not a bad car, but it's not really suited for off-road. Lightweight car suspension. As opposed to cars like the Avanza or the APV, which have ladder frame construction and live axles.

[_Qwerty_]

5 seater lang yung SX4 crossover..

how about the suzuki Ertiga? this one's a 7 seater.. totally flat pa yung 2nd and 3rd row..

[Syuryuken]

5 seater lang yung SX4 crossover..

how about the suzuki Ertiga? this one's a 7 seater.. totally flat pa yung 2nd and 3rd row..

Kung dadalhin ang turbo diesel ertiga dito lagot ang avanza at phaseout ang apv.

[gabster_26]

The SX4 is nice, but it's up against more modern competition like the Kia Soul or the Accent and Rio. Hell... if people want something that's "not a car" in the range, the Soul, Avanza and Grand Livina box the SX4 in... the Soul is more stylish, the Avanza is taller, and the Grand Livina is both bigger and more powerful.

The SX4 is not a bad car, but it's not really suited for off-road. Lightweight car suspension. As opposed to cars like the Avanza or the APV, which have ladder frame construction and live axles.

The grand livina is too mommy-ish, I don't like beige interiors, and it doesn't have an AUX port (I like my iPod music, but I don't care enough to go out and buy a replacement stereo with one, I want a car that comes with one standard).

The Avanza is too taxi-y for me. Test drove it and I don't like the ride as well.

I will have to check on the Soul...the base model is roughly the same price as the SX4 I believe? Have to check whether it offers the same features and performance as the SX4. The higher priced variants are way beyond my budget at >1M.

Criteria for me was handling, car-like ride, a hatch/MPV/SUV body (no sedans), good ground clearance, ability to offroad/go climb steep hills/mountainsides once in a while (isn't the SX4 sort of an offroader in other countries? Though we don't have the 2.0 AWD here), a nice interior (all black preferably, like the Mazdas), fuel economy, and a price below 1M. The SX4 fit all those for me, and it's not too common...want to stand out from all the Jazzes and Vioses running around.

Any other suggestions? Will check the soul out aight

[spiff41398]

I will have to check on the Soul...the base model is roughly the same price as the SX4 I believe? Have to check whether it offers the same features and performance as the SX4. The higher priced variants are way beyond my budget at >1M.

For 2012, there is only 1 variant of the Kia Soul, the 1.6L DVVCT A/T. It retails for 919k but with discounts, can go down to 899k, same as the SX4. My wife and I were looking at the City 1.5 and Lancer 1.6 EX GLS, but for a little bit more cash, we will probably go for the Soul. It's got lots of legroom and headroom and rides a little bit higher than compact cars.

[lowslowbenz]

When our club (MBCP) had the chance to have a track-day at Clark International Speedway, the big boys came in full force. The AMG's, the 4.5 V8's, and the 2.3 Cosworth's, cars that would eat a Swift for breakfast in the long stretches. But Clark was anything but straight. So while the big bruisers were slipping and sliding (some even overshooting), the pace car Swift was always leading the pack.

[SiRbossR]

I think the Swift is roomier than the Fiesta.

[SiRbossR]

When our club (MBCP) had the chance to have a track-day at Clark International Speedway, the big boys came in full force. The AMG's, the 4.5 V8's, and the 2.3 Cosworth's, cars that would eat a Swift for breakfast in the long stretches. But Clark was anything but straight. So while the big bruisers were slipping and sliding (some even overshooting), the pace car Swift was always leading the pack.

It's a really great handling car. I would actually buy one and mod it and have fun in the track.

[niky]

The Swift is good, but only as good as its tires. If any of those big boys knew how to drive, they should have been able to keep up in the twisty bits at Clark. Then again, if you're talking AMG V8, those are usually big and heavy, and I can imagine the front-end push in the tight sweepers on the west track was insane. Bet no one took the last corner before the straight flat-out.

If you really need to go off-road, there is only one answer:



Tough as freaking nails. Twin live axle, low range transfer case, ladder frame.

Of course, the back seat is Alto-sized (might even be smaller) and the trunk is non-existent.

But economy is somewhat decent, it's very easy to drive in traffic, and it's good looking. Really made for off-road, so the air intake is high and the alternator is also high up in the engine bay (around waist level). And it starts at 705k for the base 4x4 MT.

-

While you can take an SX4 off-road, if the road is really rough, it will cost you extra in repairs. Not saying that the SX4 is delicate, but when you go over potholes regularly, road-biased suspensions and bushings wear out very quickly. Even if it came in all-wheel drive, I would not buy an SX4 or any other small crossover (ASX, Tucson, CX5) for regular off-roading.

In cases like this, better to go for something more truck-like. An Innova maybe, or even a Crosswind. Suspensions are not indestructible, but they're made for heavy-duty use, and you can get them in diesel for under 1m.