Whatshot
Suzuki Remains a Budget-Beater and a Top Brand
Suzuki Remains a Budget-Beater and a Top Brand
The Suzuki Swift returned to the stage at the 2019 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards - powered by WesBank - as the undisputed king of the budget car category.
The Swift was crowned the winner for the second year in a row, while Suzuki took the top honours in this category for the fourth year in a row, winning first with the Celerio and then the Ignis, before handing the baton to the Swift. During that period, it consistently beat some of the best-selling vehicles in South Africa.
"The Budget Car of the Year award is arguably one of the most important categories in the Cars Awards," says André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa. "In a declining market and a tough economic environment, this accolade proves that Suzuki offers some of the best value on the market and has offered it consistently for as long as the competition has been running."
"It is very heartening to see that the Cars.co.za judges and our customers feel equally positive about the Swift. The combination of high scores from both the judges and the public has helped us beat the two other finalists and the many other budget vehicles, which were considered as eligible vehicles or semi-finalists," says Venter.
While the Swift has worn the Budget Car crown for two years in a row, it was also one of the budget finalists in the inaugural competition in 2015, making Suzuki the only brand that has had a finalist in all five competitions.
"Suzuki has never wavered from its focus on providing value-beating and high-performing compact vehicles. The Swift is perhaps the best-known, having won the Japan RJC Car of the Year competition for each of the last three generations, but the Jimny, Ignis, Celerio and upcoming S-Presso are also highly regarded by motoring specialists across the world," says Venter.
The Budget Car category is capped at R200000 and considers the vehicles that offer the best possible value and performance for money. In this year's competition, the Swift offered the most affordable price and the most powerful engine of the finalists. It also proved that budget does not mean unsafe, thanks to the standard inclusion of two airbags, ABS brakes and ISOFIX child seat anchors as standard.
Get yours at Suzuki Umhlanga on 031 502 5565 or Suzuki Ballito on 032 946 5820.