Suzuki Swift Voted Top Small Car

SUZUKI NEW ZEALAND LIMITED

Press Release No: PRESS/AM12/28

Scheduled Release: 14 December 2012

Suzuki Swift Voted Top Small Car In

2012 Aa Motoring Writers Award

The Suzuki Swift has been named the small car winner in the prestigious 2012 Automobile Association New Zealand Motoring Writers Car of the Year award.

Independent voting by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers makes this annual recognition the most significant of all New Zealand car awards.

The latest accolade comes within days of the latest Swift Sport winning another category in the AMI Insurance and New Zealand Autocar magazine awards.

The previous model Swift Sport won its class in the same Autocar awards in 2007, while the Swift also secured the small car title in 2011.

With the naming of the Swift as the “Best in class small car” in the current new vehicle market, of the most recent AA Motoring Writers Guild award, the popular compact Suzuki has endorsed the opinions of New Zealand new car buyers.

The Swift continues to be the number one selling new car to private vehicle purchasers in New Zealand.

Stella Stocks, AA general manager for motoring services, said, “The Swift designers produced a car that is fun to drive, safe and affordable to own.”

Swift has been scooping international awards for nine years, including titles in Australia, Japan and Britain. Last year it won an award for reliability and low running costs in France.

“Not only is Swift the most successful car Suzuki has ever sold in New Zealand, it is also heading for an unbroken run of eight years as the nation’s top selling small car,” said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand.

Jeremy Clarkson, the outspoken British motoring television presenter and writer, praised the Swift’s handling, ride, driving position and, most of all, the look and feel of the interior. “As a tool, it’s fairly close to faultless,” he said, “but what sets it apart from other Japanese hatchbacks is that, like the old Swift, it has a personality.”

Clarkson said it was almost certainly the best small car on the market today and that it was one of only a trio of vehicles that all three Top Gear TV presenters liked.

Six versions of Swift are available in New Zealand, with the choice of three engines, including a thrifty diesel option.

Prices, which start from $20,500 for the 1.4 GL 5-door hatchback, include all driveaway costs, a three year, 100,000 km warranty and five year Suzuki roadside assistance package.

ENDS

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