Suzuki offering free gas for summer with SX4 purchase
2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery
Suzuki is getting in on the free gas bandwagon that Hyundai kicked off this year by launching a "Free Gas for Summer" promotion on all SX4s sold between now and August 31st. Of course, it pays to read the fine print – what the purchaser really gets is a pre-paid credit card loaded up with $270 for the SX4 Sedan or $290 for the slightly less fuel efficient SX4 Crossover.
Whether or not this incentive is really "free gas for summer" depends on how much you plan to drive over the next three months or so. Still, it's a relatively pain-free way for Suzuki to advertise "Free Gas!" and it's still a few hundred bucks off the running costs of the car.
Along with the aforementioned sales promotion, Suzuki has also announced that it's offering $2,000 in customer cash off the price of any SX4 sold with a manual transmission, which we found to be a willing partner in eking out the most performance from the little runabout and much more desirable than the four-speed slushbox when we tested it last year.
Photos Copyright ©2008 Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.
PRESS RELEASE:
Suzuki Announces FREE GAS FOR SUMMER Sales Event
• Offer available on retail purchases of new 2009 Suzuki SX4 Sedan and 2009 SX4 Crossover models through Aug. 31
• Suzuki offers $2,000 in customer cash on all 2009 SX4 models equipped with manual transmission
BREA, CA - July 1, 2009: To help motorists at the pump this summer driving season and generate additional traffic to U.S. showrooms, American Suzuki Motor Corp. has announced a nationwide sales promotion offering car buyers three months of free gasoline on retail purchases of new 2009 Suzuki SX4 Sedan and 2009 SX4 Crossover models. In addition, Suzuki is offering $2,000 in customer cash on all 2009 SX4 models equipped with manual transmission. The Suzuki "Free Gas for Summer" sales program, which kicks off July 1 and runs through Aug. 31, is expected to further build brand interest and bolster summer sales of its versatile SX4 lineup.
"Suzuki recognizes the economic challenges facing Americans and thought this promotion was a great way to provide relief for car buyers," said Koichi Suzuki, executive vice president, American Suzuki Automotive Operations. "Working through our U.S. dealer network, we're happy to extend this unique program to consumers across the country, providing potential buyers even more reason to consider purchasing a Suzuki SX4 during the summer shopping season."
Customers will receive a stored value debit card that can be used for fuel purchases. The amount of each stored value gas card is determined by several factors, including an assumed three-month timeframe for summer driving, the car's EPA estimated highway mpg, the Federal Highway Administration's estimated average of 1,000 miles driven per month and the U.S. national average price of one gallon of regular gasoline as determined by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
"Free Gas for Summer" Program 2009 Model Free Gas Incentive (pre-paid card)
SX4 Sedan/Sport $270
SX4 Crossover $290
To learn more about Suzuki's "Free Gas for Summer" sales promotion, or to locate the nearest Suzuki dealer, please visit www.suzukiauto.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
N826AW 5:46PM (7/01/2009)
Apparently sales of the SX4 Crossover aren't mightier than the MINI...
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Gstill 5:52PM (7/01/2009)
I think they need to do a buy one get one free or something to boost their 78% decline in sales. I think Isuzu did better than that.
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zamafir 6:09PM (7/01/2009)
nothing they do is going to reverse that decline, it's been about as consistent as acura's double digit decline the last three years.
philrocka 6:23PM (7/01/2009)
They need to stop with the garbage and release the production Kizashi and bring over the Swift 3/5dr and Samuri(Jimny)...
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socarboy99 7:30PM (7/01/2009)
As the owner of an 08 SX4 sedan I've been pleased with this car's
performance and reliability so far during the last 18 months. If more
people had this car on their "radar" when shopping the compact segment, and went as far as a test drive, I belive that a lot of those people would be "plesantly surprised" of what this car has to offer verses
other compacts on the market. The problem is that Suzuki was hit hard
last winter by the credit crunch and their dealer network had a lot of
"first time new car dealers" that didn't have the resources to weather
this recession. Therefore, a lot of those dealers either folded or are
just barely hanging on.
Hopefully an easing of the economic turndown, new dealers (i.e.
x-Chrysler or x-GM dealers picking up the brand) along with an
emphasis on small cars (what Suzuki does best) like the Swift will
turn around the brand's sales in the US!
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rodan32 8:24PM (7/01/2009)
I would buy one right now if my own (suzuki-built) Metro wasn't running so well =).
SubcompactCulture 7:44PM (7/01/2009)
The SX4 is on a stretched Swift platform. I have an '09 AWD and am very happy with it; I'd say it's far from "garbage." However, I do agree with you: The Swift needs to get it's butt over here. I'd dig a Jimny, too.
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John P. 7:57PM (7/01/2009)
I find the SX4 to be one of the nicer looking small cars out there in it's class. I just wish it got better fuel mileage for what you're getting.
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Protzenegger 8:59PM (7/01/2009)
I don't mind the SX4 crossover, but it looks mighty awkward as a sedan.
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SubcompactCulture 9:05PM (7/01/2009)
@John P.
I guess you have to define "what you're getting." For an AWD car, it gets pretty darn good fuel economy. We can get around 30mpg on the highway with the vehicle.
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JRM 1:45AM (7/02/2009)
The SX4's biggest strength is its AWD, so for those who don't want it there are way too many options in the compact/subcompact class. Suzuki is just not popular enough in America to draw any attention outside of the AWD & outdoor enthusiasts.
Suzuki went through nearly 10 years of selling unpopular cars, no thanks to their GM-Daewoo partnership. Whatever momentum they had with the Samurai/Sidekick/Swift was gone in one fell swoop. Add to the fact that they were never big in america--even smaller than Subaru--and you have the general public opinion that Suzukis are crap, if they're known at all.
However, I give the autoblog fans credit that they would know a good car when they see it, as is the SX4 and when read all the favourable reviews about it from the car publications.
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P.V. 9:16AM (7/02/2009)
You can't really say that the SX4 is a well-kept secret anymore, as judging from June sales, the Forenza and Reno were cut too and yet Suzuki managed to be in black ink.
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