The Best Suzuki Cars to Buy in South Africa
What are the best Suzuki cars for sale in South Africa? This article highlights some of the Japanese firm’s finest cars.
The best Suzuki cars in South Africa are not always the most popular but the brand caters to various budgets and Suzuki is currently the second-best-selling car brand in the country!
The fall of legacy vehicle brands hawking underspecced, overpriced models – and the corresponding rise of newcomers powered by strong value propositions – provides a snapshot of the changing buying habits of the distressed car-buying middle class in South Africa.
Winston Churchill is often misattributed for coining the phrase “never let a good crisis go to waste”. For a company like Suzuki in South Africa, that consumer cash crisis has turned into an opportunity as its 12-strong model lineup serves budget-conscious buyers.
What cars does Suzuki sell in South Africa today?
Other than for a bakkie and a sportscar, you’d be hard-pressed not to find a Suzuki for your particular needs.
There are no fewer than 5 different hatchback models to choose from including the S-Presso, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Swift. There are also 2 crossovers, the Fronx and Grand Vitara and a pair of sedans in the ironically-named Dzire and unpronounceable Ciaz (Chazz? See-azz? She-azz? Key-azz?).
But that’s not all, the Ertiga and XL6 are quasi-3-row people carriers while the diminutive Eeco panel van is aimed at small businesses such as plumbers and pet pimpers.
Finally, the Jimny enjoys a cult-like following as a unique budget-oriented yet giant-killing ladder-frame 4×4.
Prices, too, are geared to affordability; ranging from R178 900 for the base S-Presso to R542 900 for the Grand Vitara Hybrid Allgrip which is currently the priciest Suzuki on offer, as at September 2025.
It’s worth noting that the Toyota Vitz, Urban Cruiser, Starlet and Rumion are all rebadged versions of the Suzuki Celerio, Grand Vitara, Baleno and Ertiga, respectively.
Interestingly, of all Suzukis sold in South Africa, only the 3-door Jimny is built in Japan.
Find a used Suzuki listed for sale in South Africa.
What budget Suzuki hatchbacks can you buy in South Africa in 2025?
Suzuki’s quintet of hatchbacks range from SASSA-friendly cent-savers to spacious and playful, feature-rich models comparable to European and Korean rivals.
The S-Presso (R178 900-R219 900) is a rock-bottom, bare-bones entry into Suzuki vehicle ownership. Lightweight, compact dimensions and a wheezy 1.0-litre, 49 kW/89 Nm engine means your wallet stays in tact at the petrol pumps but you can forget about scaring any Ferraris, or Fiat 500s at the traffic light grand prix.
As its primary competitor, the Renault Kwid, you can expect bare-bones safety and feature essentials though the S-Presso’s 181 mm ground clearance may save regular bumper scuffers a few rands and the 2-year/30 000 km is a nice bonus at this low price point.
Buy Suzuki S-Presso on Cars.co.za
You can level up to the Kia Picanto-sized Celerio (R188 900-R225 900), the latter of which itself offers marginally more space, features and safety trim while sharing the same engine. It, too, enjoys a generous ground clearance (170 mm) and, importantly stability control makes a welcome appearance, which is especially beneficial for inexperienced drivers.
Buy a Suzuki Celerio on Cars.co.za
For around a quarter-of-a-million Rand, you’re finally looking respectable in the fun-to-drive, multiple-#CarsAwards-winning Swift (R224 900 – R291 900) that competes against the Volkswagen Polo Vivo and Hyundai Grand i10. Expect a longer standard feature list such as 6 airbags, an upsized touchscreen, LED headlamps, keyless entry, climate control and even some leather trim in the higher spec derivatives.
Little wonder the Swift continues to trade blows with the Vivo each month for top honours as South Africa’s best-selling hatchback.
The Swift is powered by a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder engine with 60 kW and 112 Nm powering the front wheels either through a 5-speed manual transmission or a self-selecting CVT.
Buy a Suzuki Swift on Cars.co.za
Next up, the Ignis (R237 900 – R293 900) is Suzuki’s take on the urban crossover, locking horns with the Citroën C3, Renault Kiger and Hyundai Exter. As another former class winner in our annual awards as far back as 2017/2018, though now slightly long in the tooth, the Ignis’ cheeky looks continue as a standout trait in a segment defined by visual monotony.
Although the Ignis has the same 1.2-litre engine as the Swift, it lacks stability control. Furthermore, the upright seating position is a double-edged sword and while it offers a commanding view of the road ahead, it forces a less-than-ideal posture. Still, (a little) pain is the price for beauty and the compromise goes a long way towards looking cool and most importantly, keeps overall cost in check.
Buy a Suzuki Ignis on Cars.co.za
Finally, the Baleno (R266 900 – R339 900) takes the fight straight to the segment stalwarts such as the Renault Clio, Toyota Starlet, Hyundai i20 and VW Polo. Here, everything is supersized, from the 1.5-litre, 77 kW/138 Nm engine paired with premium technology (cruise control, 360⁰ camera, heads-up display, 6 airbags, and others) to interior space and a particularly large boot. We’d steer away from the slushy 4-speed automatic and for families not swayed by the pressure of having to buy a compact crossover, the 5-speed manual Baleno is a lucky packet for those on a budget.
Buy a Suzuki Baleno on Cars.co.za
Which Suzuki crossover should I buy?
Unquestionably, apart from the Swift, Suzuki’s second-best seller is the tongue-twisting Fronx. The latter is effectively a raised version of the Baleno, complete with a 170 mm ride height, cladded wheel arches and brawnier bumpers.
Ranging in price from R298 900 to R362 900, the Fronx goes head-to-head with the segment-leading Chery Tiggo 4 Pro. The Fronx is offered with just 2 front-driven derivatives – GL and GLX – powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine that develops 77 kW and 138 Nm and comes paired with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Stretching to the GLX model is definitely worth it, netting buyers keyless entry, a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen (against the GL’s 7.0-inch version), 360⁰ camera, wireless charging, heads-up display and 6 airbags. Both models do feature stability control as standard.
See prices and specifications of the Suzuki Fronx in South Africa
Buy a Suzuki Fronx on Cars.co.za
Does Suzuki sell a 4×4?
Yes. Words like “iconic” and “legendary” have been reduced to lazy staples of the automotive lexicon, but in the case of the Suzuki Jimny (R432 900 – R484 900), they are absolutely deserved. With genuine off-road prowess backed by a body-on-frame build and a low-range transfer case complemented by its relatively low weight, the Jimny easily holds its own in the presence of more muscular 4×4 soil-shredders.
The 3-door Jimny is solely available in GLX trim, whereas its bigger 5-door brother is additionally offered in rep-spec GL trim. A 4-speed automatic option is available alongside the 5-speed manual transmission and and all models are 4-wheel-driven.
At this price, there’s simply nothing else like it and despite the dearth of vehicle brands present in South Africa, not a single one offers a vehicle as uniquely capable, nor as affordable as the Jimny. It’s Suzuki’s best-kept secret!
Buy a Suzuki Jimny on Cars.co.za
Does Suzuki make a hot hatch?
With the advent of the original Swift in 2008, observers appreciated the fun-to-drive traits of even the humble, church-going models. The more satanic Sport version turned that chuckability up to eleven. Sadly, over time even Suzuki had to make a concessionary nod towards emissions and the introduction of the third-generation Swift in 2017 brought about the change to turbocharging in the range’s hottest model with 103 kW and 230 Nm), which robbed it of its rev-happy character.
Two years later, an automatic with paddle shifters was introduced, broadening the vehicle’s scope, though once again at the cost of engagement. Unfortunately, the Swift Sport’s pricing has not helped its cause pricing pegged at R463 900 and R487 900 for the manual and automatic, respectively. For R100k more you can have a bigger, faster and more powerful Volkswagen Polo GTI.
Our advice? Try buying a used Suzuki Swift Sport, or ideally a previous generation, naturally-aspirated version for true seat-of-the-pants pleasure for mere fish-and-chips money. You can thank us later.
Find a used Suzuki Swift Sport listed for sale on Cars.co.za.