Suzuki caps its service costs too

Suzuki has become the latest vehicle brand to announce a capped-price service program in Australia.

Applicable to all new Suzuki vehicles sold from today (May 1), the plan guarantees the cost of scheduled services at authorised workshops for a full five years.

Prices start at $199 for the entry-level Alto and light-sized Swift hatch, and range to $249 for the small SX4 and mid-size Kizashi sedan, and $269 for the Jimny and Grand Vitara (excluding the diesel).

Suzuki Australia General Manager also announced the extension of the Japanese brand’s new-vehicle warranty from three to five years as part of the company’s first capped-price service plan.

“Under the Suzuki Capped Price Service program, customers will have the reassurance of knowing in advance exactly how much each scheduled service will cost, before they even book it in at their authorised Suzuki dealership, he said.

“The Suzuki program extends the three-year warranty to five and ensures our factory trained technicians, using the latest Suzuki diagnostic apparatus, are keeping your Suzuki at the peak of its performance, incorporating all technical product updates.

“Customers can expect more value by knowing exactly how much they will pay for each service and when it comes to purchase their next Suzuki vehicle with improved resale value.”

Although it does not apply in Queensland and northern NSW, where Suzuki is represented by an independent importer, the program brings Suzuki into line with the host of other maximum-cost service plans now offered by most mainstream brands, including Toyota, Holden, Ford, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia.

Most recently, that includes Volkswagen, which last week announced its new Golf will be part of the capped-price service program that started with the up! last October and now covers its entire passenger car and commercial vehicle range.

However, while VW’s capped-price service plan is one of the longest running at six years, the German brand’s new-vehicle warranty period remains the industry norm at three years/unlimited-km.

Suzuki now offers a five-year/140,000km extended warranty (which ever comes first, provided all standard scheduled services takes place at a participating dealer), bettering Mitsubishi’s five-year/130,000km warranty but not the industry-leading five-year/unlimited-km warranties of Hyundai, Kia and Renault (except RS models and the Kangoo).

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