Goodbye Ciaz: Suzuki PH axes Vios fighter

It was exactly 6 years ago when Suzuki Philippines launched its B-segment sedan, the Ciaz. With three variants to choose from, a wide array of standard features, as well as a starting price of PHP 738K, it was set to give other B-segment sedans a run for their money.

Fast forward to 2022, and Suzuki has given up on its B-segment sedan fighter. You read right, Suzuki Philippines has quietly discontinued the Ciaz from the local lineup. We actually noticed this when we were browsing their website and found that the Ciaz is no longer available.

Curious as to why they decided to drop it entirely, we asked a Suzuki executive why.

“We acknowledge that the bigger size and full sedan segments are very tough. With this, we continue to focus our efforts on the compact sedan and hatchback segment for the total passenger market. We believe this is our core and we have game-changing models to offer the market,” said the insider.

Given the statement, it's no wonder that they are now focusing on their core offerings; subcompact hatchbacks and small sedans. Just last year, they launched the facelifted Dzire, as well as the S-Presso Special Edition. The company also launched an upgraded Swift last March 2022 which now comes with a sportier grille and a new touchscreen complete with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay features.

Still, the news comes as a surprise as Suzuki actually launched the updated Ciaz just last year. First revealed in Thailand back in May 2021, the B-segment sedan features a bolder-looking front end, a somewhat updated interior, as well as a new touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. It still had the familiar 1.4-liter K14B inline-four that makes 91 PS and 130 Nm of torque. The 5-speed manual transmission was dropped, which meant it was only available with the 4-speed automatic.

With the Ciaz no longer available, this leaves the Dzire as the company's sole sedan offering. Do you think Suzuki made the right decision in discontinuing the Ciaz? Share your comments below.