Throughout 2024, Toyota Motor Corp sold a total of 10.82 million vehicles, allowing the automaker to maintain its global leadership for the fifth consecutive year.
Despite this figure representing a 3.7 percent decline compared to 2023, Toyota explained that there is still strong demand for its hybrid vehicles.
The second place was secured by the Volkswagen Group, with total sales of 9.03 million units, while the Hyundai Group recorded sales of 7.23 million units.
For the first time, BYD surpassed Honda, Nissan, and Suzuki with sales of 4.27 million units last year.
In comparison, Honda sold 3.81 million units, followed by Nissan with 3.35 million units and Suzuki with 3.25 million units.
Excluding brands under its umbrella such as Hino and Daihatsu, the sales figures for Toyota-branded vehicles alone reached 10.16 million units, a drop of 1.4 percent, following its involvement in a vehicle certification scandal, which led to a temporary halt in the production of certain models.
In key markets, Toyota recorded a 4.3 percent increase in sales, reaching 2.73 million vehicles in North America, followed by a 3.6 percent increase to 1.17 million vehicles in Europe.
However, Toyota’s sales in China saw a decline of 6.9 percent, totaling 1.78 million vehicles, due to ongoing price wars among major domestic manufacturers.
In Europe, the 2024 Suzuki Swift has received a three-star rating from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).
However, it’s not quite the same for the hatchback in Australia, where it was awarded only a one-star rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) following substandard performance in crash tests conducted by the organisation.
The fourth-generation Swift achieved 47% in the Adult Occupant Protection category, 59% in Child Occupant Protection, 76% in Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 54% in Safety Assist.
According to ANCAP, Suzuki Australia previously stated that the Swift sold in Australia and New Zealand is physically different from the European market counterpart.
“In comparison to the three-star rating achieved by Swift vehicles sold in Europe, vehicles sold in Australia and New Zealand performed differently when crash tested.
“The design of some of the structural elements and restraints in locally-sold Swift vehicles appear to lack robustness leading to variation in crash performance,” said Carla Hoorweg, CEO of ANCAP.
The ANCAP report indicated that the performance differences between the Australian/New Zealand Swift and the European model were evident in both frontal offset and full-width crash tests.
The frontal offset crash test demonstrated higher chest loads and leg injury risk for the driver, while the full-width crash test showed and a significantly greater rear passenger chest compression measurement that exceeded allowable limits.
As a result, the Swift received a Poor rating and a score of zero for chest protection, which is a critical body area.
Additionally, Poor scores were also recorded for the head and chest of the child dummies in the head-on and side-impact crash test scenarios. The Child Occupant Protection result of 59% is one of the lowest scores seen to date.
The Suzuki Swift is the latest model to enter the Australasian market with different safety credentials to its European counterpart, following the Honda Civic, CR-V, and ZR-V.
Suzuki has introduced the Swift Sport Final Edition, which, like the name suggests, is the final iteration of the ZC33S generation model, which has been on the market for seven years now.
According to the company, the new model will be offered in a limited number and will be sold solely in the Japanese domestic market. That said, there’s a good possibility that the car will arrive on our shores through grey importers.
What distinguishes the Swift Sport Final Edition from the standard version? On the exterior, the limited-run model stands out with glossy black finish on the grille, 17-inch black alloy wheels, red brake calipers, black and red Sport emblem on the tailgate, and special graphics on the C-pillar.
While the interior may appear similar to the standard version, the Final Edition actually receives several fresh touches, including aluminium-like trim with a heat gradation effect on the dashboard, door panels, and centre console.
Additionally, you will find the “Sport” lettering on the passenger side and “ZC33S Powered by Suzuki” near the gear lever. Bucket seats, aluminium pedals, and red stitching are retained from the standard model.
And if these are not enough, customers can deck out the car’s overall look with various exclusive accessories from Suzuki, including aero elements, additional decals, headlamp garnish, and much more.
While the Swift Sport Final Edition may have a more aggressive appearance, unfortunately, there are no mechanical changes to this model.
The task of powering this hatchback is still handled by the 1.4-litre four-cylinder Boosterjet turbo engine, which produces 140 PS and 230 Nm of torque. Customers can choose between a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission.
Suzuki says the Swift Sport Final Edition will be produced from March to November 2025, following the cessation of production for the standard version in February. The retail prices start at 2,329,800 yen (RM67,646) for the manual version and 2,401,300 yen (RM69,707) for the automatic.
After making its debut at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 last May, the Suzuki GSX-S1000GX has now officially been launched in the local market.
The new model combines the latest suite of technology with adventure riding and performance comparable to a superbike.
Powering it is a 999 cc, DOHC four-cylinder engine producing a healthy 152 PS at 11,000 rpm and 106 Nm at 9,250 rpm. It is interesting to note that this is the same engine used in the GSX-S1000 superbike.
What’s more, the GSX-S1000GX is the first Suzuki motorcycle equipped with Suzuki Advanced Electronic Suspension (SAES).
Comprising Showa SFF-CA inverted telescopic front forks and a BFRC-lite mono rear shock absorber, the system can automatically adjust the suspension settings to match the current riding conditions.
Suzuki Road Adaptive Stabilization (SRAS) activates automatically when riding on cobblestones or other uneven surfaces to provide a smoother ride with softer, more controllable throttle response.
Included as well is the Suzuki Floating Ride Control (SFRC), which improves maneuverability and comfort by helping to keep the seat and handlebars stable while the wheels and tyres absorb the bumps on the road.
Other electronic features under the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS) include the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector Alpha (SDMS-α), Smart TLR Control, Active Damping Control, Ride-by-Wire, Quick Shift, Smart Cruise Control, Slope Dependent Control, Suzuki Easy Start, and Low RPM Assist.
All features can be managed through a 6.5-inch TFT LCD display. It can also connect to a smartphone via the Suzuki MySPIN app, providing riders with access to navigation, music, calls, and calendar.
The Suzuki GSX-S1000GX is now available at all Suzuki Big Bike World dealers across Malaysia, priced at RM89,900 (excluding registration, road tax, and insurance). There are two colour options to choose from: Metallic Triton Blue and Glass Sparkle Black.
The selection of an affordable streetfighter machine that resonates with one’s soul is something that should not be taken lightly.
Otherwise, you might end up having to sell the bike because it does not match your personal taste.
Fortunately for B2 license holders in Malaysia, we are presented with various models of motorcycles under 250cc displacement, from Japan, Sweden, India, and there are even motorcycles made in China!
The Suzuki Gixxer 250 entered the Malaysian market at the end of last year, with a price tag that caught attention – around RM14,500.
Although its arrival might be somewhat late, the writer believes that the Suzuki Gixxer 250 is capable of posing a strong challenge to other 250cc models out there.
The following is a brief review after spending several days with the Suzuki Gixxer 250:
1. Streetfighter with average styling
Compared to other competitors in the market, the Gixxer 250 does not have an aggressive look.
The oval-shaped LED main headlight with three-layer lighting does look modern, but it is not complemented by LED turn signal lights, only traditional bulbs.
The same goes for the rear section.
However, the lighting aspect of this motorcycle is quite bright when ridden at night.
2. Natural riding position
One thing the writer appreciates about any naked bike is the rider’s more back-friendly riding position.
After all, reaching the age of 30, a sporty riding position is not a choice for cross-regional journeys.
Thus, with the Gixxer 250, it offers a more natural riding posture thanks to the upright handlebar position, along with a saddle height of 795mm that is comfortable for individuals of shorter stature and a relatively wide seat dimension.
As a result, it is more comfortable for long-distance rides.
The footpeg position is also satisfying, but its proximity to the side stand makes the left foot feel obstructed when trying to kick it out.
3. Fun horsepower to unleash
As standard, the Suzuki Gixxer 250 is equipped with a 249cc single-cylinder engine capable of producing 26.7 hp @ 9,300 rpm and a torque of 22.2 Nm @ 7,300 rpm.
Its sound might not be as aggressive as other competitors, but based on experience, the Gixxer 250 is capable of offering a fairly agile and powerful ride, especially when entering the mid-range of the engine revolution.
For urban use, it is not a problem at all, and the writer also enjoys riding this machine across the regions to breathe in the breeze of the Malacca Strait.
It’s a shame that it doesn’t come with a clutch assist & slipper feature, but there’s no need to worry as every gear change feels so smooth throughout the journey.
The Gixxer 250 also comes with gear shift indicators that will provide warnings to the rider.
4. Corner-friendly machine
There is no urge to test the highest speed of this machine, considering that the Gixxer 250 is actually more enjoyable to ride on roads away from the highways.
Even though it comes with standard conventional telescopic front fork and single shock absorber, this setup makes the Gixxer 250 suitable for the road conditions in Malaysia.
All vibrations and road irregularities are absorbed well, and it is still able to maintain stable movements when maneuvering through corners.
The standard tire size of 110/70 front and 150/60 rear also somewhat helps the Gixxer 250 to grip well on the asphalt, coupled with the dual-channel ABS braking system that enhances the bike’s stopping ability.
On paper, there may appear to be shortcomings in this machine, but not when you take it out of the garage to enjoy real routes.
5. Comfortable? Yes!
One thing that makes the writer satisfied with the Gixxer 250 is the effectiveness of its engine cooling system.
As standard, the Gixxer 250 comes with the Suzuki Oil Cooling System (SOCS) to ensure that both feet remain comfortable throughout the journey.
This is very different from another 250cc machine the writer has tested before, where the heat generated can make the feet feel burnt even on short journeys.
But not with the Gixxer 250, where the writer can go much further than usual without having to frequently stop just to cool down the feet.
6. Not many additional features
At a selling price of around RM14,500, the Suzuki Gixxer 250 indeed has some noticeable shortcomings.
Desired features such as inverted front fork, quick shifting capability, LED turn signals, color TFT display screen, and keyless start system are completely absent from this bike’s specifications list.
What you will get is a 250cc motorcycle friendly for B2 license holders that is quite simple but still suitable for enjoying commuting to work or relishing fresh air with friends on weekends heading to Lemang To’ Ki shop.
With a fuel tank capacity of 12 liters, it is sufficient to ensure you reach distances of up to 400 km before needing to stop at the next gas station.
In conclusion, the Suzuki Gixxer 250 can offer good riding and handling experience, while maintaining comfort aspects within a more affordable price range.
Should you consider buying another motorcycle? That is entirely up to personal opinion. However, this is one of the 250cc bikes that is very enjoyable to ride.
Specifications of the Suzuki Gixxer 250
Engine: 249 cc single-cylinder air/oil-cooled
Power: 26.7 hp @ 9,300 rpm
Torque: 22.2 Nm @ 7,300 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Fuel tank capacity: 12 liters
Saddle height: 795 mm
For this writer, the Suzuki Jimny is an inherently unique vehicle. Its extremely angular and boxy body makes it look rugged, yet with smaller dimensions compared to the Perodua Axia, it also appears rather cute at the same time.
Not only that, its relatively high ride, wide fenders, and rear-mounted spare tyre indicate that the Jimny is ready to tackle any terrain, anytime. However, is the price tag of RM158,900 justified by what it offers?
If you compare it with other vehicles in that price range, the answer is a big NO as for that price, you can land yourself a much larger, more practical vehicle equipped with more modern technology.
But if you look at what the Jimny can actually do, you might change your mind. As aferomentioned, it was conceived to be driven on rugged paths, even rocky or muddy roads. The Jimny, from then until now, is a true off-roader.
There are many factors contributing to Jimny’s off-road prowess. First and foremost, like most pickup trucks on the market, the Jimny is built on a ladder frame construction that is tougher and more suitable for off-road driving.
The frame is paired with front and rear rigid axles, which is simpler in construction but more robust in nature. It also offers better grip in rough conditions by pressing the other wheel down when the other tyre is being pushed up by an obstacle.
Of course, a true off-roader is not a true off-roader without a four-wheel drive system with a low range transfer case that allows you to crawl out of challenging situations easily.
Not all Jimny owners will use this feature, but at least they will feel more confident knowing that their vehicle is equipped with one.
Yes, the Jimny has it all if you are an outdoorsman who goes out camping in Janda Baik every now and then, but is it the perfect fit for city dwellers?
This writer can’t stress this enough but the Jimny is a tiny SUV, so don’t expect practicality to be one of its strengths like other SUVs on the market.
The cabin is cramped and if you and your passenger are considered ‘large’ (not to body shame, mind you!), rubbing shoulders is a common occurrence in the Jimny. Thankfully, the narrow interior is offset by the tall roof so you don’t feel like sitting in a literal sardine can.
In the rear, there are two seats but as expected, they seem more suitable for children. If the seats are in the normal position, you have virtually no space to put items such as luggage or a stroller.
So if you plan on going on a weekend trip, for instance, you have no choice but to fold the rear seats flat or add a roof rack. Without the latter, you only have space for one rear passenger or none at all, depending on how much luggage you bring.
With a 1.5-litre NA engine making only 100 hp and 130 Nm, you might think that the Jimny will struggle when driven with a full load. It’s not fast, but based on this writer’s experience, the Jimny was more than willing to climb hilly roads like the Karak Highway and Genting Highlands road—provided you don’t push it too hard.
This writer found the most ideal speed for the Jimny to be 110 km/h maximum. As soon as the speedometer needle exceeds that figure, it will start to feel unsettled. With its soft suspension and a rather numb steering, this is not a vehicle you want to use to carve tight corners.
On normal roads, the Jimny is comfortable, but with the ladder frame, the entire cabin will shake quite violently if you hit a pothole. The NVH level is satisfactory, which is somewhat surprising for an old-school vehicle like this, but it should be noted that it was driven at speeds below 100 km/h most of the time.
The Jimny is old school in spirit but it is young at heart, meaning it comes with some modern features to attract younger customers.
These include automatic LED headlights, a seven-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a USB port, a reverse camera, Cruise Control, and audio control buttons on the steering wheel.
As for the safety front, it is equipped with ABS, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Brake Assist, Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Control, ISOFIX, and two airbags. Basic but should be enough for most users, this writer reckons.
However, aside from the mentioned features, the Jimny has virtually zero premium features. Every surface, except for the leather-wrapped steering wheel, is hard plastic, while the seats are upholstered in fabric and can only be adjusted manually.
Alternatively, there is the Jimny Black Edition that offers leather upholstery and various other accessories, but you need to fork out an additional RM13,000. There is also the more stylish Jimny Rhino, but it is RM16,000 dearer than the standard variant.
Going back to the earlier question, is the Jimny worth the money? If you’re someone who loves the great outdoors and is in the market for a vehicle that is not only rugged but also iconic, the Jimny is as a sensible choice if you can get over the somewhat high price.
But if practicality, comfort, and luxury are on top of your list, steer clear of the Jimny because there are many other vehicles on the market that are more well suited to your needs.
We all know and love the Suzuki Jimny – a compact four-wheel drive vehicle that is perfect for outdoor lifestyles. Now, there is another option, the Jimny 5-Door. Yes, a 5-door version.
It has been ‘stretched’ by 340mm from the 3-door version, making its length now 3,985mm. The wheelbase has also increased, now at 2,590mm. This means more legroom for rear passengers, while cargo space has increased from 85 liters to 211 liters.
In terms of mechanics, there are no changes, meaning it is still powered by a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine, with 102hp and 130Nm of torque. Transmission options are a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic.
The drive system remains the same, the Suzuki AllGrip which is a part-time 4WD with a transfer case for low range.
The Jimny 5-Door still has a ground clearance of 210mm, but the approach, departure, and break-over angles have been reduced.
In terms of styling, the Jimny 5-Door has a different grille with five slots. Other features are similar, such as round LED headlights, flared fenders, rear bumper-mounted tail lights, 15-inch rims, and a spare tire mounted on the rear door.
The interior is equipped with a rugged upright dashboard like the 3-door model, a four-seat configuration, and a larger 9-inch instrument panel.
Pricing for the longer Suzuki Jimny 5-Door starts at RM199,950.
SUZUKI Jimny enthusiasts know that the small SUV has a long history that dates back to the 1970s era.
To commemorate this, Suzuki has introduced a limited edition model for the Jimny XL (Jimny 5-Door) known as the Heritage. Only 500 units will be produced, all destined for the Australian market.
What makes the Jimny XL Heritage stand out?
The limited-run model is adorned with retro-style decals in orange and red on the sides and rear. This is complemented by the classic rhino logo on the rear shoulder and red mudflaps on all four corners.
Additionally, there are five exterior colours to choose from – White, Chiffon Ivory + Bluish Black Pearl, Jungle Green, Bluish Black Pearl, and Granite Grey Metallic.
Elsewhere, it’s exactly the same as the non-Heritage version. Under the hood, there is still a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 101 hp and 130 Nm.
The Jimny XL is normally available with either an automatic or manual transmission, but for the Heritage, Suzuki only offers a five-speed manual transmission.
Needless to say, the AllGrip Pro all-wheel-drive system is onboard to help channel power to the wheels.
Other niceties include a nine-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a cargo tray.
The selling price of the Jimny XL Heritage starts from AUD36,490 (RM114,047), about AUD1,500 (RM4,688) dearer than the standard version.
But pricing won’t be a problem, seeing as how the 3-door Jimny Heritage sold out in just two days.
NAZA Eastern Motors, the official distributor of Suzuki vehicles in Malaysia, recently uploaded a teaser image for an upcoming model set to enter the local market soon.
Although the puzzle in the teaser is incomplete, it clearly shows that the vehicle in question is in fact the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door.
According to the caption in the post, order books for the off-road mini SUV are now open. However, the official launch date is yet to be announced.
The specifications for the Malaysian market are still unknown at the time of writing, but looking at the spec sheet for the international market, we know that the Jimny 5-Door comes with the familiar K15B 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 102 PS and 130 Nm.
The engine is available with both manual and automatic transmission options, but for our market, we expect the Jimny 5-Door to be offered only with the automatic gearbox just like the 3-Door.
Needless to say, the Jimny 5-Door has a larger footprint than its 3-Door sibling with a length of 3,985 mm and a wheelbase of 2,590 mm. However, the width, height, and ground clearance all remain at 1,645 mm, 1,720 mm, and 210 mm, respectively.
With the longer body, the approach angle of the Jimny 5-Door is reduced from 37 to 36 degrees, while the breakover angle decreased from 28 to 24 degrees.
Nevertheless, the larger dimensions mean the 5-Door offers a larger boot space of 211 litres (compared to 85 litres in the Jimny 3-door) and a more spacious rear passenger legroom.
No hint of pricing yet but it will be slightly higher than the 3-Door, which is sold starting at RM168,900 for the Rainforest Edition.
JAPAN’S Big Four Companies (Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Honda) and the energy company Eneos have formed Gachaco, a electric scooter battery swapping service in the Japanese market.
Initially, Gachaco was targeted for business and delivery use only and could only be used for certain models of Honda electric scooters, such as Benly e:, Gyro e:, Gyro Canopy e:, and EM1 e:.
Only the EM1 e: model is available for public purchase, where interested individuals can subscribe to Gachaco’s battery swapping service.
By reclassifying the battery as a service and excluding it from the selling price, Honda customers can obtain the EM1 e: scooter at a lower cost, approximately 97,200 yen (RM3,167).
What they need to do is subscribe to Gachaco’s battery swapping service based on their current usage. For example, the basic plan starts at about 1,078 yen per month (RM35 per month), while the standard plan costs 2,805 yen per month (RM91.39 per month).
Gachaco also offers a pay-per-use option for each usage, priced at 180 yen per kWh (RM5.86 per kWh).
At present, the Gachaco battery swapping service, which utilizes the Honda Mobile Power Pack e: unit, is only available in Japan.
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