Monday, October 23, 2017

Car Features - The Unmentiables, Not Sold in Japan

The past few episodes we had focused on Toyota (including Lexus and Daihatsu), Nissan (plus Mitsubishi), and Honda. Now, our last of the series will now involve brands that aren't part of larger automotive groups which includes Isuzu, Mazda, and Suzuki.

We did this series with Korean brands as a whole with vehicles not available in their home country. Before we start, current model line-up vehicles will be counted here and since Japan does not anymore dig pick-up trucks, they would not be listed here.


Isuzu MU-X

Based on the D-Max pickup, the MU-X is the only SUV offered by Isuzu and is only available so far in the following locales: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, China, and India. In some markets, it wears the Chevrolet badge but this one is outsold by the Japanese counterpart.


Isuzu Panther

With the Philippines (sold as the Crosswind) discontinuing this model by the end of this year, you can only buy this MPV in Indonesia. In India, it is sold as the Chevrolet Tavera and squint hard to find the similarities of the two models.


Mazda CX-4

Only sold in China, the CX-4 is based on the CX-5 but the height is shorter than the CX-3 but engine and transmission options are shared with the former car. It seems that the Chinese are getting their market exclusive cars not meant for the rest of the world.


Mazda CX-9

Assembled in Japan but not sold in Japan, the CX-9 is the brand's largest model available and the largest SUV in the line-up. The previous generation model utilized a Ford platform and a V6 engine but currently rides on a Mazda based underchassis and a turbocharged engine.


Suzuki APV

Produced in Indonesia, this MPV rivals the likes of the Toyota Avanza and can be had in either 1.5 or 1.6 gasoline engines. Ever since its production in 2005, it has yet to receive a full model change. In Indonesia, it has numerous variants with varying levels of equipment.


Suzuki Celerio

This Indian built and developed hatchback which slots above the basic and utilitarian Alto hatchback in terms of price and feature content. The shocker is a 800cc diesel engine that is only sold in India, which is definitely a beast.


Suzuki Ciaz

Replacing the SX4 sedan in Asia and Latin America, the Ciaz can be had in either gasoline or diesel engines depending on the market.


Suzuki Ertiga

Utilizing the Swift chassis, the Ertiga is developed by its Japanese and Indian subsidiaries, this one competes with the Toyota Avanza and Honda Mobilio. Engine options include a gasoline, diesel, CNG (India), and diesel/hybrid (Indonesia).


Suzuki Swift Dzire

First existed in the late 00s, the Dzire is essentially the sedan version of the Swift sold in India and certain export markets. It is below 4,000mm, which automatically receives a tax break for sedans within a certain length. The Indian market has both diesel and gasoline variants, while we get the latter.

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