The Suzuki Ciaz’s time in South Africa has officially come to an end.
The Ciaz has been around for more than a decade, serving as one of the last options in the dwindling affordable sedan segment.
However, the sedan, which was assembled in India, ended production last year, meaning it was inevitable that its time on the market would soon come to an end.
Fast forward to February 2026, and the Ciaz is no longer listed on Suzuki South Africa’s website, and the company recently confirmed to Cars.co.za that it has officially been discontinued.
Commenting on the decision, Suzuki said that the Dzire sedan, which is based on the best-selling Swift hatchback, is a popular model that is well-positioned in the compact sedan segment.
In other words, the older Ciaz was retired while the new Dzire will continue to cater to audiences in need of an affordable sedan.
The loss of the Ciaz means there are now only seven sedans left in South Africa that cost less than R500,000.
While the body type is still popular in the luxury segment, where models like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are highly sought-after status symbols, they have almost disappeared from the affordable market over the last five years.
This is due to a number of factors, not least of which is the rise in popularity of crossovers and SUVs, which have eaten into the sedan’s market share.
These days, the segment is mostly relevant to e-hailing drivers, where sedans are favoured over hatchbacks due to their larger boots.
What it offered
For those who are still interested in procuring a Ciaz on the second-hand market, it’s helpful to know that it was available in two trim levels – the GL and GLX – similar to most of Suzuki’s other products.
Both trims had a choice of either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic gearbox, which hooked up to a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine with 77kW and 138Nm.
Fuel consumption averages out to around 5.6l/100km.
Standard equipment on the sedan includes all-electric windows, 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, central locking, a multifunction steering wheel, manual air conditioning, a radio, ABS, brake assist, and two front airbags.
The higher-spec GLX models then add cruise control, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, and an infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
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