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&Laquo;Кредитование по программе Сузуки Финанс осуществляется банками ВТБ24 (ЗАО), ГПБ (ОАО), ЗАО «Райффайзенбанк» 2,5% - это расчётная величина, которая достигается за счёт снижения для клиента стоимости автомобиля, приобретаемого по программе Сузуки Финанс. В результате реализации программы Сузуки Финанс расходы клиента будут такими же, как если бы он взял кредит по ставке от 2,5% годовых в рублях на приобретение автомобиля по рекомендованной розничной цене, действительной на дату приобретения автомобиля, при оформлении кредита на срок 1 год, валюта кредит: рубли РФ, первоначальный взнос не менее 40% от стоимости автомобиля. Предложение действует с 10.02.2011 по 31.07.2011 года и распространяется на автомобили SUZUKI SWIFT, SX4 хэтчбек, Splash, Kizashi…».

Suddenly, from being an almost overlooked sector, the A-segment of city cars has sprung to life, first with a new Alto, then the Barina Spark and more recently, Kia's new Picanto. Now, for the first time the Southern Hemisphere greets the Suzuki Splash.

You always expect a wee Suzuki to be pretty good, because the company cut its teeth on small cars. But we wonder whether the Alto, which has hardly aped the success of the Swift, will survive long-term now that the Euro car has arrived, as the Splash is so much better and only a touch more expensive: $1490 more for the manual, and around $1000 for the automatic. We'd happily shell out a grand for the extra 20 kilowatts, which make all the difference to overtaking manoeuvres, essentially allowing this little car to get out of its own way.

A genuine four-seater, the Splash is also practical, its duck-and-roll split-folding system transforming it into something of a mini-MPV when you've a big shop-up planned and need a flat, 573-litre load space. Not content to rest on its laurels, Suzuki has added the Splash to its small-car line-up, carting it from the other side of the world, where it's built in the firm's Hungarian plant.

The availability of the Splash locally means that Suzuki now has not one but two A-segment contenders. Witness the success of the Swift, which leads the small car-sector by a vast distance. At 178 litres, the hatch isn't brag-worthy - sufficient, perhaps, for weight-watching singles - but beneath that space is a 36-litre washable area for wet stuff, like togs or small muddy dogs.