Overview of the Suzuki Sierra
The Sierra, released in 1981, continued a line of Jeep-style Suzukis - and the brand's image as a manufacturer of niche baby 4WDs. It was available with a soft-top and hard-top, and there was even a Stockman ute version. In the mid-1980s, Holden offered a rebadged Sierra called the Drover. A major 1996 update introduced new bodywork and coil-sprung suspension (replacing a leaf-spring set-up), before the Sierra was replaced for 1999 by the Jimny.
SUZUKI SIERRA GENERATIONS
1981-1999
RUNNING COSTS
Fuel Consumption
1.3L 4-cylinder: 7.1 to 7.4 litres per 100km
= Highly economical.
= Good economy.
= Average fuel use.
= Heavy consumption.
Servicing
Contact your nearest Suzuki dealer as the Sierra is no longer sold. However, the servicing program for the replacement Jimny is every 10,000km or six months, whichever is sooner. Each service currently costs about $269. Suzuki Sierra parts and accessories can be found on Gumtree.
SIMILAR MODELS TO SUZUKI SIERRA
Daihatsu Terios
Holden Cruze
Honda HRV
Jeep Renegade
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: SUZUKI SIERRA (1996 TO 1999)
It was around 1996 that Suzuki changed the bodywork of the Sierra and gave the little off-roader coil springs to improve ride.
That also means these later versions are less likely to have been heavily modified as the coil-spring arrangement was less simple to fiddle with for massive suspension hikes and huge wheels and tyres.
In other ways, though, the Sierra is a bit of a victim of its own success and it has earned a hard-core group of rusted-on enthusiasts who cherish the things for their actual off-road abilities.
Which means the one you want to buy second-hand has avoided this sort of treatment. So be wary of a Sierra with mud tyres, a winch and big spot-lights. If it looks like it's lived in the jungle, it probably has.
Mechanically, these are simple vehicles, but they're old now, so check the condition of the engine and transmission carefully and be aware that nothing lasts forever.
