Suzuki sees sales surge despite plans to leave U.S.

Just like those Persian rug stores that always seem to ring up more sales when they say they're going out of business, Suzuki is apparently seeing a showroom surge despite its announcement that it's pulling out of the U.S.

The Kizashi sedan, which nearly took top honors at the Cars.com and USA TODAY midsize sedan shootout a few years ago, is seeing such buyer interest that Suzuki has ordered another 2,500 of them, Bloomberg News reports.

Overall, Suzuki sales in November increased 22.1%, and Suzuki dealers report strong December figures, too.

It was just last week that the Insurance Institute for HIghway Safety named the aging Kizashi, along with the spanking new edition of the Honda Accord, as the only two family sedans to pass its newest, toughest offset crash test with flying colors. Both are rated "good," the highest level.

Even with the added Kizashis, Suzuki total sales this year won't amount to much more than the totals for a single model at any other auto brand. Suzuki sold 23,412 cars in the U.S. through November -- about the same as the number of Scion tCs that Toyota has sold over the same period. While it is going to stop selling cars in the U.S., Suzuki hopes to continue to be a household name in the U.S. by keeping its motorcycle, boat engine and all-terrain vehicle businesses going.

Seven in 10 Suzuki dealers sell fewer than five cars a month. Compare that with 2006 and 2007, when a slate of small cars plus the Chevrolet Equinox-related XL7 helped the automaker break 100,000 units.

Cars.com records just 1,994 Suzukis in stock around the country. Those that remain are getting cheaper: As part of its going-out-of-business plans in the U.S., Suzuki is offering discounts of $500 on the Kizashi and Grand Vitara and $1,000 on the SX4, as well as zero-percent financing for up to 72 months for qualified buyers. Suzuki will also continue to honor its seven-year powertrain warranty.