The Suzuki Swace was introduced to the UK market as a popular choice for car buyers seeking a compact yet spacious vehicle. From its introduction, the Swace was commonly sold on
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) investigation period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. This investigative period highlighted significant issues within the motor finance industry, particularly concerning
discretionary commission arrangements that affected millions of car buyers across various makes and models.
How the Suzuki Swace was Typically Financed
The Suzuki Swace was often financed through Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements with terms ranging from 36 to 48 months. The typical financing amount for a new Swace ranged between £15,000 and £30,000, depending on the specific model and optional features chosen by the buyer. Common lenders that provided finance options for the Suzuki Swace included
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
PCP agreements often include a balloon payment at the end of the term, which is a significant lump sum due if the customer chooses to buy or refinance the vehicle. This balloon payment can be a substantial financial burden for many buyers, especially those who may not have planned for it during their initial agreement period.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA's investigation into motor finance uncovered widespread issues with discretionary commission arrangements between lenders and car dealerships. These arrangements allowed dealers to receive additional payments based on the types of agreements they sold, which could lead to mis-selling practices where customers were encouraged towards more expensive or unsuitable financing options.
According to the FCA estimates, a total of 12.1 million eligible agreements were affected by these discretionary commission arrangements (FCA estimate), with a combined value of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026). On average, this amounted to around £829 per affected customer (FCA estimate).
The investigation highlighted that many customers who financed their Suzuki Swace through PCP or HP may have been victims of such mis-selling practices without being aware of the implications.
How to Check Your Agreement Look for any mention of discretionary commission arrangements or terms that seem unusual compared to standard financing options. The relevant dates to consider are from 6 April 2007 through 1 November 2024.
One key indicator to look for is the term “DCA” in your finance documentation, which stands for Discretionary Commission Arrangements. If you find this or any similar terms indicating that your dealership received additional payments based on the type of agreement sold, there may be grounds for complaint.
If you suspect that your Suzuki Swace finance agreement was affected by mis-selling practices during the FCA investigation period, you can complain directly to your lender without needing a
claims management company. Common lenders who provided financing options for the Suzuki Swace include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
When contacting your lender, it is important to provide evidence from your finance agreement that supports your claim. This could include any documentation indicating discretionary commission arrangements or unusual terms in your contract. You can find contact details for these lenders on their official websites or through the Motor Finance Association (MFA).
Remember, you do not need a claims management company to handle your complaint. Your lender is required by law to address and respond to your concerns directly and free of charge.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 2024
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021
Based on 306 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Suzuki Uk has a pass rate of 86.6%. This is above the national average of 79.6%, meaning the Uk performs well in MOT testing.
The Uk pass rate is better than the overall Suzuki average of 83.6%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 17,495 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 86.6%
- MOT failure rate: 13.4%
- Tests analysed: 306 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 17,495 miles
- Suzuki average pass rate: 83.6%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.