So brother what do you call the SX4 and the Kizashi. What is it about them thats make them NOT A TRUE SEDAN. BTW, how do you define a true sedan? Never heard a 3 box vehicle not being termed as sedan, but here we have something called a true sedan as well.
Also no matter what the junta says about the old Dzire that it wasn't a sedan but a hatch with a boot, well a sedan is a hatch with a boot and is a mere term used to describe vehicles with such body and to make distinction and categorize cars accordingly. Just like there is no difference between an MUV and an SUV and the latest Maruti offering LUV
, its only a marketing gimmick to differentiate between a lifestyle truck and a pick-up/utility truck/van. FYI, since you're appreciating the Esteem (I do too), its another vehicle based on the same idea; hatch with a boot. Read up a little to know more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedan_(automobile)
All the makes that you mentioned, it's only VW that has 4 sedans, rest all have either have 2 or 3 sedan types, either of which I don't call phenomenally larger than the Suzuki sedan line-up of 3, even if you don't want to consider the Dzire, then 2.
Suzuki has had the now discontinued Versa and Old Grand Vitara XL7, and currently Omni, the Gypsy and Gypsy King, Eeco, and the Grand Vitara as UVs in their current line-up, right from the very affordable and reliable Omni, a little modern and basic Eeco, to the bare basic off-road ready G. King and the GV in the higher segment, also in 4x4, and the latest being the Ertiga which I feel is a very lifestyle van, liked it.
Only for the India comparo like you mentioned, Americans sedans have been a poor show in India, comparing sedans in the same category i.e. Aveo vs Dzire, Optra vs SX4, Optra vs Baleno, Aveo vs Esteem. Cruze and Kizashi fall under different price range hence not compared.
Where Suzuki fails is the brand image, oweing to alot to the desi name Maruti and the the cheap and affordability factor associated with the Alto, 800, etc which we largely consider it to be low on the snob quotient, this is exactly where others succeed.
One last thing, do check out the Kizashi.