Suzuki SX4Crossovers are everywhere, and if you’re still uncertain as to what such a thing is, the industry has created the genre to describe those cars which are a combination of SUV and normal passenger car. If you’re uncertain about SUV, well, best check it out elsewhere on the internet, as it will probably be a lengthy explanation.The 2010 version of the SX4 sees subtle changes to the model, including the new Suzuki ‘SZ’ grading structure, so model names are now SZ3, SZ4 and SZ5 4x4, which you might think not too wise on a car called the SX4, a name which suggests, misleadingly, that all models will have 4WD. In fact it’s only the SZ5 that has; others, including our test car, are 2WD. At the time of writing the price for the SZ5 had not been announced.Suzuki concentrate their efforts on small cars, but the SX4 is sized mid-way between a Ford Fiesta and Focus, so in Suzuki terms it’s a big’un. What you get is a 5-door hatchback powered by either petrol or diesel, both of 1.6 capacity; auto transmission is an option with the petrol engine. It’s worth saying here that the diesel engine is sourced from Peugeot, which is as good a place as any from which to buy a diesel. Performance of that one is slightly inferior to the petrol model – 0-60 time for instance is 12.2 – but the consumption is a very noticeable 12mpg better, which for many will make the extra £815 for the diesel a price worth paying.Our car was a manually geared petrol example, which with performance figures of 0-60 in 10.7 and top speed of 115mph, does about what you’d expect. It’s a very quiet engine in town, and not bad on the motorway either, though the wind noise here tends to overcome most of what’s generated under the bonnet.The SX4 ride, like many an SUV or crossover, is fairly firm, noticed mainly by those in the rear seat who after the first experience of speed bumps were certainly keen on my avoiding them thereafter. That said, it’s a comfortable car in which to journey, and for the driver an easy one to pilot, though the thick pillars call for careful attention when moving into traffic. Put against that is the big plus of a windscreen demisting system that for whatever reason was amongst the most efficient I’ve ever experienced; it didn’t blow particularly hard, so one must ascribe it simply to good design. It’s the sort of detail that can keep owners loyal year after year.Interior design of the SX4 is smart if rather plain. Near black upholstery in our car was brightened somewhat by a striped grey panel in the middle of the seats, and the dark facia nicely balanced by the light grey of the doors’ lower halves. Practical touches such as the capacious glovebox, door pockets and centre console are sensible, and for the manufacturer inexpensive, fitments.Designers of cars of this size must always choose between leg room and luggage space, since you definitely can’t have loads of both. There’s merit in providing a sliding rear seat, but here in the SX4 Suzuki have opted for what seems the ideal compromise. Leg room is pretty good in the rear seats, and made effectively an inch or so better by the softness of the front seat backs, while luggage space runs from 270 in 5-seat mode to 625 litres with rear seats (split 60:40) folded. In everyday terms what that translates to is a width and length of 101 x 69cm. Folding the seats, which use a tumble action, is very easy, and the resultant floor helpfully flat. The only minus point boot-wise is the sill height, which at 73cm is awkwardly high and leaves a deep drop down to the boot floor.Standard fitments on all models include front, side and curtain airbags, remote locking, air con, MP3 compatible CD tuner with eight speakers, electric windows, driver info display and steering wheel mounted audio controls. If you opt for the SZ5 4WD model, when it becomes available, the benefit will be Suzuki’s huge experience of all-wheel drive design. The system is a 3-mode switchable one: 2WD, 4WD-Auto and 4WD-Lock, so the fuel penalty should not be too high. Officially, combined consumptions of the 2WD and 4WD petrol models are 45.6 and 43.5mpg respectively. Compare that to the drop caused by opting for auto transmission (39.2mpg), and it’s evident that the system is about as green as you’re going to get if you’re wanting all wheels driven.Size: 4.15m x 1.76mEngines: Petrol: 1.6 litres – 120PSDiesel: 1.6 litres – 90PSGearbox: 5-speed manual FWDBest Consumption: 1.6 diesel – 57.6mpgPrice at June ’10: £11,750 to £13,210 (SZ5 TBA)Full details of the Suzuki SX4 range available on the manufacturer’s website: www.suzuki.co.ukPeter Cracknell - June 2010
Suzuki SX4
Crossovers are everywhere, and if you’re still
uncertain as to what such a thing is, the industry has
created the genre to describe those cars which are a
combination of SUV and normal passenger car. If
you’re uncertain about SUV, well, best check it out
elsewhere on the internet, as it will probably be a
lengthy explanation.
The 2010 version of the SX4 sees subtle changes to
the model, including the new Suzuki ‘SZ’ grading
structure, so model
names are now SZ3,
SZ4 and SZ5 4x4,
which you might think
not too wise on a car
called the SX4, a
name which suggests,
misleadingly, that all
models will have 4WD.
In fact it’s only the SZ5
that has; others,
including our test car,
are 2WD. At the time
of writing the price for
the SZ5 had not been
announced.
Suzuki concentrate
their efforts on small
cars, but the SX4 is
sized mid-way
between a Ford Fiesta and Focus, so in Suzuki
terms it’s a big’un. What you get is a 5-door
hatchback powered by either petrol or diesel, both of
1.6 capacity; auto transmission is an option with the
petrol engine. It’s worth saying here that the diesel
engine is sourced from Peugeot, which is as good a
place as any from which to buy a diesel.
Performance of that one is slightly inferior to the
petrol model – 0-60 time for instance is 12.2 – but
the consumption is a very noticeable 12mpg better,
which for many will make the extra £815 for the
diesel a price worth paying.
Our car was a manually geared petrol example,
which with performance figures of 0-60 in 10.7 and
top speed of 115mph, does about what you’d expect.
It’s a very quiet engine in town, and not bad on the
motorway either, though the wind noise here tends to
overcome most of what’s generated under the
bonnet.
The SX4 ride, like many an SUV or crossover, is
fairly firm, noticed mainly by those in the rear seat
who after the first experience of speed bumps were
certainly keen on my avoiding them thereafter. That
said, it’s a comfortable car in which to journey, and
for the driver an easy one to pilot, though the thick
pillars call for careful attention when moving into
traffic. Put against that is the big plus of a
windscreen demisting system that for whatever
reason was amongst the most efficient I’ve ever
experienced; it didn’t blow particularly hard, so one
must ascribe it simply to good design. It’s the sort of
detail that can keep owners loyal year after year.
Interior design of the SX4 is smart if rather plain.
Near black upholstery in our car was brightened
somewhat by a striped grey panel in the middle of
the seats, and the dark facia nicely balanced by the
light grey of the doors’ lower halves. Practical
touches such as the capacious glovebox, door
pockets and centre console are sensible, and for the
manufacturer inexpensive, fitments.
Designers of cars of this size must always choose
between leg room and luggage space, since you
definitely can’t have loads of both. There’s merit in
providing a sliding rear seat, but here in the SX4
Suzuki have opted for what seems the ideal
compromise. Leg room is pretty good in the rear seats,
and made effectively an inch or so better by the
softness of the front
seat backs, while
luggage space runs
from 270 in 5-seat mode
to 625 litres with rear
seats (split 60:40)
folded. In everyday
terms what that
translates to is a width
and length of 101 x
69cm. Folding the
seats, which use a
tumble action, is very
easy, and the resultant
floor helpfully flat. The
only minus point boot-
wise is the sill height,
which at 73cm is
awkwardly high and
leaves a deep drop
down to the boot floor.
Standard fitments on all models include front, side and
curtain airbags, remote locking, air con, MP3
compatible CD tuner with eight speakers, electric
windows, driver info display and steering wheel
mounted audio controls. If you opt for the SZ5 4WD
model, when it becomes available, the benefit will be
Suzuki’s huge experience of all-wheel drive design.
The system is a 3-mode switchable one: 2WD, 4WD-
Auto and 4WD-Lock, so the fuel penalty should not be
too high. Officially, combined consumptions of the
2WD and 4WD petrol models are 45.6 and 43.5mpg
respectively. Compare that to the drop caused by
opting for auto transmission (39.2mpg), and it’s
evident that the system is about as green as you’re
going to get if you’re wanting all wheels driven.
Size:
4.15m x 1.76m
Engines:
Petrol:
1.6 litres – 120PS
Diesel:
1.6 litres – 90PS
Gearbox:
5-speed manual FWD
Best Consumption:
1.6 diesel – 57.6mpg
Price at June ’10:
£11,750 to £13,210 (SZ5 TBA)
Full details of the Suzuki SX4 range available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.suzuki.co.uk
Peter Cracknell - June 2010
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