8 February 2011
When Suzuki launched the current model Swift two years ago it promptly took the small car market by storm. Epitomising fun, the Swift's winning combination of style, handling and value for money has kept it at the top of the sales charts since its release.
Hot on the heals of the delightful 1.6 litre, body-kitted 'Sport' version of the Swift comes the SX4; a compact crossover utilising the same floor plan as the popular and competent Swift but with the added attraction of a 2.0 litre engine and all-wheel drive.
A walk around the vehicle left us in two minds about the styling somewhat. The boomerang headlights and flared fenders help deliver a stronger presence up front and looked great; but when viewed from behind the SX4 lacks flair. In our opinion, cues borrowed from other Suzuki family members would've been a benefit here.
We're sure however with durable plastic mouldings around the wheel arches, high ground clearance and standard roof rails the SX4 will offer an appeal to outdoorsy life-stylers. Especially those who previously haven't had the budget to consider a new vehicle.
While 440mm longer and 65mm wider than the Swift, the SX4 doesn't occupy quite as much space as a Corolla, but still competes strongly in the practicality stakes giving away only 1 litre of luggage space to Toyota's market leader. Comfort isn't class leading, but still comparable with most of the hatchback segment. With three adult male occupants inhabiting the SX4's interior at the vehicle's launch, we found the cabin snug but not cramped.
The dash centre stack is decorated with silver side trimmings and houses the easy-to-use stereo and heater controls. There is a slight overuse of hard plastic surfaces, functionality is excellent however and controls fall to hand logically. The MP3 compatible audio system can be controlled from the steering wheel, and i-pod connectivity is an option.
Picked up by the higher spec Limited version are a leather clad wheel, climate and cruise control, fog lamps and a keyless entry and start system - the vehicle recognises when the key is within close proximity of the vehicle (about 30 centimetres) so entry and starting can be granted without the key leaving the owner's pocket.
NCAP testing has awarded the SX4 four out of five stars in European crash testing, but it is important to note the model tested was the top spec'd Limited variant. The base model GLX comes with front airbags only, whereas the Limited adds side and curtain bags for extra occupant protection. Both ISOFIX child restraints and tether strap anchorages are standard across the board, while pedestrian safety is also among the highest currently available receiving three out of four stars in this area.
On the road the Swift platform sharing becomes evident. The rigid body design minimises flex and allows the suspension to maximise its potential, so handling is surprisingly dynamic for this price bracket. It's also combined with competent ride control over rough or bumpy surfaces, a credit to the Japanese carmaker.
The intelligent all-wheel drive (i-AWD) transmission features three modes, for tooling around town the system is best left in 2WD, this reduces driveline drag and helps improve fuel economy during the urban crawl. When conditions demand, the driver can select an auto mode that supplies torque to the rear wheels as slip is detected for increased traction in the wet. Finally the 4WD lock mode will engage drive to all four wheels full time to a speed of 60km.
Engine output is on a par with the SX4's more, well established rivals (104kW @ 5800 rpm and 184Nm @ 3500 rpm) and though we found acceleration performance slightly asthmatic we don't see this being a major grievance. Particularly given the average hatch buyer's requirements.
Suzuki SX4 turbo-chargedA turbo-charged rally version of the SX4 will contest the World Rally Championship in 2008, which would allude to a 'sport' version being in pipeline. We can only hope, though Suzuki New Zealand cannot yet confirm plans for a beefed up SX4 at this point.
Like the popular Swift, Suzuki's latest, well-equipped addition exhibits an excellent value for money equation, starting at $24,500 for the entry level with a snappy 5-speed manual transmission. The top spec'd Limited model is priced $26,500 in manual guise; alternatively each model is available with a 5-speed auto trans which adds a further $1500.