Last week the AA were invited to the official launch of the versatile new Suzuki S-Cross at Mission Estate in Napier. Surrounded by adventurous rural roads, it provided the perfect opportunity to test the new five-door compact SUV and its AllGrip AWD capabilities.
Gary Collins, Suzuki New Zealand’s General Manager of Automobile, says it is the largest car in the Suzuki line up, and expects it to compete with rivals like the Mitsubishi ASX, the Nissan’s Qashqai and Kia’s Seltos.
The first-generation S-Cross was unveiled by Suzuki in 2013 and introduced to the New Zealand market early the following year. It was facelifted with a more aggressively styled front end in 2018, and featured further upgrades. In 2019 the S-Cross captured 8.6 percent of Suzuki New Zealand sales.
Assembled in Hungary, the S-Cross is available in JX Turbo and JLX Turbo grades, each more highly specified than before and featuring new technology aiding safety and convenience.
The JX Turbo comes in two-wheel-drive and the higher specification JLX Turbo is available with either two-wheel-drive or Suzuki’s electronically controlled AllGrip Select four-wheel-drive system. Each model has a six-stage automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
The new S-Cross JX Turbo 2WD has a recommended retail price of $35,990, JLX Turbo 2WD $38,990 and JLX Turbo 4WD $40,990, plus on-road costs. Under the Clean Car Discount programme the new S-Cross remains neutral.
Astutely engineered
With an overall length 4300mm and wheelbase of 2600mm, it is similar dimensionally to the outgoing model. Although 100mm longer than the Vitara for those customers after a bit more legroom and luggage space.
Its ground clearance is also high and easily accessible at 175mm. The all-new TECT safety-engineered body makes a strong statement with a bold, muscular look, heightened by a raised bonnet appearance and the hexagonal gloss piano-black grille.
The clever three-point design for the LED headlights are auto levelling and have a light sensing function, turning on at night fall or in low light situations. In addition to the LED daytime running lamp facility, fog lamps and rear combination lamps work together to keep the vehicle more visible and safer on the road.
Emphasising the smooth, flowing profile are square shaped wheel arches and a sloping roof line topped with slimline silver aluminium roof rails.
Performance
Under the bonnet is a lively and proven 1.4 litre K14C-DITC BoosterJet turbo engine. Developing 103kW at 5,500rpm, the direct injection BoosterJet has a seven-hole injector nozzle that not only increases engine output but also lowers emissions. At the same time, variable fuel pressure control reduces particulate matter and e number.
With a generous 220Nm of torque ranging from 1,500 to 4,000rpm, the power unit provides effortless performance. The 2WD S-Cross has a fuel economy of 5.9L/100km (NEDC), 6.6L/100km (3P WLTP3), and a CO2 emissions rating of 138g/km (NEDC), 153g/km (3P-WLTP). The all-wheel drive (AWD) model achieves 6.2 L/100km (NEDC), 6.9L/100km (3P WLTP3), and a CO2 emissions rating of 145g/km (NEDC), 161g/km (3P-WLTP).
The AllGrip AWD allows the driver to choose from four selectable driving modes via a simple push-and-turn dial. For most use, the Auto mode prioritises fuel economy in typical driving conditions while switching to AWD if it detects wheelspin. The selection of the Sport mode alters throttle response rates and torque characteristics for even better engine response.
While we didn’t experience any snow on our test drive, it did rain most of the time creating slippery road conditions. So, while termed the “Snow” mode, it optimises for snowy, unpaved and other slippery conditions such as the roads we encountered.
This mode also comes in handy on the gravel often encountered on back country rural roads in New Zealand. In the rarely used Lock mode, the Suzuki can be extricated from snow, mud or sand with constant high torque distribution to all four wheels.
Steering is electric power assisted rack and pinion, and coil spring suspension is employed front and rear with MacPherson struts at the front and torsion beam rear suspension. Four-wheel disc brakes are ventilated up front and solid discs for the rear wheels.
Both JX and JLX are equipped as standard with 215/55 R17 tyres and 17-inch diameter alloy wheels, silver finished on JX and polished face on the higher-grade version.
Safety first
The latest preventive safety technologies have been adopted on the new S-Cross with dual sensor brake support (DSBS), which consists of a monocular camera and a laser ranging device on the windscreen to determine risk of a collision with an obstacle such as a vehicle or pedestrian. It also detects lane markers to assist drivers to remain in their driving lane.
With the use of a grill mounted radar unit, the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) determines the risk of a collision with an obstacle in front. It gives a forward collision warning and has forward collision mitigation brake assist which increases the driver’s braking force and automatic braking. This automatically applies strong or extra braking to prevent or minimise damage in a collision when it determines that the risk is unavoidable.
New to the S-Cross model is adaptive cruise control that automatically maintains distance with the vehicle in front, according to three different distance settings. In addition, the stop and go function brings the car to a full stop behind the preceding vehicle, following the vehicle if it starts to move again within two seconds. Blind spot monitor uses sensors mounted on both sides of the rear bumper, warning the driver of vehicles approaching diagonally from behind or alongside. Should the driver activate the indicators, the blind spot monitor is accompanied by a warning sound.
The rear cross traffic alert system assists the driver when manoeuvring out of parking spaces where vision is obscured. When reversing at speeds up to 8 km/h the Suzuki uses a pair of rear mounted radar sensors to assist the driver by alerting them to approaching vehicles on either side. The driver is given a visual alert on the car’s multi-information display plus a warning sound.
The forward detection system also includes a lane departure warning and weaving alert. Standard features include front and rear parking monitoring and hill hold control that stops the S-Cross from rolling back when the driver shifts from the brake to the accelerator.
JLX models feature a new 360-degree view camera system with four cameras - one each on the front, rear and sides of the S-Cross - which are linked to the 9-inch display audio, the largest ever factory head unit offered on a Suzuki passenger car. This provides a 360-degree view and 3D opening view, allowing the driver to check surroundings from the display audio before starting off. A bird’s eye view supports safer parking and a high-resolution view can be enlarged. Automatic front or rear-view display switches according to gear selection.
Spacious modern interior
The customised 9-inch display atop the centre of the JLX fascia includes Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, and voice recognition. The 7-inch display on the JX Turbo also offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with voice recognition available only when connected to a smartphone. Standard features also include radio, music and movie USB, iPod and Bluetooth music playback and JLX boasts satellite navigation. A seven-speaker tuner is standard on JLX while JX has a six-speaker tuner.
Hands-free phone calling via Bluetooth connectivity, keyless entry and start, and dual-zone climate-controlled air conditioning is standard. Interior comfort has been upgraded with the JLX featuring leather sides and leather-effect weave upholstery in the centre of the seats. While high and low heating settings for the front seats with separate controls for driver and passenger are standard in all three models.
They all include a height adjustable driver’s seat, an overhead console box and a leather covered steering wheel with steering wheel controls.
With the front seats offering a spacious 929mm of legroom and the rear improving to 814mm, interior space is not only roomy but flexible. There is also a multi-position luggage area plus a front centre console box and adjustable front centre armrest box between the front seats.
A total of 430-440 litres of boot space is available with the 60/40 split folding rear seats in an upright position. The rear seats can be set at two angles to increase space in the load area and the luggage board lowers into the floor to increase usable space.
“While the new S-Cross is loaded with useful new technology, the car has simple ergonomics and the revamped updated styling results in good all-round visibility,” said Gary Collins, General Manager of Motor Vehicle Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand.
Colour options galore
Seven body colours are available with Cool White Pearl, Silky Silver Metallic, Canyon Bronze Pearl, Sphere Blue Pearl, Energetic Red Pearl and Titan Dark Grey Pearl while Cosmic Black Pearl is exclusive to the JLX Turbo.
NEC: European Driving Cycle
3P WLTP3: Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure
Price correct at time of date published.