Suzuki SX4

Suzuki's Swift underpinnings have formed the basis for its head-turning new crossover vehicle...

What's New
Suzuki has been on a roll lately. It started with the Swift that turned out to be something of a watershed for the brand. Then came the Grand Vitara which confirmed that the quantum leap Suzuki made with Swift in terms of performance, design and quality was no fluke.

The SX4 is the next all-new model to join the party. It replaces the long serving but rather forgettable Liana, and is based on the lengthened platform of the Swift.

Co-developed with Italian automaker Fiat, the SX4 is designed with some off-road capability from the outset. Local models however, are not equipped with four-wheel drive but still carry over much of the go-anywhere attitude with a high ground clearance, big wheel arches and exposed sump guards at the bottom of the bumpers.

How it Performs
The absence of four-wheel drive might not be such a bad thing on local roads as most owners are unlikely to ever take their cars off-road in the first place.

With just the front wheels to power, the SX4's 102bhp 1.6-litre unit pulls the car along adequately enough to render a lively drive about town.

Although it's share much of its underpinnings with the Swift, the SX4 doesn't nip and tuck into corners with quite the same enthusiasm as the smaller hatchback.

Instead, the larger Suzuki does a better job of cruising comfortably at a more relaxed pace. The superior refinement seems to be helped in part by the SX4's 2500mm wheelbase, which is 110mm longer than the Swift's.

The SX4's four-speed automatic gearbox also shifts its ratios more smoothly than the Swift so your passengers shouldn't have much to complain about.

The rear occupants should also be impressed by the theatre style seating in the SX4 that makes for an unblocked view forward. Children, especially, should find it a treat to be able to look out of the side windows without having to crane their necks above a high window sill. Parents of small children will also find the raised rear seats a boon as they won't crouch as low as they normally would to install child seats.

Those sensitive to motion sickness though, might find the SX4's a little too busy at times when they're driving on a bumpy road. Otherwise, it drives as well as any family car this side of a Toyota Corolla.

How it Stacks Up
Thanks to its go-anywhere stance, which is augmented by the colour of our test car, the SX4's crossover styling would appeal to those looking to drive something that isn't as anonymous as an equivalent family sedan.

The bonus to this tall and rugged styling is that there's plenty of headroom in there and the extended platform also gives the SX4 a useful amount of luggage space. Outdoorsey types will also appreciate the rear seats that tumble forward to make room for bicycles, dogs or other large objects that you might want to take along.

There currently aren't many cars in the market that can be compared to the SX4, vis-à-vis models like the ageing Hyundai Matrix and not-quite-similar Mitsubishi Colt Plus. If all goes well for the SX4, don't be surprised to see other carmakers following suit in the years to come.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Suzuki SX4 1.6 (A) ENGINE Engine: 1,586cc 16V in-line 4 Max Power: 102bhp at 5,600rpm Max Torque: 140Nm at 4,000rpm TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic TOP SPEED 180km/h 0-100km/h 11.5s