Jan 18, 2008
2008 Suzuki SX4: For something different
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One reason people buy Suzukis is to be different. With the exception of the Korean-built Forenza and Reno, its models are made in Japan. Having a Suzuki in your driveway shows you demand Japanese durability and reliability, but you’re unwilling to follow the herd to the Honda and Toyota dealerships.
OK, but what to make of the SX4? A year ago, we drove the hatchback version and loved the way it looked, but were less impressed with its driving qualities. The all-wheel-drive compact SUV’s acceleration was uninspiring and it had trouble holding its RPMs in high gear, even on uphill stretches of mildly undulating Interstate 84 in Connecticut. Still, the SX4’s endearing proportions, bad-weather capability and low price gave it loads of appeal.
For 2008, Suzuki added a front-wheel-drive sedan to the SX4 line. Though far more conventional in appearance than the hatchback, it handled and accelerated better, perhaps because it was not burdened with an extra driveshaft and differential.
The guiding principle of this and other Suzuki models is value. Pound for pound, feature for feature, you get more — and as a bonus, you aren’t stuck with the same car everyone else seems to be driving.
Our Black Pearl Metallic SX4 with the Convenience Package carried a list price of $16,995. In size and price, it’s squarely between the subcompact and compact models other companies are selling. But it’s loaded with standard features: 17-inch wheels, automatic transmission, side and side-curtain air bags, automatic climate control, power windows, locks and heated mirrors, cruise control, tilt steering wheel with audio controls on the hub, and a seven-year, 100,000-mile transferable power-train warranty.
A somewhat less lavishly equipped SX4 starts at $14,770. But even the least expensive models have all of the safety features found in the costlier versions.
The 143-horsepower inline Four is somewhat harsh and noisy under hard acceleration, but it gets the 2,866-pound car off the line briskly. The SX4 largely succeeds in balancing riding comfort and competent handling, and it’s quite composed on the highway. The seating positions are fairly high and upright, giving good views of the road and a feeling of security. The controls are clean and simple.
The SX4 has not yet been subjected to crash tests; and reliability data are unavailable.
Although the car’s trunk is fairly big at 14 cubic feet, the rear seat doesn’t fold forward to increase cargo-carrying space because Suzuki installed bracing to improve the car’s structural stiffness, and therefore its handling. The SX4 therefore falls short of many of its competitors in the versatility department, especially the Honda Fit.
Fuel economy is just good enough for the SX4’s segment: 23 mpg city, 31 highway, on regular gasoline. Still, we can’t help but wonder: If BMW can achieve 27-mpg highway ratings in the 528i, a midsize luxury sedan, why can’t companies such as Suzuki routinely exceed 40 with their lightweight 4-cylinder models?
Steven Macoy (smacoy3070@cs.com) is a longtime car enthusiast and full-time editor who lives in Bethel, Conn.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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