It has incredible utility, a nice price point, all-wheel drive capability and decent fuel economy to boot. In reality, however, well, hmmmm.
I really want to like this vehicle. I mean, as a single city girl who has to deal with snow 4 months of the year, it has everything I could possibly want. Key highlights include a compact size, part-time AWD and a starting price well under $20k. Not to mention city/highway fuel economy numbers that ring in at 23/29 mpg.
Sounds pretty perfect, right? Well, on the road, the whole thing comes off a bit clunky.
The SX4 comes equipped with a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine that delivers 148 horsepower. For the size of this vehicle, that's a decent amount of power. But mated to a continuously variable transmission, the power equation is underwhelming. So, whether I was coming off a red light or trying to pass on the highway, I found myself continuously stomping on the accelerator. Which did not bode well for my fuel economy. In my combined, but mostly highway driving, I had problems hitting the EPA estimates for the city.
The overall ride was stiff, and the handling was less than smooth. The one bright spot: the tight turning radius was perfect for an urban environment.
The main word I would use to describe the design of the SX4 is tired. The second word: plastic. While the design was fresh and new when the SX4 debuted in 2007, it is now in major need of a complete overhaul. The bubble shape and blocky headlights did not wear well over time.
Inside, the sea of dark gray plastic was depressing and cheap. The driver's seat was comfortable, but that's about the only good thing I can say.
The good news: Rumor has it SX4 will be completely redesigned for 2013.
The test vehicle had the tech value package, which included the touch-screen navigation. While I think it's nice that you can get nav in a car costing less than $20k, the execution in the SX4 was, well, tired and plastic. Oh, and cheap. The tiny touch screen was way back on the top of the dash and housed in a flimsy plastic compartment on top of the dash that you had to manually flip up or down yourself.
Yes, it got me from point A to point B … but for half the price, I could buy a portable Garmin that works just as well.
There aren't many standard tech features at the base level, but at the Premium level you'll get steering wheel mounted audio controls, and at the Tech Value level, you'll add nüLink! services and Bluetooth connectivity in addition to the navigation.
The good news is that Suzuki did not skimp in the safety department. Everything that's standard at the top-level model is standard on the base. So, in addition to 8 standard airbags (front, front side, rear side and side curtain supplemental), you're looking at stability control, antilock brakes, tire pressure monitoring system, side-impact door beams, ISOFIX child seat anchors, LATCH child seat anchors and childproof rear door locks.
While I wouldn't necessarily put this in the family car category, I do think the last items make it worth considering. Just as long as you don't need to haul a lot of stuff as well as passengers in the rear seat.
Suzuki keeps it pretty simple in terms of pricing with three basic trim levels: base, Premium and Technology Value Package. Here's a rundown of what you'll get at each level:
SX4 Crossover: $17,774 -- The base model comes equipped with a manual transmission, daytime running lights, AM/FM/CD audio system with auxiliary jack and roof rack rails.
Premium: $19,620 -- Stepping up one level brings you continuously variable transmission, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control and wheel-mounted audio controls.
Technology Value Package: $19,424 -- At this top-of-the-line level, you start with a manual transmission but get the navigation, nüLink!, heated front seats, alloy wheels and fog lamps. Looking for the CVT? Add about $1K to the price tag.
Regardless of the harsh review I just gave the SX4 Crossover, I do think it has some good things going for it. The highlight being AWD at $17K. And if you look at that alone, it definitely lives up to it's name: Sports X-over 4 all seasons. But if you're looking for the finer things in life, this just isn't it. It's functional, practical and affordable. Period.
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