Who is the Suzuki SX4 for?
At first glance, you'll see the smaller sporty wagon design with roof racks for bikes and kayaks so it's made for the person (or family) who love the outdoors and going away on holiday's. It's a wagon so the extra luggage space is a big benefit.
The Suzuki SX4 model that we're looking at today is equipped with the clever iAWD system.
The design
The SX4 follows a smart looking wagon design with nice curves but this hatch has it's rugged side to it.
Suzuki expect that the owner of this car will venture off-road at some point and that means getting a little dirty and rough so they've equipped the SX4 with a special all-wheel drive system to add more grip, stability and overall control and with a punchy 2.0 litre engine you can blast through tough terrain.
Suzuki have also applied a hard rubber trim to prevent stone chips from marking the paint which is an excellent feature if you do live on a gravel road as the plastic trim protects the car in the wheel arches and sills.
It's comfortable to get in and out of due to a high A-pillar (door frame) and elevated seating.
The Suzuki SX4 is built strong from the ground up, it's not as 'blinged out' like some of its competitors but what it lacks in flash it makes up for in build quality.
The mechanics
One feature I really like about the Suzuki SX4 is that it has a clever all-wheel drive system, which means you're able to chose when you want the 4WD mode. This is a benefit as you can use only 2WD in summer and save a bit on fuel costs. (Or along these lines as I don't want to mention the impreza as the new generation models use less fuel than the SX4!!)
There are three modes:
2WD mode: If you're driving around under normal driving conditions then switch to this mode and save on your fuel.
Auto mode: This is good for wet roads or off road activity. If the SX4 thinks that you're wheels are going to slip it will quickly switch into 4WD mode so you get traction from all sides.
Lock mode: The SX4 will stay in 4WD until it gets to 60kmph and then smoothly shifts into 2WD.
The SX4 comes in manual and automatic. The automatic is a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) which means that you get a very smooth transmission and better fuel economy. The LTD models come with paddle shift on the steering wheels which means you can make good use of the 6 speed CVT transmission.
The boot space is two tiered so if you need extra space, just flip the boot floor up and you've got more space to play around with.
The drive
The Suzuki SX4 is built for travelling so comfort is key with this sporty little hatch. It sticks to the road very well and with a 2.0 litre engine behind it it has good power if you need it.
I've been on the open road with it and it's great fun plus it is loaded with the standard safety features, six air bags and Electronic Stability Program to detect slip. It's also great for driving around town because of it's smaller design.
There is good visibility from all areas, the high A-pillars mean larger windows and the side mirrors are very large giving good vision all round.
The limited series also comes equipped with GPS and Bluetooth.
Summary:
The SX4 is a great car to drive around town and with it's extra luggage space is perfect for carrying around your gear. You'll notice the big benefits of this car when travelling longer distances or going off road with the clever iAWD system and rugged body work.
Why not take the SX4 for a spin and see why its our next biggest seller behind the Swift? Drop by to Gilmour Motors (across from the Oval park), and see me or Vince and we can show you the SX4 in the flesh before sending you on a test drive.
