Review of the new Suzuki SX4

If there was a prize for the most over-used car industry buzzword of the last few years, 'crossover' would have to be in the running. Initially, nobody was quite sure what it meant and that was handy for the marketing executives who liberally applied it to any model they felt was very slightly SUV-like and needed a little kick up the sales charts. Part supermini and part 4x4, Suzuki's SX4 was a crossover long before most of us had pinned down what a crossover was. Will the enhanced design and engineering of the latest version will finally help it cash in.

A crossover has always been an amalgamation of two or more different types of vehicle and more recently, it's usage has settled down to refer mainly to models combining elements of conventional car and 4x4. Since it became fashionable to derive SUVs as evil planet killers, the crossover idea has gained extra credence as a cuddlier, less offensive way to get the design features that made 4x4s so popular with town-dwelling families. This Suzuki is firmly from the smaller end of the scale when it comes to crossover vehicles but Suzuki is confident that its mix and match approach can persuade some motorists out of their superminis or larger family cars.

For a car a shade over four meters long and weighing another shade over one tonne, the SX4 isn't short on horsepower in entry-level form. The 1.6-litre petrol unit which props up the range has a meaty 118bhp with 156Nm of torque. Despite being the cheapest, this petrol version is also the fastest SX4 with a respectable 0-60mph sprint of 10.7s and a 115mph top speed in front-wheel-drive guise. Suzuki have in recent times upgraded this engine by adding a different cylinder head and block, increased valve lift and a variable intake system which won't mean much to the man in the street but equates to lively and flexible performance out on the road. The other mainstream option is a Peugeot-sourced 1.6-litre DDiS diesel with 89bhp. It's a solid unit without the petrol's zip but with plenty of muscle through the lower reaches of the rev range.

"The SX4 might be a crossover but it hasn't crossed over too far."

The high shape and elevated ride height don't lead you to expect much from the SX4 on the road but the driving experience is arguably its best feature. It feels much like a conventional supermini, with little of the pitching and lurching that can blight tall 4x4-style vehicles. The SX4 is also well capable on longer journeys where refinement is impressive and the ride not overly choppy.

The steering is accurate and well weighted, the car turning into corners neatly. The five-speed gearbox also has a good weight to it with a punchy, mechanical action and only a short throw required to slot into the next ratio home. The steering may be a touch heavy for some tastes when parking but it adds reassurance on the open road and in general, the little Suzuki is characterised by a nimble, responsive, fun feel.

The SX4 is available in front or four wheel-drive. The 4x4 system is simple, effective and can be switched on the move between front-wheel-dive, locked four-wheel-drive and an automatic mode that sends drive to the rear wheels only when the grip levels demand it. Most SX4s you see out on the road will only have two driven wheels but even these cars have the increased ground clearance that can be handy when driving in an urban setting or even tackling the odd gravel driveway. The 4x4-esque body protection around the wheelarches and down the flanks of the higher spec models will also help the SX4 take knocks and bumps without incurring huge repair bills.

The SX4 has never been a hugely eye-catching vehicle and the latest facelift tweaks do little to change that. It looks compact and well-proportioned though and the 4x4 design elements do add extra interest. If you're interested, the grille and front bumper are the extent of the changes outside but the cabin does harbour some more worthwhile improvements.

The SX4 follows Suzuki's simple, uncluttered cabin design theme and in many ways it's a refreshing change from the chintzy finishes and gimmicky design features piled into some of its rivals. It could also be construed as slightly dull. The controls are extremely easy to use with large, clearly marked dials and buttons. A redesigned control console for the air-conditioning system and a neat instrument cluster with a digital display at its heart add a touch of class to the latest models.

The SX4 feels sturdily built but the quality of the plastic is a let down and our test car produced a clicking sound like a Geiger-counter from its steering column. There isn't a huge amount of storage space for larger items but passenger accommodation is good with room for four adults, even when those in the front are on the tall side. The 270-litre boot isn't huge but its deep shape is handy for loading and unloading. Folding the 60:40 split back seats gives a 625-litre capacity.

Even the basic SZ3 trim level comes with most of the essential equipment that buyers at this level are looking for. Remote central locking, air-conditioning, a CD stereo, electric windows and a trip computer are all present and correct. It makes the SX4's £11,500 price point look good value and competitive against the ordinary superminis that Suzuki's crossover is targeting. Above the SZ3, there's a £600 jump to the SZ4 which has alloy wheels, side protection amongst other things. The range-topping SZ5 adds the i-AWD 4x4 system and a CD autochanger.

Combined cycle fuel economy from the SX4's engines is 45.6mpg from the petrol and 57.6mpg from the 1.6 diesel with CO2 emissions pegged at 143g/km and 129g/km respectively. Choose the 1.6-litre petrol with its automatic gearbox option and economy drops to 39mpg and the 4x4 system typically knocks around 2mpg of the combined economy figure. It's certainly no gas-guzzler.

The SX4 from Suzuki was around before the practice of grafting 4x4 design features onto conventional cars really took off. Now that everyone's at it, winning sales is going to be tricky for the likable little crossover. The styling won't bowl you over and there's not much design flair to speak of inside but the SX4 is sturdy, well-equipped and surprisingly good to drive. As a less obvious, more interesting alternative to the entry-level supermini you were considering, it might make sense.

The SX4 might be a crossover but it hasn't crossed over too far. You get some of the ground clearance, visibility and accessibility of a 4x4 but on the road, in front or four-wheel-drive guise, the drive is composed and even enjoyable. The 1.6-litre petrol engine is impressive enough to make the benefit of the more expensive diesel questionable and front-wheel-drive will be fine for most, making the entry-level SX4 look a particularly good bet.

TOP 5 SX4 DEALS

The results below show the top SX4 deals on buyacar

Suzuki SX4 2.0 DDiS SZ5 4X4 5dr diesel hatchback
Price £15,000 Read SX4 Reviews	Save £2,390
Suzuki SX4 1.6 SZ5 4X4 5dr hatchback
Price £13,563 Read SX4 Reviews	Save £2,027
Suzuki SX4 1.6 SZ3 5dr hatchback
Price £11,159 Read SX4 Reviews	Save £1,426
Suzuki SX4 1.6 SZ4 5dr hatchback
Price £11,795 Read SX4 Reviews	Save £1,585
Suzuki SX4 1.6 SZ4 5dr Auto hatchback
Price £12,757 Read SX4 Reviews	Save £1,818
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