Insurance Group: 16
MPG: 43.5
CO2: 149
0-62 Mph: 11.5 secs
BHP: 118 BHP
Range: 478 miles
PROS: A capable enough off-roader and with a good level of standard equipment for the price. Drives well too.
CONS: If off-road capability is not important then the two-wheel drive models are cheaper to buy and run. If off-road capability is important the 2.0-litre diesel option has lower running costs too.
The Suzuki SX4 range comes with a choice of either a 1.6 petrol engine with 118bhp or a 133bhp 2.0-litre diesel. The SX4 1.6 SZ5 4x4 comes with the former, making it the only petrol-powered four-wheel drive model in the line up. This petrol lacks some of the flexibility of its rivals, and is sluggish to get going at lower revs, but with 115ft-lb of torque at 4400rpm it becomes more capable when pushed. Top speed is 109mph and 0-62mph takes 11.5 seconds. The SX4 is good to drive, with responsive steering, minimal body roll, and neutral handling, although the ride may be a little firm for some. The SX4 is surprisingly capable off-road too. The driving position is good too, with plenty of seat adjustment, and all of the dashboard controls are well positioned and easy to use.
The Suzuki SX4 1.6 SZ5 4x4 is a small four-wheel drive five-door hatchback developed by the Japanese carmaker in partnership with Fiat, and shares the same looks and body style of its two-wheel drive brethren. The Giorgetto Guigiaro designed SX4 has been with us since 2006, but has undergone some face-lifting during its lifetime to keep it fresh. The four-wheel drive versions come with a raised suspension, roof bars, and scuff plates. Standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front and rear windows, driver airbag, passenger airbag, front side airbags, immobiliser and CD player. Further optional extras are available, for example a metallic paint finish can be added for £399.
Euro NCAP, the independent consumer organisation who perform crash and safety tests on new cars released on the European market awarded the Suzuki SX4 four stars out of five for occupant protection, and three stars each for child occupant protection and pedestrian protection. The SX4 comes with a full compliment of airbags, with driver, passenger, and front side airbags included. The SX4 also comes with a 3-year, 60,000-mile manufacturers warranty. Four people can be accommodated comfortably in the SX4, but it becomes more than a little claustrophobic if a fifth joins in. At 270-litres the boot capacity is unremarkable, although it does grow to 625-litres once the split-folding rear seats have been lowered.
The Subaru SX4 1.6 SZ5 4x4 is priced at £15,899, making it more expensive than the petrol-powered two-wheel drive models in the range but coming in £1,800 short of the top-of-the-range 2.0-litre diesel-powered model. Unfortunately the running costs don’t compare well against other models in the range. Combined fuel economy figures from the 1.6-litre petrol come out at 43.5mpg, compared to 45.6 when choosing the two-wheel drive versions. The CO2 emissions of 149g/km produced by the SX4 1.6 SZ5 4x4 are also the highest in the SX4 range. For those reasons the SX4 1.6 SZ5 is not the pick of the range and sales will suffer accordingly. If four-wheel drive is such an important consideration, then the diesel-powered model offers much lower running costs with a combined 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 139g/km.
The SX4 is a five-door hatchback based on the Suzuki Swift, but it has been designed with a more rugged off-roader image with a 4WD option available, even though most models sold are in fact two-wh...
The Suzuki SX4 1.6 SZ4 Auto 5dr has an attractive price tag and gives you the 4x4 looks without the high running costs.
The Suzuki SX4 was released onto the European market some seven years ago. The five-door hatchback comes with some pedigree on the continental market, having been developed in collaboration with F...
You might want to read reviews for other Medium Family cars that you can then compare to the Suzuki SX4. Here are some popular Suzuki SX4 alternatives:
