Picture Gallery: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sedan | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
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This week I’ll be reviewing the Suzuki SX4 Sedan Sport. At just over $20,000 at first glance this car seems to pack a lot of features into a little car. Some features I do not regularly see on much more expensive cars, especially as standard ones.
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For starters, the SX4 Sedan weights in at a paltry 1245kg (2745lbs), yet is propelled by a 2.0litre engine that produces 143hp at 5,800 rpm and 136lb-ft of torque at 3,500rpm, which can be mated to a five-speed manual transmission or in the case of my tester, a four-speed automatic.
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Yet despite all that goodness, I noticed a few things that the SX4 hatchback had that are not available in the Sedan. Those are folding rear seats, which for me personally are a must in any vehicle, and available all-wheel drive. That said, you can’t have it all, and for the price, the SX4 Sedan certainly does provide some kit.
I haven’t had much chance to drive the SX4 Sedan yet, but in the little bit I have, I have so far been impressed. It certainly isn’t the kind of economy car I was expecting; stepping out of the Civic Si last week I was expecting to be in slight shock this week, but I don’t think I will be.
2008 Suzuki SX4 Sedan
MSRP as tested inc. destination & delivery: $21,345
For more information on Suzuki and the SX4 visit Suzuki Canada
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The door panels and dash are extremely well fitted; the radio and climate control do not look tacked-on as an afterthought as is the case in so many vehicles in this range. Although some cost savings can be seen in the thickness of the door panels and some of the plastic bits on the interior, it is all visually appealing and well-built.
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Everything about this vehicle’s interior is a pleasant surprise: easy-to-reach controls, smooth-feeling HVAC controls that are large enough for gloved hands and the bonus automatic climate control that works very well indeed, resulting in no real need to ever use those controls.
All the dash lighting is integrated well, and a nice red hue is presented at night that is easy on the eyes. Unfortunately the headlights are not so easy on the eyes, so I have been finding driving at night in the country slightly less pleasant than in vehicles with better headlights.
It is unfortunate that the rear seats do not fold to provide extra cargo space, but I will say the trunk is gigantic for a vehicle of this size: according to Suzuki cargo capacity is 439 litres (15.5 cubic feet).
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There is a slight bit of wind noise at speeds over 100km/h, as there is for what seems to be all vehicles in this category and nothing out of the ordinary. On the highway the 2.0litre engine turns as little as 2500rpm which translates into zero engine noise even at slightly illegal speeds.
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The automatic transmission shifts smoothly but also shifts early to ensure maximum fuel efficiency. As a result, if you are a little light on the pedal to begin with, it takes a bit of probing to get the transmission to down-shift for more power. I’m sure the manual version is a hoot.
A curb weight of just over 2700lbs means that the SX4 feels light and nimble around bends. It does lean a good amount though, forcing you to hold on tight in corners. The extra-large mirrors provide excellent visibility and the little side windows in the A-pillars help a great deal; without them I’m pretty sure you could hide a transport trailer behind the pillars.
For a small car though, the SX4 seems to have a rather big turning radius. I have noticed a few times I have had issues whipping into parking spaces at the mall, forcing me to reverse for a second try.
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After traveling nearly all on the highway this past week and weekend I came to the realization that the SX4 is just not very fuel-efficient. This is rather unfortunate for a car in this category, where shoppers are looking for inexpensive transportation with equivalent inexpensive maintenance and running costs.
I averaged 10L/100km during my week with the SX4; the on-board computer was hovering around 9.5L/100km all week during my normal routine which is now almost all highway. One little trip into some traffic and it shot up to 10L/100km. I was really disappointed and it really puts a damper on an otherwise excellent vehicle.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2008 Suzuki SX4 Sedan
MSRP as tested inc. destination & delivery: $21,345
For more information on Suzuki and the SX4 visit Suzuki Canada
November 16, 2007, 05:48:45 am I read somewhere that Giugiaro's studio in Italy designed the car for Fiat, the famed designer. IMHO it's the most striking car design in the segment and good value for the price. I hate the extreme sloping windshield on the new Civic which you have to make sure you don't bump your head in getting in. I'll be trading it in for an SX4 sedan.
November 16, 2007, 07:32:23 am That front end makes it look like something Darth Vader would drive... if it came in black.
November 16, 2007, 07:47:56 am Being surrounded with econo-car buyers at the office, the one flaw I see in Suzuki's strategy is not having a decontended car. Bring unpainted bumpers, 13" tires and no a/c with a 13 000 $ price tag and they have an Aveo fighter. In the 20k$'s, despite the good looks and load of features, it's a hard sell.
November 16, 2007, 09:21:01 am I agree Blueprint. I don't see what this offers that a Mazda3 and Honda Civic doesn't. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a very nice car. But the majority of the buying public aren't too aware of Suzuki and will be more keen on a familiar brand.. Toyota Matrix for example.
And is that a tape deck?
November 16, 2007, 11:10:10 am Tape deck? That's an LCD screen....
Aveo killer? Isn't that the swift? Same car.
November 16, 2007, 11:29:54 am
Wouldn't changing the lights to High-performance halogen lights correct that?
November 16, 2007, 11:31:06 am Perhaps, but that's not my job, could be the housing, sometimes bulbs won't help much.
November 16, 2007, 11:39:30 am
I rarely find that blubs help vision very much.
November 16, 2007, 04:26:47 pm
Clearly you've just got the wrong prescription blub, then.
November 16, 2007, 07:26:20 pm Listen blub! That's enough!
November 16, 2007, 08:48:17 pm
They already have one it is called the "Swift". If they still make it. It actually is an "Aveo" I believe.
November 16, 2007, 08:51:00 pm So was that first interior shot done with a fishblub lens?
November 16, 2007, 09:23:33 pm It is the Swift+, not the Swift. The Swift is an entirely different car, not available in North America. Swift+=Aveo=Wave.
November 16, 2007, 11:37:55 pm
November 17, 2007, 05:17:01 pm
If you want to get technical it's called Aveo 5 for the hatchback version.
November 19, 2007, 03:48:35 pm I just noticed the trunk hinges on this. They're old school that protrude into the trunk.
November 19, 2007, 05:55:53 pm
Another reason to love the hatchback.
November 20, 2007, 09:06:05 am Agree on the fuel economy point. I guess you can't have it all and still stay at this price.
So, For us, the Suzuki would have been looked at, but no folding seats puts it out of the competition on the spot. If it had them, it would be a tough competitor, but the fuel economy numbers might put it into fourth or fifth place on our shoping list. Very nice features for the price though, but it depends on what one wants/needs...
November 20, 2007, 03:49:18 pm So... this article drove me to kick some tires and try it out...
I'm an avid Suzuki fans, having built a couple Samurai's and presently owning an 03' Vitara which I built up a suspension lift and have some nice 32" tires
anyways...
My impressions:
Power - Adequate for the vehicle. The 2.0L generates torque very low and is basically a hyped up version of the one I have in my Vitara. The only complaint that I have about the engine, is... it is not a free reving engine, meaning the delivery of power is linear, but essentially from 4200rpm and up, is really almost useless
The car is geared in such a way that, it remains efficient and usable in it's proper torque range +1
Handling - No qualms here... Feels like your typical Japanese strut based front torsion bar reared style suspension... doesn't dampen quite as well as the MK4 golfs/jettas, but I think can easily out handle them
Functionality - fantastic... foldable seats, selectable AWD w/ diff lock and plenty of headroom and legroom for 4 relatively large passangers (me being 6' 200lbs) can sit in the back with someone equality my size in the seat in front +1
Features - Stereo is fun on the JLX with the under - seat sub, has climate control and a nice sporty leather wrapped steering wheel with buttons lol (plus it is a good size... not too large\not too small)
Dislikes - Being the Japanese car that it is... it has that Japanese feel... meaning, when you close the doors and trunk, it doesn't make that nice Thud sound, you'd get with even a VW
The interior is covered in plastics, though the instrument cluster is attractive... does not offset the amount of blandness that all the plastics and single cloth seat choice you get
plus it has a stock rubber, yes rubber shift knob
Suzuki is in it's own way a purpose driven company... always kinda have been up until their started re-designing the Grand Vitaras and XL7s (shared chassis with equinox
So this car is basically all you could possibly "need" in a daily driving functional vehicle, but really nothing more
Good on gas, but has very usable power
Very functional cabin and space
Selectable AWD traction -- we all in Canada know how much that is worth to us in the winter
All the required comforts plus a fun stereo
Most of all... Reliability
I have put well over 180K on my GV and have taken care of it myself, I can tell you first that this 2.0L engine is bulletproof
However... being that if you wanted a statement or fast car... this is not a car for you
Things I'd want different:
Less use of plastics and better quality handles\buttons etc...
Choice of interior seats and more of a sporty bolstered seat as opposed to their bland generic ones they use
Sun\Moon roof options
More power! well, I think it's about time they introduce a detuned WRC turbo engine
with that in place, they have a contender to challenge mid-ranged cars, such as Impreza and Civic and provide a car in the spot where Toyota & Nissan are missing
If I had to... I would take this car over the:
Toyota Matrix\Carolla
Honda Fit\Entry Civics (non SI)
Nissan Versa\Sentra (no spec-v)
Maybe - VW Rabbit\2.5 Jetta (cost savings are huge and I just can't seem to find a Jetta that fits me in the back seats)
November 20, 2007, 05:45:24 pm Hi r3cc0s!
Just curious - was it the sedan or the hatch that you drove?
November 20, 2007, 06:28:15 pm Hatch whoops
November 20, 2007, 08:53:31 pm
No worries - we always get on to hatches in sedan threads and vice versa.
So why would I buy a Suzuki instead of a Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Nissan? ... they have a lot of competition.
Why are you such a fan? Why recommend a Suzuki to a friend?
November 21, 2007, 11:18:11 am I have been impressed with the solidity of the Suzuki-Suzukis I've tried. Never driven one, but pleasantly surprised when I hoped in the Grand Vitara and the SX4. Seemed very well designed, decent materials, and very solid. I would put them on my list for sure, as the value seems to be good as well. Hope they continue with bringing more of their Japanese designed products to market.
November 21, 2007, 11:47:03 am
No worries - we always get on to hatches in sedan threads and vice versa.
So why would I buy a Suzuki instead of a Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Nissan? ... they have a lot of competition.
Why are you such a fan? Why recommend a Suzuki to a friend?
Why Suzuki... well it's a thing that some people don't seem to realize, but alot of Japanese cars share the same OEM part manufacturers
Suzuki utilize alot of Asin parts and their CVs and rear diffs on their trucks are developed and manufactured by the same company that build Yota diffs.
When it comes down to it, Suzuki has a long track record of reliability and are a incredibly popular car world wide, with the exception of the North American market.
Specifically this car, offers some of the best features in it's class and offers a respectable power to fuel economy ratio
Truthfully the AWD is what sells it
Without a selectable AWD feature, I would be hard pressed to vouch for it, with the exception of the reliability of the engine and drivetrain
When you think about it... how much were the Matrix AWD\Vibe AWD prior to their decommissioning? I remember the Vibe being 31K w/ freight PDI, where as this car is easily 4-5K cheaper and having a more powerful engine and IMO better features
When entering the realm of other AWD cars, your only other option is Subaru and up... which are fantastic cars but definitely have a much higher entry price point and worse fuel economy with full time AWD
If I needed an AWD car, I'd grab this over an entry level Impreza... for function features and fuel economy
WRX on the other hand... well though incredibly fun and powerful, I think at that price the GTI is a much more refined car (and or I'd take a Speed3 for fun)
November 21, 2007, 11:57:14 am