CTC Review: Suzuki SX4

[CD_Editor]

Picture Gallery:  2007 Suzuki SX4

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Hatchbacks are all the rage these days in Canada and it is about time!  Higher fuel prices in the past couple of years have led to an influx of small vehicles and in particular, fuel efficient vehicles with some cargo capacity in the form of a hatchback.  Suzuki has recently released the 2007 SX4, one of very few small vehicles available with all-wheel drive. More ...

[tpl]

"Instead, the seats flip forward which increases the overall height of the cargo area but reduces its length a great deal.
"

I think you mean increases the length but reduces the height.  It is a shame that the seats are like that and, being a 5 door, the front passenger seat back does not flip forward.  So, to me it fails the Ikea test; which consists of loading a tall Billy bookcase and shutting all the doors with room for two people in the vehicle...and of course being able to drive.

It also has a block heater built in.

[quadzilla]

"Instead, the seats flip forward which increases the overall height of the cargo area but reduces its length a great deal.
"

I think you mean increases the length but reduces the height.  It is a shame that the seats are like that and, being a 5 door, the front passenger seat back does not flip forward.  So, to me it fails the Ikea test; which consists of loading a tall Billy bookcase and shutting all the doors with room for two people in the vehicle...and of course being able to drive.

It also has a block heater built in.

I think James has it right.  Because the rear seats fold up off the floor (increasing height) but come to a rest against the back of the front chairs (reducing length).

I don't understand why car makers can't have it when you fold down the rear seats it creates a flat floor instead of doing the lift and fold which takes up space and creates a sloping floor.

[Obiwan]

I've looked into the SX4 a little bit... Great quality interior.

I had read a little bit more on the american sites and was dissapointed at the dealer's when I found out the Canadian top model is lacking ESP and the Remote starter.  (both are in the U.S. sport version)

So why?  I guess neither are really all that important but it ticks me off that Canadian versions of cars seem to miss the odd extra americans might get, yet we often pay more. (after exchange)

[boflaade]

I think those rear seats places this car at the bottom of the list. They are raised to give more leg room but decreases head room and hinders the useable extra space.. This is beneath Suzuki enegeneering. Other then standard AWD, there are better choices out there.

[jww]

The flip-forward seats work well on cars that have more bed length, such as the X-Trail, V50, etc. If Suzuiki had only added 2 or 3 measely inches in length, this would probably helped rather than hindered the SX4's cause. Headroom in the rear seat would be an issue for me if I were travelling in the back seat.

Having said all this - lockable 4wd, hatchback, peppy engine, etc., still make this a very viable sub-compact vehicle worth considering along with the Fit, Versa and Yaris.

[tpl]

"Instead, the seats flip forward which increases the overall height of the cargo area but reduces its length a great deal.
"

I think you mean increases the length but reduces the height.  It is a shame that the seats are like that and, being a 5 door, the front passenger seat back does not flip forward.  So, to me it fails the Ikea test; which consists of loading a tall Billy bookcase and shutting all the doors with room for two people in the vehicle...and of course being able to drive.

It also has a block heater built in.

I think James has it right.  Because the rear seats fold up off the floor (increasing height) but come to a rest against the back of the front chairs (reducing length).

I don't understand why car makers can't have it when you fold down the rear seats it creates a flat floor instead of doing the lift and fold which takes up space and creates a sloping floor.

I see what you mean Quad. I was considering the "stuff" space for length rather than height. ( the Ikea problem)


It is an appealing vehicle as a "utility" vehicle, a run-about and a light "stuff" carrier.   Since looking at it we have looked at the Mazda 3 &  5, Rabbit and Versa and we'd already looked at the Fit. So far, the Fit and Rabbit are tie 1st with the Mazda 5  third.  This ranking may change when my wife test drives them all which will include the Impreza and the Matrix.

[Wolfe]

The rear seats in my RAV4 are similar to those in the SX4. In the RAV the seats fold and flip up like in the Suzuki but they can also be taken out completely which opens up a lot more cargo space.

I wonder why Suzuki hasn't chosen to do the same.

[Loudpedal]

I wonder if Suzuki has access to the GM parts bin?  This would be an interesting car with the supercharged engine out of the Cobalt SS. 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Since looking at it we have looked at the Mazda 3 &  5, Rabbit and Versa and we'd already looked at the Fit. So far, the Fit and Rabbit are tie 1st with the Mazda 5  third.  This ranking may change when my wife test drives them all which will include the Impreza and the Matrix.

Interesting. Rabbit-and-GTI/5/Fit were the finalists for me when it came down to it.

I've seen the SX4 twice in white and think it wears it well. Quite nice. Overall I think the package is very nice but when you get up to $22Gs the Tucson/Sportage start looking like better alternatives, unless you're more interested in a strictly compact or urban vehicle.

[UDB]

Since looking at it we have looked at the Mazda 3 &  5, Rabbit and Versa and we'd already looked at the Fit. So far, the Fit and Rabbit are tie 1st with the Mazda 5  third.  This ranking may change when my wife test drives them all which will include the Impreza and the Matrix.

Interesting. Rabbit-and-GTI/5/Fit were the finalists for me when it came down to it.

I've seen the SX4 twice in white and think it wears it well. Quite nice. Overall I think the package is very nice but when you get up to $22Gs the Tucson/Sportage start looking like better alternatives, unless you're more interested in a strictly compact or urban vehicle.

I agree.  22000$ is a bit high for a subcompact vehicule.   You could get a Grand Vitara for just few K more.   But a fully loaded Fit, Yaris will go also in the 22000$ range.  I guess this is reality and the price to pay to save some fuel.

[tpl]

For us, economy is not the whole story.  This car will probably only do 10,000 kms/yr if that.   
1. My wife has to feel comfortable driving it...she has not driven much over the last few years.
2. It has to pass MY test ( manual transmission***, good handling reasonable good warranty and service schedule)
3. It has to pass the Ikea test as outlined above as well as the much easier:  twenty plants and 4 bags of compost test from teh garden centre.

My BMW does not pass test 1 or 3


***  CVT/DSG are acceptable

What we'd really like is a 2007 ( note that)   Jetta wagon TDI with a 6 speed  The new body wagon with a 100 bhp tdi...Then I could go to Georgetown VW and get a "powerbox" and that would be just pefect. But.... no 2007 diesels, the new jetta wagon not even announced yet.

[Railton]

James, Good job with the Museum shot but fer christ sakes the rest of them are the same old parking lot again. Spice it up man!
Railton

[wing]

Railton, the problem is unlike most reviewers I need to get my pictures the moment I get the car!  If I had a week to get photos it would be easy.  Most reviewers would have the time to go out on the weekend, get the car clean head out to a nice spot and take some photos. 

I do not have the luxury unfortunately.... I wish I did!  It's always a rush when I get a new vehicle to get some shots before it gets dark!

[mdxtasy]

I do not have the luxury unfortunately.... I wish I did!  It's always a rush when I get a new vehicle to get some shots before it gets dark!

You only have the car for one day?

[NW_hiker]

I drove both the automatic and 5 speed. I found the auto a bit lacking in power. 5 speed was acceptible. You can definitely feel the weight of this vehicle. Not a peppy lightweight feel like my Mazda P5. Handling was okay with a nice ride. I liked the flip and fold seats. I agree about the interior... very nice.  Definitely worth checking out, especially if you need AWD.

[wing]

Mdx5, I have the car for a week, but I start the blog right away, unless I pick it up on Friday, can't start the blog without photos.

Usually I get the car on Monday and my chance to get photos is Sat when the blog is done, there are exceptions.  If I can get the cars on Friday I try to get nicer pics on the weekend before starting on Monday.

I only had the SX4 for 2 days I believe and it was raining both days 

[mdxtasy]

That's what I thought.  Was confused as to why you said it's tough to get shots before it gets dark.  Does the automaker supply some photos or can you use some other shots if you can't get a decent set for the first day blog?

Anyway, the pics in the parking lot look okay, nothing special.  Atleast you aren't lying on the floor like Yap does so much.

[wing]

Just for you, I'm going to get myself a blanket and try that

[Giant Dwarf]

Hey Wing, for what it's worth, I don't care if you shoot every car pic in an empty grocery store lot... I'm looking for good, big, clear pics of the car with as many details as possible.  One request though:  the luggage space pic would be even more helpful with something like a bicycle or another common object to give a relative reference of size.  Having never seen an SX4 in real life yet, I have no point of reference for how capacious that cargo area is with the seats flipped forward.  The Honda Fit ads with the seats moved forward show a bicycle enclosed in the back of the car and that really helps to define how usable the space truly is.

I've been keeping a watchful eye on the SX4 lately.  Knowing that Suzuki seems to have a hard go of selling their vehicles here versus their competitors, it probably won't be too long before we start to see some interesting discounts on these things.  The mid-level car is pretty well equipped with a lot of Wing's top-level tester's features being a little unnecessary in an economy car (ie. auto climate control; body-coloured roof-racks [versus the usual black ones] and the 6-speaker stereo [versus std 4-speaker unit which still plays MP3s I believe]).  At about $5k less than an Impreza, plus better fuel economy and to my eye, even better styling, it's a heck of a value. 

Looking forward to the rest of the report, Wing.