2007 Suzuki SX4: First Impressions

On the road
During the presentation that took place in the beautiful region of Niagara-on-the-Lake, we briefly tried out all three versions of the SX4, with manual and automatic transmissions.

Very quiet, the automatic gearbox version will satisfy small families who appreciate relaxed drives. The engine is smooth and so is the transmission, gear changes are performed seamlessly, and all is accompanied by very reasonable fuel consumption, thanks to the tall gearing of the transmission. This quietness hides a certain weak spot that

(Photo: Alain Raymond, Auto123.com)

manifests itself when accelerating. The relatively thin amount of low-RPM and midrange torque, the tall gearing and fairly heavy weight (1,305 kg, or 2,877 lbs) translate into rather lethargic acceleration. This shortcoming is partially subdued in the manual-transmission version with its more "aggressive" gear ratios.

When we know that next year, Suzuki will participate in the World Rally Championship (WRC) with an SX4 WRC, we can suppose that the production version of the SX4 will someday be available with a more-powerful engine, or even a diesel (like the European SX4). "Maybe in the future..." was Suzuki's answer.

Anyway, lets' hope that day will come, because the SX4 benefits from a chassis whose rigidity is impressive. Bumps and road irregularities are well-filtered by the suspension, and the handling presents no problem whatsoever, quite the contrary. The precise and communicative steering allows you to direct the car very well and, despite its ride height, body roll

(Photo: Suzuki)

is well controlled. In emergency lane-change manoeuvres, the new Suzuki is reassuring, and those dynamic qualities make us believe that it would cope with extra horsepower without hesitation. As for the brakes (with discs all around on the JX and JLX), they are equipped with anti-lock and electronic brake force distribution, and the firm pedal helps modulate effort.

The AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA audio system is included in all versions, as is power windows and locks, air conditioning on JX and JLX versions, an information center, keyless entry, power mirrors (heated on JX and JLX), cruise control and six airbags all come standard. What's missing? Heated front seats and a vanity mirror for the front passenger. Suzuki's engineers took notes. As for towing capacity, it remains a mystery; Suzuki's pamphlet says no, some engineers say yes, others said no.... they promised us a definitive answer.

In short, the SX4 is a new model with attractive styling, a spacious cabin, it's well-equipped and especially quiet, its handling and good and even amusing, a discreet and frugal powertrain, an all-wheel drive system that will suit the Canadian market, and competitive prices that vary from $17,090 to $23,690. It's a serious rival to the Dodge Caliber, the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, Nissan Versa and Honda Fit.

(Photo: Suzuki)

What I like:
Attractive design
Quietness
Interior space
Intelligent all-wheel drive

What I don't like:
Average performance (especially with
 the automatic)
No heated seats offered
Hard-to-read display of the information
 center