Defining the Compact X-Over SegmentWhen it comes to automobiles, one of the biggest names in the
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| Suzuki's on a roll: SX4 is the second all-new model for 2007. (Photo: Suzuki Canada) |
4X4 industry is Suzuki. Although today Suzuki is synonymous with tiny, quirky city cars, or small personal-transport and recreation vehicles such as motorcycles and ATVs, this Japanese brand might be most recognized for its simple but clever off-roaders, such as the classic, fun-loving Samurai, the more refined Sidekick which followed it, and now, several generations later, the much more sophisticated Grand Vitara. During the '80s, Suzuki had an unrivaled foothold on the compact off-roading market; it practically invented the segment. After setting up a strategic alliance with General Motors to produce its vehicles on North American soil at the CAMI plant in Ontario, Canada, Suzuki was set to continue onwards.
In
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| The SX4 is the first new Suzuki-engineered product since the Grand Vitara. (Photo: Suzuki Canada) |
the grand scheme of things, Suzuki is the smallest Japanese automaker to sell cars in North America, not to mention one of the smallest mass-marketed automakers period. Currently, its range consists of five vehicles (seven in the USA), many of which are GMDAT (the company that resulted in GM and Suzuki's co-purchase of Daewoo assets) products. This is a position that's unfavourable for Suzuki, given that it's unhappy with high warranty claims and generally dissatisfied customers, not to mention the need to share its cars with other GM brands. Other models in the range include the Aerio and the aforementioned Grand Vitara, both of which were designed in-house. Since the announcement of GM's sale of its equity in the Japanese brand, Suzuki announced the second generation XL-7, the new seven-seater, the final vehicle developed in collaboration with General Motors.
Although the North American front hasn't been particularly active
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| The SX4 shares components with European Swift and Fiats. (Photo: Suzuki Canada) |
for Suzuki, aside from the recent launch of the Grand Vitara and much talk about the upcoming XL-7, things are a little more lively elsewhere on the planet. During the middle of last year, Suzuki launched an all-new city car (B-Segment) called the Swift. This is not to be confused with the Swift+, which is a GMDAT product that shares its full chassis and drivetrain architecture with Chevy's Aveo and Pontiac's Wave. The European and Asian market Swift is completely different than any Suzuki we've ever seen here; it's clever looking, well built, and features the kind of creature comforts that high-end buyers love, such as keyless entry and start. So far, the Swift has been picking up its fair share of awards; a runaway hit for the brand.
Although
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| SX4 goes places where the Swift and other subcompacts would fear to tread. (Photo: Suzuki Canada) |
Suzuki isn't quite ready to import the Swift into our North American market, it has been preparing something else that might appeal to this part of the world even more - a compact crossover vehicle. The new product, called the SX4, uses architectural components from the Euro Swift, including front and rear suspension systems, but was stretched in all dimensions for improved practicality and versatility. The SX4, like many of Suzuki's products, was a joint venture, but this latest model was with a new partner, Italy's Fiat Auto Group. Although Suzuki did the engineering, and for North America, will be providing its own powerplants, the partnership allowed the Japanese brand access to Fiat's excellent diesel and gearbox combinations.
