Thanks to its height and resultant headroom, the SX4 features the upright seating position so popular with SUV and truck owners, and second row is "stadium style" raised seating.
Visibility is good thanks to an enormous windshield, although side views are compromised by those oddly forked A-pillars. The tiny window inserts help somewhat. Tall expanses of glass create a large greenhouse, adding to the open and airy feeling inside.
The interior, although decidedly budget-oriented is nonetheless quite attractive. It's plain but clean, without fussiness. Plastic and cloth are quiet and understated, without pretending to be wood and leather.
Cloth covered seats are on the firm side. Comfortable enough for daily use and trips back and forth to Toronto, I found though, that six hours into an eight-hour northern roadtrip, my back was screaming for mercy - or at least some more lower support.
Cargo space expands to accommodate a maximum of 22.0 cu-ft by flipping the rear seats down, but they don't fold completely flat - and are fuzzy-cloth backed rather than an easily wiped down plastic.
Ergonomics are simple. The base SX4 is without some of the gadgetry of its JL and JLX siblings but the 3 dial climate control knobs are large, easy to understand and easily operated with gloves on.
Seatbelt and door-open warnings are loud enough to startle - but the turn signals are like the dulcet tones of a golf announcer, and with music on - completely inaudible.
The audio system was decent enough for this admitted driving-music addict (there's an optional six-disc CD player and subwoofer, as well as XM satellite radio available). The previously tested JLX had blown a speaker early on and I spent a tortuous week deciding between driving tunelessly or enduring the annoying buzz. I'm happy to say that my second tester played on with no problems.
Visibility is good thanks to an enormous windshield, although side views are compromised by those oddly forked A-pillars. The tiny window inserts help somewhat. Tall expanses of glass create a large greenhouse, adding to the open and airy feeling inside.
 |
| The large glass surface is one of the SX4 strong points. |
The interior, although decidedly budget-oriented is nonetheless quite attractive. It's plain but clean, without fussiness. Plastic and cloth are quiet and understated, without pretending to be wood and leather.
Cloth covered seats are on the firm side. Comfortable enough for daily use and trips back and forth to Toronto, I found though, that six hours into an eight-hour northern roadtrip, my back was screaming for mercy - or at least some more lower support.
Cargo space expands to accommodate a maximum of 22.0 cu-ft by flipping the rear seats down, but they don't fold completely flat - and are fuzzy-cloth backed rather than an easily wiped down plastic.
Ergonomics are simple. The base SX4 is without some of the gadgetry of its JL and JLX siblings but the 3 dial climate control knobs are large, easy to understand and easily operated with gloves on.
Seatbelt and door-open warnings are loud enough to startle - but the turn signals are like the dulcet tones of a golf announcer, and with music on - completely inaudible.
The audio system was decent enough for this admitted driving-music addict (there's an optional six-disc CD player and subwoofer, as well as XM satellite radio available). The previously tested JLX had blown a speaker early on and I spent a tortuous week deciding between driving tunelessly or enduring the annoying buzz. I'm happy to say that my second tester played on with no problems.
 |
| A decent audio system. |