A busy interior
Since the little SX4 offers a fair amount of features, the interior had to be designed in a way that would include all of them. The final result is a rather crowded layout, even with the one-tone treatment.
The instruments are easy to read and decently-sized, but for tall drivers like myself, adjusting the steering wheel means hiding some of the gauges. The wheel itself is also cluttered with numerous controls (in Sport trim), such as buttons for the audio system and cruise control.
An information display in the upper part of the center stack provides multiple data like outside temperature and fuel range, which is uncommon for this class of vehicle.
In the back, while the trunk is spacious enough for most of your luggage, it's impossible to fold the seatback forward to increase the available cargo room. That's a major drawback for a car that claims to be so family-oriented.
On the road
Under the hood of the new SX4 sedan is a small 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that produces 143 horsepower. As you've probably guessed, it's the same powerplant as the hatchback -- and quite an efficient one. Mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, it suffers a bit during climbs and over damaged roads but more than makes up for it in urban areas. The gearbox is not quite responsive enough but almost.
Meanwhile, the 5-speed manual transmission is more precise, offering convincing short throws. On the flip side, the steering lacks a bit of accuracy and on-center feel. Therefore, you often have to apply small corrections, even in a straight line.
Since the little SX4 offers a fair amount of features, the interior had to be designed in a way that would include all of them. The final result is a rather crowded layout, even with the one-tone treatment.
The instruments are easy to read and decently-sized, but for tall drivers like myself, adjusting the steering wheel means hiding some of the gauges. The wheel itself is also cluttered with numerous controls (in Sport trim), such as buttons for the audio system and cruise control.
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| The dashboard is user-friendly and well put together. |
An information display in the upper part of the center stack provides multiple data like outside temperature and fuel range, which is uncommon for this class of vehicle.
In the back, while the trunk is spacious enough for most of your luggage, it's impossible to fold the seatback forward to increase the available cargo room. That's a major drawback for a car that claims to be so family-oriented.
On the road
Under the hood of the new SX4 sedan is a small 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that produces 143 horsepower. As you've probably guessed, it's the same powerplant as the hatchback -- and quite an efficient one. Mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, it suffers a bit during climbs and over damaged roads but more than makes up for it in urban areas. The gearbox is not quite responsive enough but almost.
Meanwhile, the 5-speed manual transmission is more precise, offering convincing short throws. On the flip side, the steering lacks a bit of accuracy and on-center feel. Therefore, you often have to apply small corrections, even in a straight line.
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| The manual transmission is a better fit for this engine. |