Suzuki SX4 long-term test

Suzuki SX4 long-term test

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Suzuki SX4 long-term test
Suzuki SX4 long-term test
Suzuki SX4 long-term test
Photos by -Autonet.ca
Barry Hanson
Published: 21 02 2008

SX4 grows on, and around, you
On my latest grocery run I was struck by how, even with a week’s work of necessities (eight bags, this trip) and a 19-litre jug of water in the trunk, there was still room for more than twice that much.

Over the almost five months that I’ve been driving the SX4 Sedan, I’ve come to appreciate the rear cargo compartment of this compact commuter. It didn’t start out that way – in fact I initially questioned the wisdom of offering a four-door version of the original SX4 hatchback.

Like most compacts, the SX4 is well suited to the hatchback shape. When I first saw the sedan, I figured it was kind of bug-like in its proportions. The passenger compartment is pretty tall, its height compensating for the length and width the compact class sacrifices.

The rest of the SX4 sedan is in proportion, however, the front end efficiently housing the 2.0-litre engine and associated drive components. The rear deck is short but deep, accommodating a trunk that will hold 439 litres of cargo.

The overall effect has grown on me over the past few months. What at first struck me as awkward eventually acquired a sort of bug-inspired cuteness, and I’ve come to appreciate its attractive proportions. Handsome touches like subtle accent lines just below the plentiful side glass of the large greenhouse and on the lower half of the door panels add to the effect, as do the nine-spoke aluminum alloy wheels and body kit featured on the sport trim level.

Far from fading into the crowd the way most compacts do, the SX4 has a way of standing out – without taking any more room than it needs to.

SX4 weathers the cold
The latest phase of the SX4 Sedan long-term review is the ultimate urban Canadian test: the extreme cold-weather week.

I began last week by walking out to the SX4 Monday morning, after it had endured overnight temperatures that dipped below -40 C. Because I don’t spend my weekends tracking weather forecasts, I didn’t plug the car in the night before. So by the time I climbed into the (unheated) driver’s seat, that engine was good and frozen.

I wasn’t holding out much hope when I turned the key but, after an initial mild reluctance to turn over, the engine spun to life relatively easily.

That’s to be expected, of course. It’s a new car, after all, with fairly fresh lubricants and uncompromised seals, and a battery that hasn’t been worn down by years of discharge and recharge. Nevertheless, it’s comfortably reassuring to have a car start during an extreme cold snap – especially if you’ve owned as many lemons as I have.

The deep freeze lasted pretty much until Friday, with night-time lows in the deep -30s and temperatures climbing up to the high -20s during the day. The SX4 spent the rest of the week plugged in when it was parked. It started with no problem, no hesitation, each time I turned the key.

Once on the road the SX4 Sedan’s interior heats up quickly.

The only drawback was the all-season radials. I can’t help but think winter tires would have made that 180-degree spin I experienced on a rutted back street more unlikely.

And, in case I didn’t mention it, heated seats would be nice.

Space ... the final SX4 frontier
At the risk of exposing my inner sci-fi geek, I have to say the Suzuki SX4 sedan is a bit of a space mobile.

Jaunts to nearby planets are out of the question, of course. What the four-door SX4 does really well is maximize its inner space.

During the daily commute in this small car I’m struck by the impression that, despite its limited exterior dimensions – it’s 4,490 millimetres long, 1,730 mm wide and only 1,545 mm tall – I don’t feel cramped in the driver’s seat.

Keep in mind that even in the dead of winter in mid-January, I often slide my 230-lb. bulk behind the wheel clad in two-layer parka and sensible mittens. Headroom up front is 1,006 mm, more than enough to accommodate my six-foot-one height. Hiproom in the front seats is 1,296 mm and shoulder room 1,355 mm. The seats are likewise supportive, with good bolstering at the thighs and even better for the lower back. Front legroom of 1,006 is plenty – the steering wheel doesn’t telescope, though, which counters the usability of all that room.

The rear seat is more limited as far as passenger space goes, offering only 953 mm of headroom. It’s a little restrictive for taller adults but fine for kids, featuring a healthy 1,341 mm of shoulder room and 1,083 mm of hiproom. It’s roomy enough for three kids back there or a couple of average-height adults, though the seatback might be a little too upright for long-distance comfort.

I find the interior treatment appealing. The fabric on the seats is attractive and comfortable yet appears to be surprisingly durable. The rest of the surfaces feature a combination of black and charcoal textured plastics with brushed metal accents.

Now, if they would only equip it with heated seats …

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