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Big things do come in small, sporty, AWD packages Suzuki SX4: Best Small SUV For The Money
Filed under: Concept Cars, Suzuki, SUVs, Compact
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In the “small car with big carrying capacity” category, recent notables include the Honda Fit, the Toyota Yaris, the Mazda 3, the Chevrolet Aveo, and so forth. All provide indoor roominess in a small, compact package. There’s one car that’s the sleeper of the lot, but deserves a second look, however: the Suzuki SX4.
Although many people categorize these sorts of cars as small station wagons, they appear more like mini-SUVs, or perhaps mini-crossover vehicles. All provide a spacious amount of room in the cabin; there is ample room for five people to ride comfortably, which is a big step up from years ago, when you would practically have to shoehorn five people into a subcompact-sized interior. And that subcompact-sized interior of years ago would have felt cheap; today’s mini-SUVs feel luxurious by comparison, with a fit and finish that would have been hard to conceive of back then. Gas mileage is still very good for this class; the Suzuki gets 23 mpg in city driving, and 28 mpg on the highway. One of the things to note about the recent spate of cars in this segment is how good these cars are getting. As mentioned before, the fit and finish are excellent, and not just from the market leaders such as Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, but also from what we might call the “also-rans” of years ago: second-string brands like Hyundai, Kia, Suzuki, and Mitsubishi. In many cases, these brands now provide cars that are the equals of what the “big boys” produce. Since they entered the North American market with either less-than-stellar reputations (or no reputations at all), they have not been able to command the price that their more illustrious counterparts can. But they’ve been able to steadily improve their quality, and with that, their reputations. Yes, they are less expensive, but they provide equally-as-nice vehicles. They really should revisit them, however, because a car like the Suzuki SX4 has a lot going for it. In many ways, it’s even better than the Honda Fit, especially if you live in an area with a lot of snowy weather, thanks to its all-wheel drive. The Suzuki was tested in Denver during the recent heavy snowfall (and lack of snowplows), and performed “like a tank in the snow.” Having large 16-inch wheels and ABS made it perform like a much larger vehicle. The engine is a 2-litre 16-valve inline 4 producing 143 hp, with solid torque at low speeds but ample power at freeway speeds, too. The suspension is top-notch, and it “zips and zags with the best,” according to one recent review. The only downside is that the storage space isn’t as commodious as your average SUV; while the cargo area behind the rear seats is great for a quick run to the market, if you’re looking to put larger items back there, you’d better fold down the 60/40 split rear seats (which does compromise on seating, to be sure—this might not be the best vehicle if you need to transport people <i>and</i> lots of gear at the same time. Still, with an MSRP on the base model that starts at $14,999 (the Convenience trim starts at $15,299 and the Sport trim starts at $16,399), coupled with its peppy engine, good handling, and thanks to the all-wheel drive, excellent drivability (especially in less-than-ideal weather conditions), this car deserves a serious look.
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