Introduction: The Suzuki SX4 is a rare type of car in that it was co-developed by two companies that don't have a internal relationship like say Mazda and Ford working together on a car or Renault and Nissan or even GM and Toyota(The Geos, the Pontiac Vibe). The SX4 is developed by both Suzuki and Fiat, two companies that don't own shares of each other and never had a prior relationship. The SX4 was initially developed for Europe to be mostly sold by Suzuki and a few from Fiat. Eventually it was sold in several places including North America.
I didn't have very high expectations for the SX4 but this was mostly due to the disappointing GM Daewoo products Suzuki offered with their own badge. I did have higher hopes realizing the SX4 had nothing to do with GM Daewoo and thus is one of Suzuki's more authentic product. The fact it also offered AWD is another item that got my interest.
Performance: The Suzuki SX4 sold in North America comes with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. This engine produces 143 hp and 137 lb.ft of torque or the earlier engine while the 2010 engine products 150 hp and 150 lb.ft of torque. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic if you purchased the earlier 2007-2009 cars. In the 2010 and newer models this is mated to a 6-speed manual or a CVT transmission. Depending on the transmission your acceleration will be affected. With the manuals the SX4 goes from 0-100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds, the automatic and CVTs do it in roughly 10-10.5 seconds. Its slower if you go with the AWD pushing its acceleration to 11 seconds with the CVT. If you don't drive the manual then the SX4 is slow. The engine is a bit buzzy at the higher rpm range so its not that quiet either. Yet somehow I still kind of like the engine. It seems to feel adequate...despite being the contrary. With fuel economy the SX4 isn't the best but its only thirsty if you have the AWD.
My Score: 5/10 - Its not quick unless you have a manual, a bit buzzy yet still seems alright.
Handling: The SX4 is one of the more different cars in the segment where it places height as a priority for interior space. This gives it a strange feeling that you get on cars with higher centers of gravity like minivans, crossovers and SUVs. When you take a corner aggressively you start to feel that the SX4 might tip over. Yet despite this top heaviness the cornering ability is actually quite good. Steering feel is actually very good, its light enough yet it produces enough feel to allow yourself to enjoy tackling corners. Its actually a fun car to drive and ride comfort actually seems pretty good.
My Score: 9/10 - Very good aside from the higher center of gravity making it feel like it will roll over.
Interior: The older interior of the Suzuki SX4 is rather conventional and a bit simple. The automatic transmission is a gated one while the CVT seems like the conventional linear automatic. Yet it doesn't quite have the aura of cheapness you get from Chrysler or lately Toyota. It even has some aluminum around the center console, its not much but its better than ugly tin foil plastic. The original gauges are rather simple and conventional. The 2010 model has a brighter and slightly more high tech dash with a small square clearer displays than the older model. As I mentioned in the handling the head room of the SX4 is extremely generous, its definitely the best car when headroom is a primary concern. The sedan version is larger than the hatch and one of the few times where in most cases the sedan is more practical. The hatch SX4 is rather small and would easily fit in the subcompact segment. The build quality of the SX4 is mostly pretty good, its rare that loose trim is an issue. The SX4 for the North American market are made in Kosai, Japan.
My Score: 7/10 - Excellent headroom, reasonable materials, good build quality but some space issues.
Styling: The SX4 is styled by Italdesign Guigiaro studio and in the hatchback form I think it actually looks quite good. A bit quirky yet it seems to work all around. The sedan I don't think works nearly as well due to the high roof line. From the side profile it looks a bit odd due to how tall it is proportionally. Its sort of memorable but for an Italdesign car...its not that impressive and a bit bland in their portfolio.
My Score: 7/10 - Hatch looks good, sedan is a bit too tall, overall its a bit too bland considering its Italian design credentials.
Value for money: The SX4 is a car that sits between the subcompact and the compact segment. If you have a major concern about headroom but want a small car, the SX4 is easily the best in both segments. The availability of AWD makes it a good choice between the terrible Caliber and the more expensive Matrix and Impreza. In the fun to drive part, it has much tougher competition against Mazda and Mitsubishi, fortunately its very competent here. As an overall package it depends what you prioritize, as a Suzuki its resale value is not nearly as good as other Japanese makes. With AWD its not a fuel saving vehicle compared to others but if you like the other parts its good at, then its a great car.
My Score: 7/10 - Depends what you prioritize, its a good car in most levels but has its flaws.
Overall: 35/50 - A pretty good Suzuki, not perfect but here's hoping the Kizashi is even better.
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