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Suzuki SX4 Saloon

Four-door supermini offers something different.

Suzuki SX4 Saloon

By Conor Mills

November 2009

The boot has been put into the SX4! This saloon sister car to the Suzuki compact SUV is designed to offer plenty of space for not much money – so, does it make sense in today’s crowded and fashion-conscious supermini market?

Well, the £11,995 SX4’s looks won’t win many fans – although the bulbous shape does mean there’s plenty of space inside. Three adults can sit comfortably in the back, while there’s a 515-litre boot.

What’s more, the seats split 60: 40, and there’s even a neat through loading hatch that allows you to make the most of the room on offer. Quality is in short supply, though. Cheap, plain plastics occupy most of the no-frills dash, and the stereo and instrument panel are unexciting to look at.

To compensate, standard equipment is generous. Our car came with electric windows all-round, an MP3-compatible CD stereo, air-conditioning, 15-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, plus heated door mirrors.

SX4 saloon buyers get only one engine option: a 1.6-litre petrol unit which drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual box. It isn’t especially powerful, offering 105bhp, while peak torque is rated at 145Nm – so the car doesn’t feel as fast as its 10.7-second 0-62mph sprint time suggests. The motor is strained once you get up to motorway speeds as well, with too much road and engine noise entering the cabin.

The trade-off is reasonable economy, at 41.5mpg, plus 165g/km CO2 emissions. Ride comfort is one of the Suzuki’s stengths, and the steering is direct, too. But body roll blunts the car’s cornering ability.

The SX4 saloon won’t worry the Ford Fiesta or VW Polo – plus, a Hyundai i30 1.4 Comfort costs £395 less. So the case for the Suzuki looks thin.

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5 Comments

New Saloon

Bring back the Baleno - all is forgiven!
Oh dear, it might well be frugal and have low-ish CO2 figures, but it is a bit of a slug in the looks department.

By Niadra on 17 November, 2009, 8:49am

I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I think that it is time for a return of the small saloon to supplement the anodyne clones of hatches that cover the roads. Saloons also have advantages of security, less noise, fewer rattles, more space etc
Shame it couldn't be made a little more exciting in terms fo the engine but, for many, this is not a major factor whilst the economy and ride comfort are big benefit.
Horses for courses?

By richardion on 20 November, 2009, 8:46am

No diesel is the showstopper

It doesn't look THAT bad to me (apart from the grafted-on sill extenders, which are really naff), but the lack of a diesel option rules it out without any more consideration for me (and I suspect many others). Ridiculously high CO2 emissions for a small car and only 145Nm of torque - the worst of all worlds.

By ncollingridge on 20 November, 2009, 9:57am

Life with SX4 Saloon

I dont think it looks to bad, so much so I have just bought one. I have previously owned a Swift Sport and Alto SZ4. The cabin plastics arent that bad, the overall quality is much higher than the Alto's and on a par with the Swift. And I dont find the Engine sluggish, it pulls better lower down than the Swift Sport which I find makes it a much easier car to live with. I find it a very prctical car and the boot is huge. The only criticism i can find is it is very tall, and you notice this on windy days and when pushing into corners too fast, and it would look better on larger wheels, like the American version, which has 17 inch wheels as standard and a 2.0l engine. It is also quite a long car (the same length as a Mercedes C-class estate) so can be a little trcky to park. but overall I think it is a great little package, if not to everyones tastes.

By rrock on 20 November, 2009, 6:48pm

SX4 saloon looks good to me

I actually saw a new SX4 saloon on a suzuki dealer forecourt in pearl white and thought it looked really good(and I like the subtle bodykit) Quite frankly I am fed up with the choice of a hatchback or a hatchback - it's nice to see some small saloons for a change. Apparently its built in Japan (unlike the hatch version) so it will be properly made, unlike Fiestas and Corsas which fall apart.

By cousins11 on 24 November, 2009, 11:29am

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Suzuki SX4 Saloon
Suzuki SX4 Saloon
Suzuki SX4 Saloon
Suzuki SX4 Saloon

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FIRST OPINION

    The likes of the Alto city car, Swift supermini and Splash supermini-MPV have helped Suzuki raise its profile in the UK. Yet they have also raised our expectations – and the SX4 saloon feels like a step backwards. It’s by no means a bad car, but if bosses want to attract new buyers to the brand, this isn’t the way to do it.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £11,995
    Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol
    Power/torque: 106bhp/145Nm
    Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
    0-62/top spd: 10.7 secs/112mph
    Economy/CO2: 41.5mpg/165g/km
    Standard equipment: Six airbags, electric windows, keyless entry and start, 15-inch alloys, CD/MP3
    On sale: Now
     
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