Ten Point Test

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 75%

Suzuki’s answer to the Skoda Roomster Scout and Volkswagen Polo Dune has been designed and built in conjunction with Fiat, which offers its own version, the Sedici.

But despite the four in the SX4’s name, only one model in the range with four-wheel drive. But many will buy the car for its rugged looks and good interior space.

We drove one for a week to find if it’s the perfect blend of Japanese engineering and Italian flair.

1. Looks 8/10

Few SUVs, compact or full size, ever go off-road but that doesn’t mean they can’t look like they’ll handle the rough stuff with ease. The Suzuki SX4 has a pleasant chunky look, with rugged wheelarch and side skirt extensions and a raised ride height. The front end shares more of a family look with Fiat, while the view from the sides are reminiscent of the Daihatsu Terios mini off-roader. Models, bar the entry-level GL, come with alloy wheels.

2. Looks inside 7/10

The Suzuki SX4 cabin shares its basic look with the Japanese manufacturer’s other recent models, such as the Swift. That means smart plastics with well laid out controls. There’s no switch to adjust the intensity of the dial’s illumination, although a button dims the centrally-mounted trip computer and radio displays.

3. Practicality 8/10

Suzuki says the SX4 will appeal to families and those seeking an outdoor lifestyle, and there’s certainly plenty of space to accommodate. Its high ride height means it’s easy to climb in or out of and front and rear space is good considering the car’s size. The boot is smaller than many other superminis, with just 270-litres of space, rising to 625 litres with the seats folded. It is a useful square shape, however. There’s good all-round visibility, although the large windscreen pillars create big blind spots towards the front. Good-sized wing mirrors mean rear visibility is far better.

4. Ride and Handling 6/10

For such a lofty supermini, you’d expect plenty of roll in the corners and there is. However, it’s generally well controlled, but not a car to throw around in fast corners. The ride is quite harsh on bad road surfaces, with some of the undulations transmitted into the cabin.

5. Performance 7/10

Suzuki offer three engines, a 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.6- and 1.9-litre diesel. None of the engines offer huge performance, with 0-62mph times in the high tens to low twelves and top speeds just over 105mph. The 106bhp petrol unit is the only engine which can be mated to the SX4’s 4GRIP 4×4 system. The 1.6-litre engine is supplied by Peugeot, and produces 90bhp, while the 1.9-litre diesel we drove produces 118bhp. Our test car pulled well in any gear, although became noisy at speed.

We tested the manual gearbox – an auto is also available on petrol versions – and found it to be notchy and tricky to select first or second gears, particularly when the engine was cold.

6. Running Costs 7/10

At more than £10,000 for most models, the Suzuki SX4 is quite expensive compared to its supermini rivals, but a bargain for those seeking a car with occasional off-road ability. The 1.6 and 1.9 diesels offer good fuel economy, returning 53.3 and 44.8mpg respectively. Insurance is reasonable, and the 1.6-litre diesel falls into tax band C, which currently costs £115 per year. The 1.9 diesel’s emissions of 174g/km place it in £165 band E, while the 165g/km petrol falls into band D, costing £140. The biggest cost when running a new Suzuki SX4 is depreciation. It’ll hang on to just 44-46 per cent of its value after three years/36,000 miles.

7. Reliability 9/10

Suzuki puts in an excellent showing in the Reliability Index, which tracks the cost and frequency of breakdowns. The SX4 benefits from further investment in build quality, so there should be few issues here.

8. Safety 7/10

The Suzuki SX4 scored four out of five stars for adult occupant protection in the EuroNCAP crash test programme. All models feature the same level of safety kit, including driver, passenger, front side and curtain airbags and ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution.

9. Equipment 7/10

All models in the Suzuki SX4 range feature front and rear electric windows, electric mirrors, remote central locking, an MP3-compatible CD player and a trip computer. The GLX model adds air-con, alloy wheels, keyless start, front fog lamps and heated door mirrors.

10. X-Factor 8/10

Think of the Suzuki SX4 as a roomy supermini, far removed from the rest of the pack. It’s not a fully-fledged off-roader, but in its four-wheel drive guise at least, should be more than capable of the odd muddy excursion.

Key facts

Model tested: Suzuki SX4 1.9 DDiS 5dr Diesel
On the road price: £12,999
Price range: £9,999 – £12,999
Date tested: January 2008
Road tester: Stuart Milne