Suzuki, SX4 S-Cross, 2016, Car Buyers Guide
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross Review: two thousand sixteen Model | SX4 S-Cross | Car Buyers Guide
2017 Suzuki SX4 S-Cross Review
When Suzuki launched the very first SX4 S-Cross in Ireland, it got a warm reception. However, the car itself never truly seemed to take off. We`re hardly eyeing an abundance on our streets. According to Suzuki, and some of their customers, the car was not SUV-enough to suggest any real competition within the segment.
So, Suzuki has seen the figures and they know that the SX4 S-Cross that they released in two thousand thirteen was not a big seller. Fair play to them, they`ve done their homework and they`ve determined to attempt and fix it with an early facelift. Now, we`ve seen facelifts before that weren`t what you`d call massive, but in terms of looks, the fresh grille and front on this vehicle makes it look like a downright different machine. It`s not just the looks that have been switched, it`s the engines too. This is a BIG switch.
So, what`s fresh in the two thousand seventeen S-Cross? Well, very first off, there is the nose job. Wow, it`s different, it`s nice, and it kind of reminds me of what Jeep has to suggest. Unluckily, this nose is not a hint of the future design language of the brand tho’.
It`s not just the nose that has switched. The bonnet is bulkier and the fresh air intakes add some aggressiveness. Front-on, this car looks more like an SUV. An American SUV at that. Next up is fresh LEDs to the front – they`re always good. However, beyond the bonnet and the grille, little has switched to the sides, and the only difference that I could make out to the rear was the introduction of LED lights.
The interior has been brought up to date – slightly. Once again, Suzuki listened to their customers, and the motoring press, who complained about the hard materials of the dash. Things have been made slightly softer, and to be fair, it does look nicer.
The boot is inbetween four hundred thirty and four hundred forty litres. It`s not a bad amount of space. The back row is a bit like the Vitara in the way that its sloping roof line means that the taller of us might have some complaints – especially if you opt for the highest trim, which has a dual sliding panoramic sun roof. This may have the largest opening area in its category, but the extra bulk under the glass means my head is touching the roof.
The engine line-up still has the 1.6 diesel with its 118hp, but it is available with a fresh dual clutch transmission. The 1.6 petrol engine has been substituted by a 1.Four litre Boosterjet engine and a 1.0 litre Boosterjet. These can be found in the fresh Baleno and will be part of the Vitara S when it grounds in Ireland. Both of these engines are more efficient than the 1.6 and both of them boast better spectacle figures. The 1.0 litre model comes with a five-speed gearbox, while the 1.Four gets a choice of a six-speed manual or automatic.
The 3-cylinder, 1.0 Boosterjet engine is actually nice in this machine. However, when you stick the foot down in it, it does become noisy, quietening down at cruising speeds. The 1.0 litre engine is remarkably frugal too and it has an on-paper fuel economy of Five.0l/100km (56.4mpg). This is good when you consider it only supplies seven hp less than the 1.6 petrol engine that it substitutes and a higher torque of 170Nm – that`s where turbo charging comes in. Our test car came with a 5-speed gearbox, and we`re told that there will be a 6-speed automatic with this engine.
On-paper, it reads as being slow. 0-100km/h in eleven seconds. Bottom line is, if you want a bit more grunt, opt for a fatter engine. While we did get some time with these cars, it`s not what I`d call an extensive test drive. More a «round the block» kind of thing. The steering is weighted well, but on corners if you are driving with a bit of welly, you will undoubtedly feel some roll.
I also drove the 1.Four Boosterjet. It gave more in the power stakes. The only downsides that I noticed was that the automatic box was reluctant to switch when I wished to – which is something I noticed while overtaking, and the engine got very noisy during said overtake. This ALLGRIP model offers 140hp and 220Nm of torque. Fuel economy seems realistic enough too at Five.6 l/100km (50.4mg).
There will be three trims available to the Irish market. The lowest starts from €20,995, take a step up and that price will raise to €24,995. The top trim comes in from €28,495. I didn`t drive the 1.6 diesel model, but we`re told that the entry price with that engine is €26,995
This truly is a big facelift for the SX4 S-Cross. They deserve kudos for listening to their customers. The engines seem to make more sense. The fresh nose makes it look buffer – and I for one like it. The question is if these switches are enough to increase their sales volume?