My earliest memories of any Suzuki sedan is of the Liana being abused week after week by overzealous celebrities on the planet’s most popular automotive show, Top Gear. Throughout the weekly chassis warping and tyre burning sessions, the TV’s host Jeremy Clarkson neglected to mention the main attributes of why the Liana was chosen as a reasonably priced car.
The Liana is a very capable family sedan. It comes with an abundance of space, a reasonably capable 1.6-litre powerplant and a good enough list of safety equipment to make sure your family isn’t put in a death trap. Most of the all, the car was reasonably priced thus the show’s segment title, ‘Star in a reasonably priced car’.
That seems to be the dictum that Suzuki sticks to when designing cars for the average family man. Every car built by the Shizuoka based manufacturer combines the space and versatility not found in many cars on the market. On top of that space is a quality interior that still manages to provide safety at an affordable price. Suzuki manages all of the above without compromising on manufacturing standards by keeping production snugly within Japan’s borders.
The Liana is a very capable family sedan. It comes with an abundance of space, a reasonably capable 1.6-litre powerplant and a good enough list of safety equipment to make sure your family isn’t put in a death trap. Most of the all, the car was reasonably priced thus the show’s segment title, ‘Star in a reasonably priced car’.
That seems to be the dictum that Suzuki sticks to when designing cars for the average family man. Every car built by the Shizuoka based manufacturer combines the space and versatility not found in many cars on the market. On top of that space is a quality interior that still manages to provide safety at an affordable price. Suzuki manages all of the above without compromising on manufacturing standards by keeping production snugly within Japan’s borders.
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Exterior
It’s not often you find a family sedan that manages to break itself away from the yawn-inducing sedate design of the category. The SX4 though, does just that.
The lines you see on this beautifully shaped front fascia were penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign. The same design studio that have given form to a myriad of cars ranging from Ferraris to Lamborghinis and even the much loved VW Golfs and Scirocco.
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A large grille with the distinctive ‘S’ dominates the front fascia. At both corners, the grille is flanked by large headlamp clusters that have their ‘eyelids’ stretched way back around the car’s contours. A pair of lines that originate from the edges of the grille cuts a line across the bonnet to add a little aggressiveness to this car’s humble purpose. Lower down you find the sports bumper that’s fitted with a pair of fog lights at both extreme ends.
Although short in length, the front of the car is sloped aggressively towards the A-pillars to carry the line over the roof and towards the tall boot (that is also fitted with a bootlid spoiler). This in concert with the bulged wheel arches and all around sports skirting creates a sleek but muscular stance for the car. Despite the aerodynamic shape, the car is rather tall for a sedan. In fact, it’s SUV tall, standing at 1.54m but the 17 inch factory alloys that accompany the latest SX4 makes sure the entire package doesn’t look disproportionate. To be honest, I think the new SX4 is a rather handsome sedan to be seen in.
Interior
Having been in pretty much every recent Suzuki model, I can tell you that the interior build quality isn’t too shabby. In fact, I think the centre console plastics used on the SX4’s interior is better than some continental cars I’ve tested recently. The SX4 leaves that continental car behind with its better shaped buttons and knobs that have a tactile, solid feel to them. It definitely doesn’t say cheap in any way despite the SX4’s low price.
Although short in length, the front of the car is sloped aggressively towards the A-pillars to carry the line over the roof and towards the tall boot (that is also fitted with a bootlid spoiler). This in concert with the bulged wheel arches and all around sports skirting creates a sleek but muscular stance for the car. Despite the aerodynamic shape, the car is rather tall for a sedan. In fact, it’s SUV tall, standing at 1.54m but the 17 inch factory alloys that accompany the latest SX4 makes sure the entire package doesn’t look disproportionate. To be honest, I think the new SX4 is a rather handsome sedan to be seen in.
Interior
Having been in pretty much every recent Suzuki model, I can tell you that the interior build quality isn’t too shabby. In fact, I think the centre console plastics used on the SX4’s interior is better than some continental cars I’ve tested recently. The SX4 leaves that continental car behind with its better shaped buttons and knobs that have a tactile, solid feel to them. It definitely doesn’t say cheap in any way despite the SX4’s low price.
Driving position though could’ve been better with a reach adjustable steering wheel. Even after adjusting the seat to the optimum position, I still found the steering wheel too far away. Since we’re on the subject of driving position, personally I found the driving position too high (much like an SUV). Obviously a fringe benefit (depending on how you like your driving position) of the car’s rather tall height. Personally I like my driving position low down but those looking for God-like perspective will love the SX4. A pair of large side-view mirrors add to the already great visibility.
The centre console comes loaded with good stuff. A digital climate control that’s found here is surprisingly missing in some continental cars that are priced much more. Queer indeed.
Another plus point is the factory fitted audio system that comes with a 6 CD changer and MP3 playability. They even threw in an AUX-in jack! Granted you won’t be driving up with any bangin’ bass to earn any street cred. But a decent sound system nonetheless. As an added feature, there are audio controls mounted right on the steering wheel both for safety and convenience. I love it.
The rear seats in the SX4 sits two adults comfortably with ample legroom to spare. But when push comes to shove and cargo space takes precedence, the seats split 60/40 to create additional room for cargo. The huge 515 litres of bootspace though makes that a rare occurrence.
The centre console comes loaded with good stuff. A digital climate control that’s found here is surprisingly missing in some continental cars that are priced much more. Queer indeed.
Another plus point is the factory fitted audio system that comes with a 6 CD changer and MP3 playability. They even threw in an AUX-in jack! Granted you won’t be driving up with any bangin’ bass to earn any street cred. But a decent sound system nonetheless. As an added feature, there are audio controls mounted right on the steering wheel both for safety and convenience. I love it.
The rear seats in the SX4 sits two adults comfortably with ample legroom to spare. But when push comes to shove and cargo space takes precedence, the seats split 60/40 to create additional room for cargo. The huge 515 litres of bootspace though makes that a rare occurrence.
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Driving It
Upon hard acceleration the 4-speed transmission tends to drag a little. This is because the first two gears are geared quite tall for when you’re pulling along a heavy load.
On the highways the SX4 responds well once you’re at cruising speeds. Overtaking is a breeze with the 1.6-litre powerplant providing ample ‘oomph’ and never giving any indication that it’s out of breath.
While cruising, the SX4 soaks up highway undulations effortlessly without letting too much of it get to your bum.
At low speeds the damping can feel a little harsh but is never overly so.
Upon hard acceleration the 4-speed transmission tends to drag a little. This is because the first two gears are geared quite tall for when you’re pulling along a heavy load.
On the highways the SX4 responds well once you’re at cruising speeds. Overtaking is a breeze with the 1.6-litre powerplant providing ample ‘oomph’ and never giving any indication that it’s out of breath.
While cruising, the SX4 soaks up highway undulations effortlessly without letting too much of it get to your bum.
At low speeds the damping can feel a little harsh but is never overly so.
Conclusion
At $62,000, the Suzuki SX4 Sedan is hard to beat. Where else in this segment can you find a long list of equipment such as all-round disc brakes, electric folding mirrors, an all round bodykit, auto climate controls and 17 inch alloys at this price? Best of all, nearly everything you see on the car comes fitted directly from the factory in Japan (except the leather seats).
If I were in the market for a four door family sedan, the SX4 won’t be far from my mind. Then again, I’m already driving a Suzuki Swift and it’s one of the best cars I’ve ever driven.
At $62,000, the Suzuki SX4 Sedan is hard to beat. Where else in this segment can you find a long list of equipment such as all-round disc brakes, electric folding mirrors, an all round bodykit, auto climate controls and 17 inch alloys at this price? Best of all, nearly everything you see on the car comes fitted directly from the factory in Japan (except the leather seats).
If I were in the market for a four door family sedan, the SX4 won’t be far from my mind. Then again, I’m already driving a Suzuki Swift and it’s one of the best cars I’ve ever driven.
