CTC Review: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sedan

[tortoise]

I agree Blueprint.  I don't see what this offers that a Mazda3 and Honda Civic doesn't.   Don't get me wrong, I think it's a very nice car.  But the majority of the buying public aren't too aware of Suzuki and will be more keen on a familiar brand.. Toyota Matrix for example.

And is that a tape deck? 

[wing]

Tape deck?  That's an LCD screen....

Aveo killer?  Isn't that the swift?  Same car.

[Cortina]

so I have been finding driving at night in the country slightly less pleasant than in vehicles with better headlights.

Wouldn't changing the lights to High-performance halogen lights correct that?

[wing]

Perhaps, but that's not my job, could be the housing, sometimes bulbs won't help much.

[AVToller]

Perhaps, but that's not my job, could be the housing, sometimes blubs won't help much.

I rarely find that blubs help vision very much. 

[The Mighty Duck]

I rarely find that blubs help vision very much. 

Clearly you've just got the wrong prescription blub, then.

[wing]

Listen blub!  That's enough! 

[Seafoam]

Being surrounded with econo-car buyers at the office, the one flaw I see in Suzuki's strategy is not having a decontended car.  Bring unpainted bumpers, 13" tires and no a/c with a 13 000 $ price tag and they have an Aveo fighter.  In the 20k$'s, despite the good looks and load of features, it's a hard sell.

They already have one it is called the "Swift". If they still make it. It actually is an "Aveo" I believe. 

[mmret]

So was that first interior shot done with a fishblub lens?

[AVToller]

It is the Swift+, not the Swift. The Swift is an entirely different car, not available in North America. Swift+=Aveo=Wave.

[safristi]

  hows Jonathon doing these days...................None Too..........i imagine

[Seafoam]

It is the Swift+, not the Swift. The Swift is an entirely different car, not available in North America. Swift+=Aveo=Wave.

That's what i mean't .They are all the same car i didn't know there was a "+" after the name. Just shows how popular that suzuki is (not very).
If you want to get technical it's called Aveo 5 for the hatchback version.

[CyberNick]

I just noticed the trunk hinges on this. They're old school that protrude into the trunk.  Like on the Corolla.   

[AVToller]

I just noticed the trunk hinges on this. They're old school that protrude into the trunk.  Like on the Corolla.   

Another reason to love the hatchback. 

[CyberNick]

Agree on the fuel economy point. I guess you can't have it all and still stay at this price.

So, For us, the Suzuki would have been looked at, but no folding seats puts it out of the competition on the spot. If it had them, it would be a tough competitor, but the fuel economy numbers might put it into fourth or fifth place on our shoping list. Very nice features for the price though, but it depends on what one wants/needs...

[r3cc0s]

So... this article drove me to kick some tires and try it out...

I'm an avid Suzuki fans, having built a couple Samurai's and presently owning an 03' Vitara which I built up a suspension lift and have some nice 32" tires

anyways...
My impressions:

Power - Adequate for the vehicle. The 2.0L generates torque very low and is basically a hyped up version of the one I have in my Vitara. The only complaint that I have about the engine, is... it is not a free reving engine, meaning the delivery of power is linear, but essentially from 4200rpm and up, is really almost useless
The car is geared in such a way that, it remains efficient and usable in it's proper torque range +1

Handling - No qualms here... Feels like your typical Japanese strut based front torsion bar reared style suspension... doesn't dampen quite as well as the MK4 golfs/jettas, but I think can easily out handle them

Functionality - fantastic... foldable seats, selectable AWD w/ diff lock and plenty of headroom and legroom for 4 relatively large passangers (me being 6' 200lbs) can sit in the back with someone equality my size in the seat in front +1

Features - Stereo is fun on the JLX with the under - seat sub, has climate control and a nice sporty leather wrapped steering wheel with buttons lol (plus it is a good size... not too large\not too small)

Dislikes - Being the Japanese car that it is... it has that Japanese feel... meaning, when you close the doors and trunk, it doesn't make that nice Thud sound, you'd get with even a VW
The interior is covered in plastics, though the instrument cluster is attractive... does not offset the amount of blandness that all the plastics and single cloth seat choice you get
plus it has a stock rubber, yes rubber shift knob


Suzuki is in it's own way a purpose driven company... always kinda have been up until their started re-designing the Grand Vitaras and XL7s (shared chassis with equinox )

So this car is basically all you could possibly "need" in a daily driving functional vehicle, but really nothing more
Good on gas, but has very usable power
Very functional cabin and space
Selectable AWD traction -- we all in Canada know how much that is worth to us in the winter
All the required comforts plus a fun stereo
Most of all... Reliability
I have put well over 180K on my GV and have taken care of it myself, I can tell you  first that this 2.0L engine is bulletproof

However... being that if you wanted a statement or fast car... this is not a car for you
Things I'd want different:
Less use of plastics and better quality handles\buttons etc...
Choice of interior seats and more of a sporty bolstered seat as opposed to their bland generic ones they use
Sun\Moon roof options
More power! well, I think it's about time they introduce a detuned WRC turbo engine

with that in place, they have a contender to challenge mid-ranged cars, such as Impreza and Civic and provide a car in the spot where Toyota & Nissan are missing

If I had to... I would take this car over the:
Toyota Matrix\Carolla
Honda Fit\Entry Civics (non SI)
Nissan Versa\Sentra (no spec-v)
Maybe - VW Rabbit\2.5 Jetta (cost savings are huge and I just can't seem to find a Jetta that fits me in the back seats)

[mwqa]

Hi r3cc0s!

Just curious - was it the sedan or the hatch that you drove?

[r3cc0s]

Hatch whoops

[mwqa]

Hatch whoops

No worries - we always get on to hatches in sedan threads and vice versa.

So why would I buy a Suzuki instead of a Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Nissan? ... they have a lot of competition.

Why are you such a fan? Why recommend a Suzuki to a friend? 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I have been impressed with the solidity of the Suzuki-Suzukis I've tried. Never driven one, but pleasantly surprised when I hoped in the Grand Vitara and the SX4. Seemed very well designed, decent materials, and very solid. I would put them on my list for sure, as the value seems to be good as well. Hope they continue with bringing more of their Japanese designed products to market.