2009 Suzuki SX4 Crossover

Suzuki has taken the platform that forms the basis for their World Rally Championship (WRC) effort and adapted that DNA as the underlying platform for the SX4. Is this an off-road wanna-be, or does the SX4 really have some hair on its chest?

The SX4 is, in the words of Suzuki, “admirably frugal.” Available in an All-Wheel-Drive mode, or front-wheel-drive as was the case with our press vehicle, it is the first CUV below $16,000 to include a standard integrated navigation system. Suzuki calls it TRIP for short, which stands for Travel, Real-time Traffic, Information and Play. As tested, it was fairly loaded with the only options being a frugal $169 for floor mats and a cargo net.

Despite all these “frugalities,” the SX4 arrives on the scene with an Italian pedigree. Styled by the famed Italdesign design studio, it features a look that is definitely not mainstream, and that’s where its charm lies. Take for example, the quirky little triangular windows just behind the A-pillars. Or the high roof line. Or how about the dropping belt line, as well as numerous other design cues.

Suzuki has chosen a clever way of getting past the costs of building a specifically designed navigation system. Working with Garmin, Suzuki designed a housing where an “off-the-shelf” 4.3-inch Nuvi is located within a dash-top cubbyhole, and is connected directly into the SX4’s electronics. It goes a few steps further by incorporating MSNDirect, which features a low price gas finder, movie time finder, as well as news, weather and stocks.

The SX4 Crossover is powered by Suzuki’s 2-liter inline four-cylinder engine with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. With an output of 143 horsepower, and 136 lb-ft of torque, it sits right in the middle of the field of comparable crossovers. Available with a choice of optional four-speed automatic, or, as in our case, a five-speed manual transmission, the SX4 is able to achieve EPA mileage figures of 22 mpg city, and 30 mpg highway with the autobox, while the do-it-yourself version piped in at 22 mpg city and 29 mpg mileage highway. For reference sake, the SX4 splashes in at 2855 pounds wet. While these are not stellar figures, we would term them, for the category, as adequate.

© Source: leftlanenews
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