BEFORE signing a cheque for that everyday Corolla, Golf, Cruze or Mazda3, consider nipping down to your local Suzuki dealer, because you may discover all the vehicle you might ever need in one pert package. Expertly blending SUV height, 4x4 grip, light-car fuel economy, spirited performance, good looks and compact city-friendly proportions, the Italian-designed, Japanese-engineered SX4 AWD is a unique amalgam of small-car ideas that really works well. Now significantly improved for 2010, the rather underrated Suzuki isn’t perfect, of course, but it is an unexpectedly endearing and colourful addition to the mid-$20,000 sector.
January 2007 - December 2009
Released: Family Tree: SX4SUZUKI created an unusual and appealing alternative to the C-segment small car in the GY SX4 – a four-door five-seater replacement for the unloved Liana (Life In A New Age). Initially it was only offered in part-time all-wheel-drive hatch guise on its January 2007 Australian release. Based on the critically acclaimed EZ Swift light car platform, and powered by a 107kW/184Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, the Italian-designed Suzuki gained mostly positive reviews, although most testers preferred the slick five-speed manual to the four-speed automatic. In August 2007, Suzuki expanded the range, introducing the front-wheel drive SX4 hatch and (oddly styled) four-door sedan, while the hatch-only AWD version gained a cheaper entry-level sibling. Considered a bit of a curio in the crowded small-car market, the SX4 nevertheless remains one of the most underrated mid-$20,000 propositions today.
Road Test
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