The old Suzuki SX4 was a good idea, blending Italian design with Japanese engineering but its key problem was, while there was ample room for many families, it was just a little too small for some.
Step forward the SX4 S-Cross, the bigger and roomier successor.
The choice of engines is fairly straightforward. Buyers get to choose between either a 1.6-litre petrol engine or a 118bhp 1.6 diesel, both being offered in front or four-wheel drive guises. The petrol engine is fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, with an optional CVT transmission also offered.
Go diesel and you get a six-speed manual box. The S-Cross chassis is, in effect, a lengthened version of its predecessor’s, with another 100mm grafted into the wheelbase and another 70mm added to the overhangs, so off-road ability shouldn’t suffer unduly from this increase in size.
Suzuki has set up the SX4 S-Cross to ride fairly softly and that’s a good thing on roads like ours, but they’ve also managed to include a respectable amount of roll stiffness which means you won’t encounter lurching when cornering.
The four-wheel-drive transmission features an electronically controlled clutch pack, operated by a four-position switch on the centre console.
Choose auto and it’ll stick to driving the front wheels unless slip is detected, whereupon the rear wheels are pressed into action. Sport diverts up to 20% of torque to the rear wheels to give livelier handling.
Snow offers permanent four-wheel drive, with the system choosing how much torque to split front and rear, while Lock splits the torque equally between front and rear.
In becoming a good deal larger, the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross is within a few millimetres of its main rivals and clever packaging inside has made it feel just as spacious. How else do you explain how the S-Cross almost doubles the luggage capacity of the old SX4 and increases rear seat legroom, while adding just 165mm to the overall length? There’s more headroom front and rear and better shoulder width in the back.
The interior feels well put together and it’s a pleasant piece of design. The 430-litre boot compares well with key rivals and the false boot floor ensures a totally flat load bay when the rear seats are folded.
The twin sunroofs rob a few centimetres of headroom but many will feel that they are worth having.
The S-Cross is priced keenly, it’s well equipped, features very low emissions, offers plenty of space inside and is attractively styled. Judged purely in terms of merit, it’s up with its contemporaries and cheaper to boot. You can’t ask much more than that of it.