The new Suzuki SX4 is not being sold in Russia as briskly as its creators would like. Owners find an average of 150 cars per month. And there are several reasons for this. In addition to a rather trivial appearance and the only modest “one and six” motor, a considerable price tag also prevents popularity. The optimal version of the GLE 1.6 CVT 2WD costs 1,039,000 rubles. For similar money (1,065,000 rubles) you can buy a sub compact crossover Vitara. Such a novelty, unfortunately, will be noticeably more modestly equipped. But it will be a car of the current year of manufacture, and not 2014, like all the SX4s currently sold in Russia.
What is a Vitara car? The Japanese borrowed the name from the universal all-terrain vehicle well known to many Suzuki fans, which forged the glory of the brand since the 80s of the last century. Interestingly, on domestic market the novelty responds to Escudo. The model is based on the SX4 crossover platform, perhaps docked by 100 mm (up to 2500 mm). It is all the more surprising that, in terms of the spaciousness of the rear sofa, Vitara performs almost on an equal footing with the donor. And in fact, it claims to be a crossover with the most spacious interior in the B-class. Thank you to the layout engineers for suggesting a slightly more upright seating arrangement than the SX4.
The interior design of both crossovers is almost the same. Only the decoration of plastic inserts on the front panel in bright colors orients the Vitara towards a younger audience. However, the high level of ergonomics does not suffer from this at all. Japanese car to this day you will rarely meet with an equally well-equipped interior in a European way. It’s a pity that the boot of the younger model turned out to be 9 cm shorter and 6 cm narrower. This inevitably caused the loss of useful displacement (375 vs. 430 liters).
But the short base and more compact overhangs had a positive effect on the geometric cross. On those bumps where the SX4 runs the risk of scratching bumpers and denting the thresholds, the Vitara driver will be able to drive more confidently. And perhaps most importantly, a 6-speed automatic is installed on all two-pedal versions of the novelty, while a variator works on the SX4. It is more convenient to control traction in any modes on the Vitara.
On the pavement, both cars are far from racers - each would benefit from a sharper steering wheel. Although in general, Vitara's handling is perhaps more accurate. However, in place of the same 117-horsepower engine for both cars, a faster motor is requested. By the way, in 2016, a faster turbo version should appear on the Vitara. In the meantime, the SX4 accelerates a little more confidently at city speeds, and the Vitara turns out to be preferable when the speedometer needle crosses over a hundred. Thanks to the more “strong” top gear in the automatic transmission.
InteriorOutcome
More fashionable, faster and with an "automatic" - this is how the new product can be described in a few words in comparison with the donor. It is a pity that behind a brighter wrapper, it hides, in fact, the same flaws as the SX4: a weak engine and budget finishing materials at an overpriced price. On "Vitara" it is worth waiting for discounts. Some of the dealers, by the way, are already offering to bargain. But those who have set their sights on the SX4, on the contrary, should hurry up: there are not many discount cars of 2014 in the showrooms.
- Vitara is brighter in details. SX4 is slightly richer due to climate control and leather on the steering wheel
- In the city, both are not athletes at all, but maximum speed Vitara has higher
- For a B-Class, the Vitara is surprisingly comfortable, but the SX4 is still quieter and smoother.
- The Vitara has a 10 cm shorter base and an “automatic” instead of a variator.
General equipment
ABS, ESP, seven airbags, two electric windows, electric and heated mirrors, heated front seats, driver's seat height adjustment, steering wheel adjustable in length and angle, air conditioning, radio, trip computer. Advantages of SX4 equipment: rear power windows, climate control, alloy wheels, cruise control, leather steering wheel, parking sensors, keyless start system Advantages of Vitara equipment: slope assistance systemDuring the creation of the SX4, Suzuki was "friends" with Fiat, so don't be surprised by the Fiat turbodiesels under the hood of these cars, or other smaller borrowings. And don't be shocked by the presence of the "twin" Fiat Sedici, suspiciously similar to the SX4: the companies worked together on the model, and the design was handled by Giugiaro himself.
Don't be scared Hungarian assembly: The quality of cars remains Japanese regardless of the country of assembly. It may not be as high as Toyota's, but there is definitely something to brag about.
True, the machine itself is made cheap. In every sense - both in terms of the quality of materials and the thoroughness of handling, comfort and ergonomics. Well, as for the cost of operation, including.
Now the oldest cars of this model have crossed the ten-year age threshold, but the bulk are just approaching it: most cars were sold after 2008. Let's see how a car of this age and this class endures our roads, it's no secret that small cars are made worse and simpler than large and expensive ones.
By the way, in addition to Hungary, where Suzuki has its own factory, which produced most of the SX4 for Russian market, SX4 was also produced in Japan, India, Indonesia and China.
Body
The bodies of the five-door "off-road" SX4 hold up well in general. The main drawback noted is a relatively thin and weak layer of paint, prone to chipping and easily peeling off in places of damage. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers are good at putting paint on galvanized metal, and Suzuki had little experience in this matter. However, these are all trifles, and in general, it was thanks to galvanization that this generation of cars almost ceased to suffer from age-related corrosion, which the previous models were “famous for”.
In off-road cars, the sills and arches are well protected with plastic lining, and if the body was looked after a little, preventing pitting from spreading, washing away dirt from under the lining and sills and sometimes updating the anticorrosive, then the body keeps no worse than European Volkswagen and Volvo. The places of damage to the paintwork on the doors and fenders are practically not prone to corrosion, and the hood and windshield frame are kept, albeit worse, but slightly.
Traditionally at risk backdoor. Especially - on cars with a simple color, and the "metallic" is a little more reliable. The places of damage on the fifth door are standard: the lower rolling and the line of contact between the lens hood and the rear lights with metal.
Pictured: Suzuki SX4" 2009–14 From the bottom of the car, everything is a little more complicated. Under the plastic lockers, the metal is covered only with paint and really does not like the accumulation of dirt that cars often suffer off-road. They need to flush everything possible locations soil accumulations, especially in thresholds and arches.
The anticorrosive layer on the bottom is also not a record one, but it is often scratched. When buying, it is worth checking both the condition of the coating on the bottom, and the condition of the bumper mounts and plastic thresholds. They break off regularly, and despite the relatively low price tag for original parts, they are very reluctant to change.
Front wing
original price
6 786 rubles
Of the troubles that have a bad effect on the condition of the body as a whole, we note the possible leakage of the railing mounts on the roof and the plugs in the bottom. The latter are often damaged, which leads to the accumulation of water in a thin layer of noise insulation on the bottom of the car. Fortunately, this nuisance is rare, and it is easy to check its existence. Moreover, it is necessary to check: cars with this defect may have through corrosion bottoms at the driver's feet and numerous traces of seam corrosion from the inside.
With a not very reliable fuel pump, there is no hatch in the cabin to access it and replace it. Of course, no one is in a hurry to remove the tank, so the hole is simply cut out with a crown or grinder (the choice of tool depends on the desire of the barbarians in the car service). It is clear that the state of the body in the area of the new hatch is very different. Rarely does anyone immediately care about the condition of the seam, and in this area, due to the accumulation of dirt on top of the gas tank and poor ventilation, it is usually quite humid.
The sheet metal front subframe is thin and rusts quickly and hard. The anticorrosive subframe needs to be updated regularly, but most of the owners neglect this operation. After a run of one and a half to two hundred thousand kilometers, you need to check carefully, and not only from the bottom, but also from above, where moisture accumulates.
Spars near the beam attachment rear suspension and the beam itself will also require close attention. Here you can often find massive surface corrosion.
Often, instead of clips for fastening thresholds and bumpers, you can find ordinary screws. This is especially true for cars from the outback and after careless operation. This is affected by the worst availability of spare parts and, again, the budget model and its maintenance. Unfortunately, many perceive the car as a competitor to the Niva and Zhiguli and treat Suzuki accordingly.
Windshield
original price
20 004 rubles
At fog lights glass cracks easily from temperature fluctuations and flying stones. Well, overwritten headlights and weak windshields- a common thing for any budget cars.
After hundreds of thousands of runs, you usually already have something to put your hands on. Smokers often have scratches on the side windows: the poor sealing material collects small pebbles, and the glass itself is soft here.
Relatively thin and fragile bumpers are definitely not suitable for off-road, but the price of the bumper base is low. The main thing is not to lose the grilles and moldings.
The driver's door limiter crackles after 60-80 thousand mileage, but the door keeps. But the windows are often unscrewed, which is why the front windows do not rise to the end. It is not difficult to fix them: you just need to tighten a couple of mounting bolts onto the latch. But the doors will have to be disassembled, which often results in breakage of fragile plastic.
Pictured: Suzuki SX4" 2009–14 The wiper trapezoid may bend, after which you will need to re-position the levers. But it rarely turns sour, and mostly for those whose car costs more than it drives.
Salon
The interior of the car is simple and poor. Luckily, the plastic on the dash and door cards hold up well, but the seats, floor carpet, and plastic giblets don't hold up as well. The interior of the car rumbles at least slightly. And it’s good that we mainly have post-styling cars: the pre-styling interior is made worse and ages faster.
 |
 |
Pictured: Suzuki SX4 interior "2006–10
Somewhere more, somewhere less, depending on the year and condition, the glove box mount, air conditioning ducts, armrest box and center console lining rumble. And the windows are still banging on the doors. Fortunately, all this is not heard at speed: tires and the engine muffle the noise, and if the car is all-wheel drive, then the transmission also helps them. But if suddenly the asphalt is smooth and the tires are quiet, then get ready to listen to these sounds.
True, after 130 km / h everything drowns out the noise of the wind: the door seals are not very successful, the windows are thin, and the mirrors are large. And the music can't drown it out, it's weak here.
The seats and steering wheel do not hide the mileage, and after 60-80 thousand mileage, the plastic looks already slightly greasy, and the seats begin to lose shape. Closer to two hundred thousand mileage, the seat frame can capitulate. If the driver weighs more than 100 kilograms, the frame can even be broken, but more often something just starts to creak inside, and the microlift stops working.
 |
 |
Pictured: Suzuki SX4 interior "2009–14
Well-groomed specimens that know the charms of dry cleaning and even additional sound insulation are very rare. The bulk of cars with a mileage of more than a hundred thousand flaunt a very worn interior, which can be considered a serious drawback. So the year and mileage (and also the owner and place of operation) are very important here.
But with the fact that drivers above 170 cm cannot find a good fit, they will have to put up with a car of any age. Even if you can put an uncomfortable seat with a short cushion in such a way that it will be convenient to steer and press the pedals (which is difficult to do in the absence of a normal steering wheel adjustment), then the visibility will turn out to be completely “no”. Behind the side pillars with a "triangle" KamAZ will easily hide, and the edge of the hood will not be visible behind the inflated front panel.
Electrician
Fortunately, everything is reliable here, and basically only the generator fails. Either it is located unsuccessfully, or competitors from Mitsubishi, whose assembly is installed most often, failed, but its bearings wedge. It is useless and dangerous to lubricate bearings from the outside by spraying: fires occur from excess lubricant. It's good that on cars with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine, changing the generator is easy and convenient.
On machines before restyling, starter failures and high voltage wires, but this is more likely due to age. The wires just need to be changed sometimes, and the starter is afraid of dirt.
Of course, some malfunctions happen, but they are not regular. Unless the multimedia system sins with a weak CD drive and amplifier.
Brakes, suspension and steering
The brake system for such a small car is quite serious and it works reliably. The resource of pads and discs is more than sufficient, so cars with manual transmission usually still have native discs for hundreds of thousands. Even with the "automatic" disk resource is still enough for 60-80 thousand kilometers. The pads are not so durable, but they nurse their 30-50 thousand.
Pictured: Suzuki SX4" 2009–14 The calipers are solid, the GTZ is solid, the ABS works well and its sensors are well protected. The rear drums are generally almost eternal. The main thing is to check that they are still slowing down: sometimes the mechanism wedges due to corrosion and wear.
The suspension of the car is not as strong as we would like. The resource of the wheel bearings, especially the rear ones, turned out to be surprisingly small. After 60,000 miles, some cars already start to hum a little, although most cars will require bearing replacement at runs twice as long. True, and this is not a very outstanding result, especially considering that the SX4 does not have low-profile and wide tires and heavy-duty motors.
Pictured: Suzuki SX4" 2009–14 Behind is a simple and reliable beam. Among its shortcomings, only a tendency to corrosion of the central part can be noted.
Front - MacPherson strut suspension. She has a relatively weak design of the lever: it is easy to bend, and the ball joint does not change separately. On non-original TRW arms, the bearing can be changed separately, but replacement ball joints do not always fit older arms.
Front shock absorber
original price
6 030 rubles
The shock absorbers can withstand much more than 100 thousand mileage, and at 200 they often cost the original ones (of course, if the car was not overloaded and driven on the ground), but the front strut supports sag. Often a sour bearing needs to be replaced, and it is better to change it as soon as it starts to creak. Otherwise, increased wear on the shock absorber rod seals can lead to oil leakage.
Front springs on cross-country machines lose their top coils.
The steering is quite reliable. The problem of cars before restyling - a knocking rail - has become less common on restyled cars. Moreover, if the knock on pre-styling could begin after 30-40 thousand mileage, then the post-styling SX4 rail can withstand three times more.
Pictured: Suzuki SX4" 2006–10 Usually the problem lies in the materials of the bushings of the rail itself and its fastening. It is recommended to repair immediately, without waiting for the knock to break the gear train. It is advisable to check the rail seals more often, and renew the lubricant at every second MOT.
The low resource of rail tips should not be considered a big problem: they do not break unexpectedly, so it is enough to periodically monitor their condition.
EUR very poorly tolerates "bathing" and washing engine compartment. Power connectors lose their tightness with age, so you can get melted contacts or just system failures.
Pictured: Suzuki SX4" 2006–10 Of course, the SX4 is nothing like Land Rover Discovery or Mercedes-Benz G-class. This crossover is not so prestigious, comfortable or beautiful (although not everyone likes the Gelik outwardly either). But it is inexpensive and rarely breaks. True, we have not yet said anything about the engines and gearboxes of this "Japanese", but.
➖ Rigid suspension
➖ Noise isolation
pros
➕ High level of security
➕ Roomy trunk
➕ Economy
Advantages and disadvantages of Suzuki CX4 2018-2019 in a new body identified based on reviews real owners. More detailed pros and cons of Suzuki SX4 II with mechanics, automatic and CVT, with front and all-wheel drive 4x4 can be found in the stories below.
Owner reviews
Here are the highlights of my Suzuki SX4:
1) Fantastic consumption of 6.7 l / 100 km in summer in a million-plus city in traffic jams, in winter - within 8 with heating.
2) Comfortable fit - SX4 new is lower than most SUVs in terms of clearance, you don’t have to jump into it, your trousers don’t get dirty, at the same time it’s not a puzoterka and copes with our uncleaned and unrepaired roads.
3) Safety: 7 airbags and system exchange rate stability already in the database, 5 points in euro NCAP, ESP intervened more than once in time, when you are about to be thrown out of the rut, which we have everywhere both in winter and summer.
4) Large interior and the largest trunk in the class (430 l) with not large dimensions, moved to a new apartment, so without ordering a gazelle — I moved everything in it.
But there are also a couple of shortcomings:
1) Not enough heated windshield.
2) The salon heats up longer than on a Zhiguli, I didn’t own other foreign cars, I don’t know.
Radmir Sirazdinov, drives Suzuki SX4 1.6 (120 HP) CVT 2014
Video review
Suzuki SX4 new with a CVT just captivated me ... There are no frills in the car, but all the declared options are in order and quite satisfactory. The biggest difference is the low fuel consumption.
I drove from Murmansk to Petrozavodsk with a consumption of 5.3 liters per hundred. At the same time, I tried to drive 110 km / h on cruise control on sections with a good road ... What will happen next is unknown, but for a year and a half of operation there were no problems at all. I am very glad.
Sergey Podgorny, drives Suzuki CX4 1.6 (120 hp) CVT 2014
Great car! Acquired Suzuki CX-4 New in October 2014. Drove 10,000 km - no complaints. Consumption is striking: 4.9 — 5.2 outside the city, in the city — 6.5. Mixed 5.9 - 6.0 liters. 95th gasoline is preferable, as the dynamics and consumption are excellent. It is possible and 92nd gasoline. The dynamics are a little worse.
One small minus - when driving on rough roads (not fast), rear racks stiff shock absorbers. The machine is very good. I put it next to Qashqai - the difference in dimensions is 5 and 8 centimeters (height and length). The fully packed machine costs 300,000 rubles less than the standard Qashqai!
The owner drives a Suzuki SX4 1.6 (120 HP) MT 2014.
Where can I buy?
At first, the overall impression was positive compared to the previous model, BUT! Faced a problem that crosses out all the advantages of this model of 2014 release.
What we managed to pay attention to in a short driving time: the seat backs fold comfortably flush with the trunk floor, there is a USB input for listening to music, there are more airbags, a larger trunk, a side stand front glass decreased — more comfortable and better view!
A very sensitive gas pedal, after Suzuki SX4 in 2006 I had to get used to it - several times the car stalled in traffic jams, annoying. The suspension is very stiff, any lying policeman at a speed of more than 5 km / h - well, it is very sensitively overcome.
And now about the problem more seriously: I bought a car in early October 2014, by which time more than one hundred cars of this model had already been sold. October 14 - a hooligan broke the right front side glass(what goes down).
Through long calls 5 official dealers Moscow, which sell this model, it turned out that in all of Moscow there is NOT A SINGLE glass on the car of my model, and even in the warehouse of the official representative of Suzuki there are no glass data! Not at all in Russia! (2 weeks waiting for a replacement).
Irina drives Suzuki SX4 1.6 (120 hp) on 2014 mechanics
The car is not on their own money - the trough is cheap, but it costs big bucks. About cheapness: rear bumper- solid bullshit and plywood. Does not go to any comparison with the Daewoo Sense.
The torpedo is already creaking in full, although the mileage is only 2,000 km. Plastic is bullshit! So far, all the joys of owning this unit for two weeks, although the same Daewoo Sens pleases me more after 11 years of operation than this expensive trough!
Of the merits this car only stability, good suspension work and acceptable fuel consumption (depending on driving style) can be noted.
Review of Suzuki SX4 1.6 (120 hp) on 2015 CVT
Changed this year 5-year-old SX4 to a new one. On the track immediately became more fun to ride. In general, a lot of modern and useful options have been added. More economical than the old one, about a liter in the city. When driving, mostly in traffic jams, I fit into 11 liters per hundred (calculated by refueling), and the computer lies less here - the error is up to 5%, unlike 15% for the old one.
But the off-road qualities have deteriorated a little, the geometric cross is not enough. After installing the steel motor protection and coupling, ground clearance became less than 15 cm. I will not advise anyone to meddle in a rut.
Of the advantages, I note a powerful motor for a relatively light body. In the presence of a modern interior and nice options. Excellent LED light. Good trunk, lots of niches and pockets in the cabin.
The disadvantages include a seat that is not very comfortable for a high landing, while for a low landing there is not enough reach for the steering wheel. An extended warranty results in significant costs for additional maintenance every 5,000 km.
Review of Suzuki SX4 1.4 (140 hp) automatic transmission with all-wheel drive 2016
The car is good! For 6,000 km, I added a little fluid to the washer. In addition, at first the machine was frightening after the manual transmission, but I was already used to it. At first it seemed that the automatic transmission was terribly slow, but people who drive automatic transmissions practically “since childhood” open their mouths in surprise: the automatic transmission, they say, is very frisky.
Now the main thing: interior. Compared to the previous car, the interior is very spacious. The trunk is no less than in the Roomster, the stove is much cooler, it immediately drives heat, without warming up 20 km.
Visibility due to the racks is not very good, it makes you constantly turn your head and torso, but, again, there is experience. The motor is crazy! It buzzes loudly (on acceleration), eats criminally little, even compared to Skoda.
The family has already gone on a small "dalnyak" - 1,500 kilometers. Well, we're happy. We drove at night, the wife and son settled down to take a nap very well, because there is a lot of space in the cabin, that is, it allows passengers to sleep.
In general, the car is still very, very satisfied. So far I've seen only one machine like mine. The suspension is…loud but powerful, meaning it rumbles and the car rides very smoothly. Apparently, the wheels also play a role here, since the radius is still larger than in Skoda. Overall, I don't regret the purchase.
Review of Suzuki SX4 1.6 (117 hp) with automatic 2017
On the one hand, the Suzuki SX4 compact crossover is no longer a novelty, but the model is popular and in demand among buyers. On the other hand, in this class there is a massive renewal of competitors. What can Suzuki SX4 offer against their background, what are the pros and cons of the model? Let's figure it out together.
First Suzuki generation SX4 debuted in 2006 - a mixture of a hatchback (proportions and compactness of the body) and a crossover (clearance, all-wheel drive versions). Over time, the Suzuki SX4 received a couple of interesting versions: the sedan body, a twin under the FIAT brand. The car has become popular all over the world, including Ukraine. The Japanese decided to repeat this approach, and in 2013 they launched the second generation Suzuki SX4, and both models were produced in parallel for some time: the novelty was named Suzuki SX4 or S-Cross, depending on the market. At the beginning of 2016, the second generation SX4 was upgraded with a new front end, headlights and taillights, an improved multimedia system in the cabin, a 6-speed. "automatic" (instead of the variator before) and a 1.4 liter turbo engine 140 hp.
ModelSuzuki SX4 is a mixture of a hatchback and a crossover: the ground clearance is 180 mm, there are all-wheel drive versions. During the last update, the car has changed markedly in the front, plus there have been a number of changes in technology.
The article presents a car in the maximum version of the GLX with a 1.4 liter 140 hp engine, other versions will also be briefly noted - I will indicate separately in the text.
How does it ride?
The Suzuki SX4 test car is equipped with a 1.4-liter BOOSTERJET engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission - and it's a great combination for normal and slightly dynamic driving. The motor pulls well from the bottom (1.5 thousand) to the very top (5-6 thousand rpm), it has a phenomenally even character of traction without any dips in the specified range, it quickly responds to pressing the gas pedal. "Automatic" is also good - smooth, fast, imperceptible up and down shifts; does not resist sharp acceleration and kickdown; quick adaptation to the driving style of the driver. In a word, in matters of power, ease of traction control, automatic transmission operation - everything is fine.
But here's the catch: driving a Suzuki SX4 doesn't feel like a rush, even with an engine that can drive dynamically. Here, the Suzuki Vitara S crossover pleased with drive and acceleration, with it I sometimes wanted to “pull” from a traffic light. And in the Suzuki SX4, the 140-horsepower engine is not for “shooting from a traffic light”, but for “confidence and reserve under the right foot”. This crossover is made as a family, traditional in nature. And if so, then the requests are different ...
AppearanceSuzuki SX4 is devoid of aggression and sunk. I would say that here the bet is made on the signs of "solidity" that are typical for cars bigger size- for example, a huge grille with a chrome decor. Oval-stretched headlights hide modern linzovannaya LED optics (ordinary lamps only in direction indicators). Engine 1.4 lBOOSTERJETis good, but its capabilities are needed here only “in reserve”, and taking into account the natureSuzuki SX4 this reserve will be used extremely rarely. In this case, the difference with the 1.6 l (117 hp) engine is minimal: it is quite enough for daily driving. The automatic transmission pleases with soft and quick shifts with any of the engines.
Returning to the “family crossover” format, I will note the chassis, suspension, steering. First of all, chassis elastic: there is no frank rigidity, but the pits are not completely hidden either. At the same time, there is a large margin for the energy intensity of the suspension here, you can easily drive at a fairly high speed on a broken road. Yes, and on speed bumps, the car shudders with the rear less than other competitors. In a word, very good. However, new Renault Duster shows that the suspension can be softer, without losing in energy intensity and in the degree of "drum on the road", and the model Hyundai Creta adds to this also the silence in the ride. After all, the Suzuki SX4 crossover is noisy: initially - there are questions about the soundproofing of the wheel arches, at a speed of about 100 km / h and above - aerodynamic noise is pretty noticeable. But there is a plus: a silent, assembled, “live” suspension of a test car with a mileage of 36 thousand km (as you know, 1 km of a test car = 2-3 km in real life).
The steering wheel is good stability in the "zero zone" and is filled with force in the turn, as if you are compressing a small spring. The car as a whole does not resist turns, although there are rolls. But when making a sharp turn on a broken road or pavers, the SX4 slightly "rearranges" the rear end, which is unpleasant. This appears only on an empty car, if you load the rear, then there is no such effect. And you can load a lot: for its class - the cabin is quite spacious front and rear, the trunk offers a volume of 430-440 liters in the standard version. And in general, the interior of the Suzuki SX4 at first glance seems simple, but it turns out to be good within its class.
Front panelSuzuki SX4 does not shine with an original design, but it pleases with a large insert made of soft plastic - a rarity in the class. The main attention here is attracted by an oval with an LCD display and a pair of ventilation deflectors. The display pleases with the picture quality. Also pay attention to the little things: the armrest can be moved forward and opens access to a hidden niche; the steering wheel pleases with a logical arrangement of buttons for controlling the audio system, “cruise”, telephone; concise instruments with a simple LCD display are quickly read; there is a 2-zone climate control. In so many little thingsSuzuki SX4 turns out to be better than relativeSuzuki Vitara.
The last mention is not accidental, since both cars are built on the same platform. But the Suzuki SX4 model has an increased wheelbase (2.6 m versus 2.5 m for the Vitara model), which made it possible to provide additional legroom and a more traditional fit: for its class and dimensions, the back is spacious and comfortable. In addition, the maximum version has a rear armrest and backrest angle adjustment: again, this is a plus over the Vitara model with its usual vertical rear row of seats. That's only if the armrest is an unconditional and obvious plus, then adjusting the angle of the backrest in this case is a “thing about nothing”: only two positions, the range of angle change is too small - the “reclining” position cannot be obtained here.
Nominally, changing the angle of the backrest allows you to increase the trunk: 440 liters are promised against 430 liters in the standard position. However, the minimum figure (430 l) is still a good indicator for this class. Plus a couple more pleasant things: two-level floor and side niches-pockets. Separately, it is worth noting the trunk shelf, which opens from two sides: traditionally when opening the trunk lid and, additionally, it is possible to open the shelf from the back of the rear seat - it is convenient to get a change from the trunk right on the road.
The front is comfortable, and the back is spacious, as for this class. There is an armrest and the ability to change the angle of the backrest, but in a small range. There are no complaints about the trunk at all: a rather large, two-level floor, niche pockets on the sidewalls. A separate mention deserves a double-sided shelf, which leans out of the passenger compartment and gives access to the trunk, this is extremely rare, but it's a pity - a really useful item that is easy to implement. By the way, taking into account the mileage of the test car to the cabin, there are comments: the door cards creak - a little, but all four.
Summing up the interim results: the Suzuki SX4 crossover is unlikely to charm driving performance and interior trim, but it is good in "requests for real life" - the behavior of the engine and automatic transmission, the energy intensity of the suspension, the spaciousness and comfort of the cabin, a well-thought-out trunk.
Is there any innovation?
If you have read the material about, then you will not find anything new for yourself here: load-bearing body, independent suspension front and semi-rear, front or all-wheel drive, 5-speed. Manual or 6-speed. automatic transmission. For the Suzuki SX4 model in Ukraine, two engines are offered, both gasoline. Firstly, the M16A engine: a volume of 1.6 liters, four cylinders, a VVT system for changing the valve timing. Secondly, the K14C engine of the BOOSTERJET series: 1.4 liter volume, four cylinders, direct fuel injection plus a turbine. It is this motor and 6-tbsp. Automatic transmission instead of a CVT-variator became the main technical innovations with the last update of the model in 2016.
Rest technological features are already known. So, all-wheel drive ALL GRIP 4WD offers a selector to select one of the four driving modes: AUTO - standard, automatic redistribution of torque; SPORT - sporty, more traction is given to the rear wheels, "automatic" uses downshifts; SNOW - on rear wheels transmits more traction, four-wheel drive works faster than usual, but the reactions to pressing the gas pedal are softened to avoid slipping in the snow; LOCK - rigid fixation of the 50/50 torque distribution between the front and rear wheels. A couple of nuances: the LOCK mode will turn on only after the preliminary selection of SNOW; the activation of each mode is shown on the display between the speedometer and tachometer.
In addition, I note a major touchscreen in the cabin: audio system control is assembled here, the ability to connect a telephone, etc. There is voice control for some functions (telephone, audio system), but the list of processed phrases is frankly small. Also on this display is displayed a picture from the rear view camera with auxiliary lines-tips. In general, this is the minimum standard set, what do you expect from such a system. However, Suzuki is remembered for a very detailed, beautiful, juicy picture on the display.
All-wheel drive systemALL GRIP 4 WDallows not only to control the distribution of torque between the axles, but also to slightly change the character of the car. ModeLOCK (replacement of the central differential lock) is connected with a separate button and only after selecting the modeSNOW. ATthe selected modes are displayed on the instrument panel display, where it is also “tied” on-board computer. Since we are talking about cross-country ability: the clearance is 180 mm, but the “lip” of the bumper causes concern in front, and the transverse arrangement of the muffler does not please the rear. As a result, if we are talking about slippery off-road (snow, ice, mud) -Suzuki SX4 is good, but if we talk about relief off-road (stones, slopes) - you need to be careful.
It's a pity, but this is where the high-tech delights for Ukraine end. Why say for Ukraine? Because in some countries Suzuki SX4 offers a lot of interesting technologies. For example, a 1.6-liter turbodiesel or a 3-cylinder liter gasoline turbo engine (which in Europe replaced the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter 117-horsepower engine). I know that many will prefer a “time-tested aspirated” and therefore it is in Ukraine, but in this section we are talking about a car from the point of view of advanced technologies. Also, the Suzuki SX4 in Ukrainian versions did not receive active cruise control and an autonomous emergency braking system (if we talk about technologies), in addition, the model did not receive a panoramic glass sunroof and leather interior (if we talk about comfort and equipment).
A couple of photos that hint at the presence of active (radar) cruise control and autonomous emergency braking - these are the two points that I consider the biggest omission in terms of technologySuzuki SX4 who did not make it to Ukraine. Let them be offered only for the maximum versions, albeit for "expensive", but in the classSuzuki SX4 such technologies are still rare - this is a potential "zest" and an advantage over competitors.
Prices and competitors
The Suzuki SX4 car is available in Ukraine with two motors, manual or automatic transmission, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, in two trim levels (GL or GLX), a total of six options.
The minimum version is a 1.6 liter engine (117 hp), front-wheel drive, Manual transmission, GL equipment: air conditioning, power windows, electric and heated mirrors, on-board computer, cruise control, ESP system, seven airbags, conventional audio system, steering wheel with buttons, heated front seats, front armrest. Such a car is estimated at 469 thousand UAH. or a little more than $18 thousand. A similar version with an "automatic" will cost 511 thousand UAH. or about $ 19.5 thousand. All-wheel drive with manual transmission in the GL configuration is 515 thousand UAH. (a little less than $ 20 thousand), and with automatic transmission - 552 thousand UAH. or $21.3 thousand
The maximum version of the GLX adds the following to the package: 2-zone “climate”, LED headlights, light and rain sensors, 16-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, improved audio system (6 speakers and Bluetooth), backrest adjustment rear seats and rear armrest, silver trim on the sides of the doors and roof rails. Also, the GLX version automatically means 6-speed. "machine". Such a car with a 1.6 liter 117 hp engine. and front-wheel drive is estimated at UAH 582,000 or almost $22,500. BOOSTERJET in GLX version, additionally with ALL GRIP all-wheel drive, rear-view camera and LCD touch screen (car as in the article); price - 690 thousand UAH. or $26.5 thousand.
The car in the cabin - in the basic configurationGL: conventional headlights with spaced blocks for dipped / main beam, steel wheel disks with caps, a simpler ventilation control unit, a traditional radio with buttons. But otherwise - an excellent “sufficient” level: heated seats and an armrest in front, there is a “cruise” with steering wheel controls, the trunk still offers a comfortable two-level floor. And the 1.6-liter engine is quite “sufficient”: at the end of 2017, it accounted for 89% of sales, even taking into account the large number of versions tied to the 1.6-liter engine, this figure is impressive. Maximum version 1.4 l 140 hpGLX(as a test car) took only 11% in the sales rangeSuzuki SX4, after all, for $26.5-27 thousand, you can look towards higher-class cars. Although the proportion of versions with all-wheel drive is unexpectedly high - 37%. Indirectly, this indicates the choice and demands of buyers.Suzuki SX4: powerful engine and expensive version - "no", practicality and all-wheel drive - "yes".
And now, with this approach, we look at competitors. Firstly, an expensive test version of the Suzuki SX4 for $ 27 thousand: here the competitors can be called the initial-middle versions. KIA Sportage- let them lose in some points of equipment, but they offer large dimensions, and in fact we often choose “by size”. Secondly, European compact crossovers, like the Citroen C3 Aircross (I'll tell you soon): they are interesting in details, but I can't offer all-wheel drive. Plus, or rather "minus", they are more cramped in the cabin (Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur), or spacious but not cheap (Citroen C3 Aircross). Finally, the third is the most important competitors for the Suzuki SX4: new, Chery Tiggo 7. The first two lack affordable all-wheel drive versions, and in some details they are inferior to the Suzuki SX4: for example, Hyundai Creta offers only a small multimedia system display, no navigation, and new Renault Duster lacks options with automatic transmission. Related crossover Suzuki Vitara is one to one similar to the Suzuki SX4 in terms of available options and the price fork, but here everyone chooses what he likes more: the youthful, perky Vitara model or the more family-friendly, spacious, well-thought-out Suzuki SX4 crossover.
Primary and intermediate versionsSuzuki SX4 with a price of $18-23 thousand turn out to be good choice against the backdrop of competitors in the segmentB-WITH-SUV. But an expensive crossoverSuzuki SX4 behind$ 27 thousand enter the territory of larger, adult modelsC— D— SUV, where requests for a car are initially higher and competitors are more dangerous.
Maintenance cost
The fuel consumption of a test car with a 1.4 liter engine (140 hp) in the city is 9-10 liters per 100 km, and on weekends, with empty roads, you can meet the minimum 7.5-8 liters. In traffic jams and / or a dynamic driving style, urban consumption rises to 11 liters per 100 kilometers. On the highway at a speed of 80-90 km / h, the car consumes about 5 liters of fuel, at a speed of 110-120 km / h - the consumption increases to 6 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. On a car with a 1.6 liter engine (117 hp), I only went to the dealer for review, so I do not have my own observations on fuel consumption. But there are observations of one of the readers of the site: the consumption in the city is 9 liters per 100 km, with empty roads, without traffic jams, you can get a minimum of about 7.5-8 liters per 100 km. On the highway at a speed of 80-90 km / h, the consumption is 6 liters per 100 km, at a speed of 110-120 km / h - about 7-7.5 liters per 100 km of track.
The warranty for both versions of the car is identical: three years or 100 thousand kilometers. And the prices for maintenance are not too different: for the version with a 1.4 liter engine (140 hp) - from 2-2.1 thousand UAH. (the easiest service) up to about 7 thousand UAH. (the most extensive service); for the 1.6 liter version (117 hp) - from 2.4 thousand UAH to 6-7 thousand UAH. But the frequency of maintenance is different: a 1.4-liter engine requires maintenance every 10 thousand km, and a 1.6-liter engine requires maintenance every 15 thousand km. As a result, with a run of up to 90-100 thousand km, a car with a 1.6-liter engine will require 22-24 thousand UAH for maintenance (the exact figure depends on the combination of manual transmission / automatic transmission and front / four-wheel drive), at the same time, a car with an engine 1 .4 liters will require about 33 thousand UAH.
Data on maintenance prices are given for one of the Kyiv dealers of the brand and may differ slightly depending on the region, city, selected dealer. All prices are as of May, excluding additional discounts and promotions that apply when buying a car or servicing it.
Eventually
The Suzuki SX4 test car is a good example of what the model has to offer. But this is a bad example of what buyers choose: for $ 25-30 thousand, an ordinary Ukrainian will look in the direction of more large crossover, albeit in a poorer configuration.
But when we talk about the Suzuki SX4 for “$20,000 plus/minus”, everything becomes much better: there are few competitors and against their background the Suzuki SX4 turns out to be one of the most balanced offerings in the class (if not the most balanced in general): a wide choice of versions , sufficient equipment, not critical comments on the ride. There is a proverb: “be simpler and people will be drawn to you”. In the compact crossover scene, the Suzuki SX4 is a great example of this approach.
pros:
In the initial-middle versions - a very strong offer in the class of compact crossovers
Spacious and comfortable interior, capacious and thoughtful trunk, energy-intensive suspension
It is possible to combine manual / automatic transmission and front / all-wheel drive at your request
Minuses:
- No diesel, no high-tech equipment, no bright spots in the character
Ultimate SX4 enters higher-end crossover territory where it's hard to compete
SpecificationsSuzuki SX4 GLX 1 , 4 lBOOSTERJET ALL GRIP 4 WD6automatic transmission
Body - compact crossover; 5 places
Dimensions - 4.300 x 1.785 x 1.585 m
Wheelbase - 2.6 m
Clearance - 180 mm
Trunk - from 430 liters (5 seats) to 1,269 liters (2 seats)
Load capacity - 465 kg
Minimum curb weight - 1,260 kg
Motor - gasoline, turbo, R4; 1.4 l
Power - 140 hp at 5,500 rpm