Jalopnik: Suzuki SX4

2008 Suzuki SX4, Part Three

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Why you should buy this car: "Yeah man, that WRX is nice but it looks like it's had some hard miles. That kid put stickers on it, that makes me nervous. I don't know if I want a used car. Yeah, yeah I'd love a new one but that's a little out of the question right now and, you know, I want something fun to drive but... yeah. I hear you. It's just that I don't want to have to replace the clutch in ten thousand miles. Why can't I have something new, fun and affordable that isn't stripped to the bones?"

Why you shouldn't buy this car: "OMG, have you seen the Fit? Honda makes it. FIT. F-I-T. OMG Cuuuuuuute. They had one in this orange color, I loved it. LOVED IT. But it had a stick and I'm not learning to drive a stick. The engine in the Fit? I don't know, I think it has one. Oh that Scion is super fierce. The fiercest. LOLzz"

Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: No
Fashion Victims: No
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: No
Tuner Crowd: Yes
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: Yes
Euro Snobs: No
Working Stiffs: Yes
Technogeeks: Yes
Poseurs: No
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: No
Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
*Honda Fit
*Nissan Versa
*Volkswagen Rabbit
*Used Subaru WRX
*Subaru Impreza 2.5i
*Mazda Mazda3
*Suzuki Burgman

Vitals:
• Manufacturer: Suzuki
• Model year: 2008
• Base Price: $14,999
• Price as Tested: $16,870
• Engine type: 2.0L DOHC I4
• Horsepower: 143 @ 5,800 RPM
• Torque: 136 @ 3,500 RPM
• Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
• Curb Weight: 2,800 lbs
• LxW: 162.8" x 69.1"
• Wheelbase: 98.4"
• Tires: P205/60R16
• 0 - 60 mph: 8.3 Seconds
• 1/4-mile: 16.8 seconds
• EPA Fuel economy city/highway: 21/28
• NHTSA crash test rating: ****/**** (Driver/Passenger)

Also see:

2008 Suzuki SX4, Part Two

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Exterior Design:***
Design touches such as the split A-pillar, metal-look skid plates and black plastic everywhere give the 2008 Suzuki SX4 a distinctive and tough look that unfortunately distracts from its sporty and capable soul. If we're being generous, the car is a triathlete, pretty good at almost everything. At least it looks unique.

Interior Design:****
Did I mention the back seats tumble all the way forward? That's a nice touch. Though most of the buttons and switches come out of the Suzuki parts bin, everything is within easy reach and everything works like you'd expect it to. Everything but the shifter. The tall greenhouse also means those long of torso and rich with gear can move a lot for a little.

Acceleration:**
If I could change one thing about this car it would be the transmission. Though power plays into the equation, and the 143 horses tied together with Suzuki's version of variable valve timing try hard, the five forward gears are one shy of awesome and a reconsideration of the ratios could push this car into knock-out economy car territory.

Braking:****
The four-wheel disc brakes, front ventilated and rear solid, have an easy feel and would do well on a larger, heavier car. On the lilliputian SX4 they're perfect for creating a little stop-short moment with your lady friend.

Ride:**
For a big chunk of our bike riding adventure one of my passengers was facing down a sharp bike pedal. Though he made it out without a scratch, it got a little close. Suzuki made a decision to err on the side of handling, and though most would agree it was the right choice, there's a touch more bump than some economy buyers are willing to accept.

Handling:****
"Are our cars as exciting as our bikes?" Suzuki asks in its advertisements. I'm not a big bike guy, but I'm willing to guess no way in hell. But it's closer than you think. The best part of this crossover is how it handles when it needs to. The SX4 goes where you point it and the auto AWD system provides just a touch of energy when necessary. Even in slippery conditions the car maintains its composure and is, most importantly, easy to predict.

Gearbox:**
A sixth gear and an aluminum ring is all that's needed to make this an excellent gearbox. The throws are a touch long but the clutch works well even with clunky footwork and the placement is right in my sweet spot but it revs way too high in freeway driving, literally whining for that extra gear.

Audio:*
This is, without a doubt, the worst FM radio in any new car I've ever driven. Chicago is all buildings and, therefore, signals aren't at their best. But I constantly lost signals and rear passengers couldn't hear anything. Thumb controls are a nice touch, but they don't connect to a radio I'd like in my car.

Toys:***
The entire car is a toy, but we have to give credit to Suzuki for providing gimmicks like tumble-forward rear seats, a sharp center information strip with fuel range and external temperature and other smart touches. The AWD system, though lacking in low/high range (c'mon, what did you expect?), has a great "2WD/Auto/Lock" switch next to the handbrake that makes you feel like you're in a far more expensive ride.

Value:****
For $16,870 you get three-mode AWD, a six-disc changer, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, roadside assistance, six airbags, cruise control, power everything and even rear intermittent wipers. Throw in automatic air-conditioning that cleverly mimics climate control and you're hard-pressed to find another bargain for this MSRP. Oh, and it has keyless entry, though it requires carrying around a key fob that might be mistaken for a Sega Game Gear.

Overall: ****
It's hard to know what the Suzuki SX4 aspires to be, but it's not the usual SUV-car dichotomy that most crossovers try to fake. You're not going to mistake this for a Range Rover. The real question you have to ask when judging this car is whether or not it is an exciting bargain car or an exciting car that's a bargain, and though I'd lean towards the former, it's a question that doesn't even come up with other cars in this price range.

Also see:

2008 Suzuki SX4, Part One

2008 Suzuki SX4, Part One

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

When an automaker wants you to sell you a vehicle like the 2008 Suzuki SX4, they'll put together an ad featuring people who seem to spend their entire life riding mountain bikes, chugging energy drinks and otherwise enjoying a kind of lifestyle that exists predominately in the glossy pages of men's magazine. Needless to say, climbing class three mountains isn't how I spend my weekends. Thankfully I know a few people who do.

I should have known what I was getting into early Saturday morning when my friend Jane called to let me know she'd be late because she had forgotten she had a rock climbing class to teach. It actually worked out, because I had forgotten I wanted to spend another couple of hours in bed eating Cheerios while updating my online book list. I also needed to see if the SX4 would be able to be hold all our gear because that famous Chicago wind was acting up, meaning that hoisting bikes onto the roof wasn't the best idea.

Though the SX4 has a rather small footprint, the tall greenhouse and folding seats mean that it can hold all the active lifestyle accouterment we brought along, plus Jane and her fiance Kevin. I should clarify here, my gear was a pair of hiking boots, a camera and a cooler full of sandwiches. Their gear included two bikes, bike accessories, helmets, cleaning supplies, assorted hiking gear and another cooler full of snacks (biking burns calories). The SX4 swallowed all of this without too much Tetris, though Kevin was staring down a set of handle bars for the long drive out to the Palos Forest Preserve southwest of town.

When we got to the biking staging area we found some other, intense looking bikers and their assorted E-series vans, Saab wagons, WRX's and even an Aveo with a roof rack, thereby blowing a hole in my theory that only high school girl's drive Aveos as their first car. According to the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers site, Palos is the "grand daddy of the trail systems available in Chicago... The area has hills, rolling widetrack, tight twisty singletrack, climbs, fast descents and plenty more to keep you satisfied for hours." And this beats a Howard Hawks film festival how?

After unpacking the bikes and assembling them, we stopped to setup for some pictures. My conception of what you wear for an outdoor adventure was a little different from what they actually wear, as you can see from the picture above. I quickly changed back into my normal normal clothing and left them to their off road fun. For me, the fun was to be had on the roads.

This is where the SX4 abandons all the pretense contained in the black plastic wheel arches, metal-look skidplates and fog lights. The roads running through and around the forest preserve include a surprisingly engaging mix of gravely uphill curves, downhill straights and even a few esses that make you wonder why anyone gets out of their cars. Maybe because they aren't driving something as fun as the SX4.

The car simply drives with more poise than any vehicle in this class should. This particular model featured Suzuki's three-mode intelligent AWD system, which offers the option to send all the power to the front wheels, to all wheels on demand or to lock the transfer case into a full 50/50 split. I kept it keyed into the auto mode and found you had to push the SX4 hard into a corner before significant power was transferred rearward, giving the little hatch enough energy to propel it into the next straightway.

While Kevin and Jane attempted to find the limits of their abilities I tried to find the limits of the SX4 and was pleased to discover that this was a difficult task. There's not much noticeable roll when guiding what is essentially a tall wagon around the turns. The suspension is aggressively tuned for a small economy car that competes with Scions, but the ride isn't overly harsh. If there's one obvious complaint it's that the all-black, unadorned shifter looks like it's been taken out of the bargain bin at a Boy's Town sex shop, but the easy clutch action means you're not likely to be staring at it long.

In the lower gears there's a steady stream of manageable power to be had from the 2.0-liter, DOHC fourbanger, which puts out 143 horsepower and 136 lb/ft of torque. Though you may not want to race for pinks at your local drag strip, there's enough oompf left to keep you entertained in all but the longest straights. And entertained you'll be. All of a sudden I looked at the clock in the smartly designed info strip above the center console and realized I had to get back from, well, I wasn't sure where I was at this point. Thankfully, Kevin had packed an extra trail map for me and I was able to work my way back to the original staging area.

When I got there, Kevin jokingly asked if I'd like to "actually see nature" by going for a short hike. I agreed, not knowing a short hike meant more than an hour, and we loaded the gear back into the Suzuki. Here's where the SX4 really shines as an "outdoor lifestyle" vehicle. The ergonomic interior doesn't merely store all of our stuff, it manages to do so without getting damaged. The seats tumble all the way forward and the synthetic seat covers and interior plastics take a lot of abuse without damage, leaving every scrape and chunk of dirt to be easily wiped out.

The bikes once again stowed, we headed out for this "nature" everyone talks about. Though the hiking trails are varied enough to be entertaining and open up to a shallow lake rimmed by striking green grassland, I couldn't help but wish I was back on the road. That says a lot for this vehicle considering its fully-loaded test price is less than $17,000.

Though the SX4 does have its shortcomings, most strikingly the amount of cabin noise you're subjected to as the engine whines above 80 mph, you'd be hard-pressed to find another new vehicle for this price that not only gets you to your "off the beaten path" adventure, but makes getting there the fun part.

Suzuki SX4 First American Car Under $16K With Standard Nav, Take That SYNC

Matt Hardigree — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:28:00 EDT

Ford has been able to move a lot of their crappy Focus coupes and sedans with their Ford SYNC powered by Microsoft entertainment system, which does everything but let you forget you're driving a Focus. But, as we mentioned, Microsoft and Garmin have teamed up to provide systems for other automakers. The first car to get this treatment standard is the FWD Suzuki SX4 sport/crossover, which clocks in at under $16K (the AWD version is slightly higher than $16K). The new system, called TRIP, will offer Microsoft Network features such as real-time traffic, weather, local event listings, bluetooth integration, audible text messaging and up-to-date cheap gas finding. Our favorite available feature is the community website that will let all users input their own destinations, routes and POI and share them with others. An early picture of the system above, press release below.

2009 Suzuki SX4: FIRST CAR IN AMERICA UNDER $16,000 WITH STANDARD NAVIGATION
• BREA, Calif. (April 28, 2008) - Establishing an auto industry first, and packing even more appeal into its bold and stylish sport compact, American Suzuki Motor Corp. today announced the addition of a fully integrated standard navigation system to the 2009 Suzuki SX4. The company's offering marks the first time a new vehicle under $16,000 will include navigation as a standard feature. The innovative navigation system will be included as standard equipment on both the four-door SX4 Sport and front-wheel-drive version of the five-door SX4 Crossover, propelling the 2009 SX4 to the front of the compact segment as the personal technology leader.
• The Suzuki SX4's integrated navigation system is the result of a partnership with Garmin and is available with a variety of advanced Microsoft Network-enabled features, including real-time traffic, weather forecasts, local event listings and a gas station finder capable of locating the lowest priced fuel in town. To further customize the system to reflect its "Way of Life" brand attitude, Suzuki will add a number of lifestyle-oriented, Suzuki-recommended destinations and landmarks to the system. The locations include hip music venues, popular surf spots, interesting road trip attractions and other activity-focused destinations that will be clearly identified with a Suzuki "Way of Life" icon on the navigation screen.
• "Aside from improving an already popular vehicle, this navigation system provides a unique opportunity to further express the Suzuki 'Way of Life' brand spirit and directly respond to SX4 shoppers' unmet needs," said Mark Harano, president of American Suzuki Automotive Operations. "We know that our customers are vibrant and adventurous at heart, so we've gone beyond a typical navigation offering to develop a system capable of enhancing driver experiences and activating a passion for living life to the fullest. Navigation makes drivers feel more confident and in control, and our customized navigation system is the perfect fit for Suzuki owners' on-the-go attitude and daily routine."

Suzuki based its decision to include standard navigation on feedback from current SX4 owners regarding their most desired features in their next vehicle purchase. In addition to improving overall favorable impressions of the SX4, Suzuki research showed the addition of a navigation system had a positive "halo" effect on a range of driver perceptions, including significant increases in drivers' "feelings of control" and "feelings of safety."
Referred to as the Suzuki T.R.I.P. (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play), the fully integrated system utilizes Navteq mapping software and includes a flip-up 4.3-inch touch screen display and Bluetooth hands-free calling technology that can receive and audibly play text messages. The system also comes preloaded with street maps that feature millions of points-of-interest, such as hotels, restaurants, gasoline stations and ATMs, and other Suzuki-recommended, brand-oriented destinations. A dedicated community Web site will be launched to support the sharing and downloading of user-generated recommendations for destinations and drive routes among Suzuki owners.
The touch screen navigation system included as standard equipment on the 2009 SX4 Sport and front-wheel-drive version of the five-door SX4 Crossover will come with a number of standard navigation features and millions of unique points-of-interest. Bluetooth capability and other enhanced Microsoft Network-enabled features of the system, including real-time traffic, local events, weather forecasts and a gas price finder, will be included as part of the SX4's upgraded trim package. The 2009 SX4 is scheduled to arrive in dealer showrooms this summer.

LA Auto Show: Suzuki SX4 Makai Concept

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:45:00 EST

Though it may never see the light of production, this SX4 hatchback-based convertible would be an excellent beach car (though maybe not as nice as an old Brat). The Suzuki SX4 Makai Concept is all about fun, and fun means no roof, smaller windshield and a roll bar. Also surfboards. You can't have fun without surfboards. In addition to the obvious exterior changes, the car also gets a set of four ventilated seats, lotos of music power, a Momo Sport steering wheel and color-keyed accent lighting. Press release below the jump.

Suzuki Makai

Concurrent with the arrival of the 2008 SX4 Sport production vehicle, Suzuki further expands its highly popular and media-acclaimed Suzuki LIVE Series (LIFE VEHICLES) - a line of brand-dedicated concept vehicles specially designed for life enthusiasts, adventurers and thrill-seekers.

With spirited colors and a playful design, Suzuki's newest LIVE Series offering, the Makai concept, is based on the all-new 2008 SX4 Sport and has a dedicated open-car bodystyle for breezy fun-in-the-sun motoring - the perfect ingredient for an exhilarating driving experience. Fabricated and painted by Andry Specialty Vehicles of Torrance, Calif., the Makai's potential is fully realized with its comprehensive list of imaginative, high-style features.

From the ground up, its large 19-inch CEC wheels, wide Michelin Pilot sport tires, four-wheel disc brakes with drilled and slotted rotors and Rotora calipers further enhance the Makai's wide, aggressive stance. Adorned with multi-step sunset orange paint, custom body kit, styled exhaust, and LED taillights and running lamps, the Makai's exterior is sure to turn curious heads.

Beachgoers and surf aficionados will enjoy the ride to the beach just as much as the beach itself with Makai's custom surfboard mounting rack and dual matching sunset orange trimmed boards. A shaved windscreen and targa rear hoop further enhances the Makai's sporty open-air look.

The Makai's al fresco cabin is complete with custom interior components, including ventilated, suspended seats in all four positions, high output, beach party-themed VeaLink audio system with MTX speakers and components, dashboard-integrated Garmin® navigation system, Kinetik Power Cell battery, StreetWires audio/video install kit and cabling, Momo Sport steering wheel and color-keyed interior accent lighting.

New York Auto Show: Suzuki SX4 Slingshots Into Sedan

Mike Bumbeck — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:00:00 EDT

The folks that brought us the GSXR, and a motorcycle that came to be known as the water buffalo have added a sporting sedan to the SX4 fleet. Suzuki plans to build more motorcycle into every one of their their cars, and is offering yet another version of the plucky SX4 for folks who enjoy driving the snot out of their econoboxes along with saving a few bucks. A quick look under the car revealed no drive axles connected to the rear wheels, so we can only assume the production SX4 sedan will be available with the Suzuki three-mode intelligent all-wheel drive (i-AWD) system. Ideally Suzuki will throw some quad, Hayabusa, and GS1100 into the final version. Preliminary specifications after the jump. – Mike Bumbeck

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sedan [Internal]

2008 Suzuki SX4 Sedan (Preliminary)

ENGINE

Type: 2.0-liter, in-line four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC
Materials: Aluminum cylinder block/aluminum cylinder heads
Displacement: 2.0 liters (1,995 cc/122 cu. in.)
Bore x stroke: 84.0 mm x 90.0 mm/3.31 in. x 3.54 in.
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Horsepower: 143 hp @ 5,800 RPM
Torque: 136 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 RPM
Valves per cylinder: Four
Fuel system: Electronic multi-port fuel injection, variable induction system, in-tank fuel pump
Emission compliance: LEV II/BIN5
Exhaust: Single

TRANSMISSIONS

Five-speed manual

1st 3.545:1
2nd 1.904:1
3rd 1.310:1
4th 0.969:1
5th 0.725:1
Reverse 3.250:1
Final drive ratio 4.411:1

Four-speed automatic

1st 3.672:1
2nd 2.098:1
3rd 1.391:1
4th 1.000:1
Reverse 4.021:1
Final drive ratio 2.813:1

SUSPENSION

Front: Independent: MacPherson strut suspension with coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and anti-sway bar.
Rear: Torsion beam live axle with coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and anti-sway bar.

STEERING

Type: Power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Turning circle: 34.8 ft. (10.6 meters) curb-to-curb

BRAKES

Front: Power-assisted vented disc with floating two-piston calipers and pad wear sensors
Rear: Power-assisted disc
ABS: Standard, four-wheel, four-channel
Traction control: Available
Electronic Stability
Program (ESP) 1
(including traction control): Available

WHEELS 17 x 6.5 in. alloy

TIRES 205/50R17
Spare: TBD

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 98.4 in. (2,500 mm)
Overall length: 177.6 in. (4,510 mm)
Overall width: 68.1 in. (1,730 mm)
Overall height: 60.8 in. (1,545 mm)
Tread width, f/r: 59.1 in. (1,500 mm)/58.9 in. (1,495 mm)
Overhang, front: 35.8 in. (910 mm)
Overhang, rear: 43.7 in. (1,110 mm)
Ground clearance: 6.3 in. (160 mm)

INTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Headroom
Front: 39.6 in. (1,006 mm)
Rear: 37.5 in. (953 mm)

Legroom
Front: 41.4 in. (1,051 mm)
Rear: 35.9 in. (913 mm)

Shoulder room
Front: 53.3 in. (1,355 mm)
Rear: 52.8 in. (1,341 mm)

CAPACITIES

Fuel tank: 13.2 gallons (50 liters)
Engine oil: 4.5 quarts (4.3 liters)
Engine coolant, 4AT/5MT: 6.6 quarts (6.3 liters)/6.3 quarts (6.0 liters)

CURB WEIGHT

Manual transmission: 2,668 - 2,778 lbs. (1,210 - 1,260 kg)
Auto transmission: 2,745 - 2,855 lbs. (1,245 - 1,295 kg)

EPA FUEL ECONOMY ESTIMATES

Manual/Auto transmission: TBD

Super-Duper Hoonage Potential; Suzuki To Take On WRX & EVO

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:12:43 EST

Talk about information that makes us happy. Here's the gist; Suzuki is going to have an entry in the 2008 WRC. Due to the rule that exists in the form of homologation, Japan's suddenly upstart automaker has to let us run what they brung. Details are both sketchy and speculative at the moment, but here's what we think we know. The new street rally car will be built off the already impressive SX4 chassis. Unlike the SX4, the new car will feature full-time AWD. The body will resemble the WRC entry above. Power will come from slapping a turbo to the SX4's semi-gutsy 2.0L DOHC unit. How much power? Jump baby, jump!

Teh internets seems a bit confused about the actual output. Australian carsguide.com.au is claming 150Kw (about 200 horses) while American insideline.com is quoting 320hp and 470 motherloving foot pounds of rotation! Though, that might only be for the actual rally car. We're guessing that if Suzuki is serious about competing with streetable EVOs, power will be in the 250 to 285hp range. If they're not, then the 150Kw guesstimate is probably closer to the truth. Having driven the SX4, and if the latter is the "truth," we can say with certainty that an extra 60 ponies would be a very, very welcome thing. Suzuki: do it, do it now! 2009 is cool, too. [All praise due to Nino for the tips] – Jonny Lieberman

Suzuki SX4 rally compact for WRC [carsguide.com.au]; More: Suzuki SX4 WRC Concept [motorpaison]; More: Suzuki to Enter 2007 World Rally Championship With New SX4 [Inside Line]; More: Suzuki targets WRX, Lancer Evo [smh.com.au]

Related:
American Suzuki is 23% More Better in 2006 [Internal]

American Suzuki is 23% More Better in 2006

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:04:13 EST

We see a lot of press releases around here saying Company X's sales are up or down 3% this past year. But rarely do we read about double digit jumps. And even when we do, they are not this high. ASMC (American Suzuki Motors Corporation) just announced that they sold 23% more rides in 2006 than they did in 2005. In fact, they cracked the 100,000 unit barrier for the first time in their 21-year history. How'd they do it? Lots of people got Forenza's as X-mas gifts, ~~sadly~~ apparently. Also their "100,000-mile, seven-year, fully-transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty" couldn't have hurt. Most importantly, we just stepped out of their hoony new SX4 and were quite impressed. We're currently chasing down rumors that a WRC turbo version is coming in 2008. – Jonny Lieberman

2006 American Suzuki Automobile Annual Sales At An All-time High [Suzuki Media]

LA Auto Show Preview: Suzuki Xbox Concept

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 09:18:04 EST

If you thought the Indigo Ferret was an obscure brand of mescaline going around Taos, stick around; you'll probably be right at some point. But today, at the LA Auto Show, the Ferret in question is pro gamer Patrick Wyrick, who helped Suzuki create the SXbox concept it plans to unveil. Based on the new SX4 compact crossover, the SXbox has a combination of mild performance upgrades and extra spicy AV kittage. Considering performance, the car's been fitted with high-flow airbox/intake, cat-back exhaust, suspension tweaks and multi-piston alloy brake calipers and cross-drilled, vented rotors. The AV portion includes and multispeaker surround audio provide and a dashboard-integrated Xbox 360 console hooked to a digital projection system, which uses the retractable hood as a screen. A second Xbox is linked to LCD displays in the rear seat backs, and a 30" retractable rear projection screen rises from the cargo area on command. It's also got force-feedback front seats and four wireless controllers, including one mounted on the steering wheel . The rolling distraction unit is the product of ASC of Huntington Beach. – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Road Testing Suzuki's SX4 Mini Ute [internal]

Sweep the Leg! Suzuki Planning a WRC Car for 2008 Season

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:11:13 EDT

To most rally watchers, Suzuki building a car for the World Rally Championship is like Mr. Miyagi and Daniel-san throwing down with the US National Karate Team. Nonetheless, the company is planning an all-wheel-drive rally car based on the SX4 compact hatch. It'll have a de rigeur 2.0-liter turbocharged mill, producing around 201 horsepower, and may influence plans to produce a road-going rival to the WRXs and Evos of the world. The decision to build a showroom version likely rides on the quantity of Subaru and Mitsubishi (and Citroen) ass the rally car kicks during the 2008 WRC season. Can a small hatch even do the crane stance?

Spy Photos: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sedan

Ray Wert — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 15:28:34 EDT

The spy photogs paid by the Road that is not straight snapped some great pictures of what's purported to be the sedan version of the hatchback Suzuki SX4 that'll be hitting stores across the US in just under a month's time. The sedan version appears to share with the five-door the same random quarter window next to the side mirrors — but the rear end, according to the vehicular spy photogs of KGP is "reminiscent of the original Nissan Altima." Oh boy, we can't wait to see another Japanese manufacturer take a run down the ol' Bluebird lane with rear ends — cause that worked so well for Nissan the first time around. Although incidentally, with the SX4 five-door expected to arrive with a 2.0-liter, 16-valve DOHC rated at 143 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque, if this sedan comes to market with the same engine — the Bluebird will have it beat by 7 hp. Not bad for '93.

Spied: Suzuki SX4 Sedan! [Winding Road]

Related:
New Suzuki Models to Show up in New York [internal]

New Suzuki Models to Show up in New York

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 10:40:34 EST

Suzuki, undaunted by GM's selloff of its ownership stake in the company, is continuing in its plan for world domination with a couple of introductions at the New York auto show next month. We hear you snickering, and Suzuki does too, but it doesn't care. The company is planning to debut its new XL7 SUV as well as its new SX4, er, small four wheeler (sorry, "compact sport X-over") at the show. The SX4 is just the latest in a genre of small four-wheelers created by Subaru in the mid-'70s, but abandoned of late. Welcome it back — there's more to come.

Related:
Dan Neil on the Suzuki Grand Vitara [internal]

Road Testing Suzuki's SX4 Mini Ute

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 11:47:43 EST

In its new SX4 small crossover, Suzuki may have a car that will finally put it over the threshold as a producer to contend with. Otherwise, it'll have another econobox to jeopardize the brand equity it's largely gleaned from teenaged motorcycle buffs learning to draw that iconic S on their three-ring binders. AutoWeek drove the 2007 SX4, a "sport crossover vehicle," which will debut at next year's New York Auto Show. Based on AW's very basic take, Suzuki may get the former: a solid, 4WD contender among the boatload of new economy cars coming to the US market (e.g., Chevrolet Aveo, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris).

First Drive: 2007 Suzuki SX4 [AutoWeek]