The SX4 S-Cross is a dependable, practical and frugal car, but can it compete with established mainstream rivals like the Nissan Qashqai?
This is a Suzuki SX4 in name only. Despite what the badge might have you believe, this is not a direct replacement for Suzuki's quirky compact crossover.In fact, it's a much bigger and more conventional car and now a direct Nissan Qashqai challenger. No pressure there, then.Suzuki would rather you called it S-Cross, so that's what we'll do. Buyers can choose from 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, manual and automatic transmission and front- and all-wheel drive. Standard equipment levels are good - 16in alloys, air-con and cruise control are all in the standard armoury.The really good news should come from the fact that the engineering team for the S-Cross boasts the Swift among its back catalogue, one of the best-driving superminis out there. And some development even took place on UK roads.Suzuki calls it the crossover that's "perfect for families, without being just a family car". We get what the Japanese car firm means; it's got everything you'd expect of a car in this class, with a dynamic ability that you might not have expected.On first acquaintance, it's a much sharper looker than the current SX4; the nose is a bit low, but it's smart enough. Suzuki has fairly obviously looked to the Nissan Qashqai for its side profile and overall proportions. Which is no bad thing when you look at the UK new car sales charts.The best-seller in the UK is tipped to the be a 1.6-litre turbodiesel with a six-speed manual gearbox sending drive through the front wheels only, and it's the model we've tested here. It's a solid engine, not the briskest but neither does it sound like it's ever being worked too hard.The torque band is quite narrow and it's not particularly tractable as a result; you'll be reaching for the gear lever to change down if the engine speed drops below 2000rpm and for it to change up only 1500rpm or so later. Still, it's a nice slick shift.That slick feeling continues throughout much of the rest of the car's controls. The steering is nicely weighted for its intended purpose as well, and has that nice habit of pointing where you want it; too often in this class the steering is too light.Its body control is better than a Qashqai's, as is its handling. Predictably, there is some body roll, but it's well controlled and the S-Cross never has you lurching all over the road no matter how hard you push it. It's here where a bit of the Swift magic begins to shine through, although the smile it raises never develops into a big grin.That's because there are a few niggles with the ride quality. It just doesn't feel supple enough at low- or medium-speeds. The softly-set-up Qashqai beats it in this department as the damping on the S-Cross is just too harsh. If you've spent any time in a Swift, much of the S-Cross's interior will be familiar to you. The design is pleasant enough, although the perceived quality of the materials could be better. Ergonomically, it's sound; the controls are intuitive and you're not baffled by the sheer amount of buttons and switches.The interior is much like the rest of the Suzuki S-Cross: a good and honest cabin from a good and honest car maker. If that appeals to you, then there's no part of the S-Cross that should be a deal-breaker.It's just a shame that the "without being just a family car" part of the original sales pitch and brief falls a bit short because of the iffy ride and tractability of the engine, as the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross really does look good value next to a Qashqai.
The SX4 S-Cross is a dependable, practical and frugal car, but can it compete with established mainstream rivals like the Nissan Qashqai?
This is a Suzuki SX4 in name only. Despite what the badge might have you believe, this is not a direct replacement for Suzuki's quirky compact crossover.In fact, it's a much bigger and more conventional car and now a direct Nissan Qashqai challenger. No pressure there, then.Suzuki would rather you called it S-Cross, so that's what we'll do. Buyers can choose from 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, manual and automatic transmission and front- and all-wheel drive. Standard equipment levels are good - 16in alloys, air-con and cruise control are all in the standard armoury.The really good news should come from the fact that the engineering team for the S-Cross boasts the Swift among its back catalogue, one of the best-driving superminis out there. And some development even took place on UK roads.Suzuki calls it the crossover that's "perfect for families, without being just a family car". We get what the Japanese car firm means; it's got everything you'd expect of a car in this class, with a dynamic ability that you might not have expected.On first acquaintance, it's a much sharper looker than the current SX4; the nose is a bit low, but it's smart enough. Suzuki has fairly obviously looked to the Nissan Qashqai for its side profile and overall proportions. Which is no bad thing when you look at the UK new car sales charts.The best-seller in the UK is tipped to the be a 1.6-litre turbodiesel with a six-speed manual gearbox sending drive through the front wheels only, and it's the model we've tested here. It's a solid engine, not the briskest but neither does it sound like it's ever being worked too hard.The torque band is quite narrow and it's not particularly tractable as a result; you'll be reaching for the gear lever to change down if the engine speed drops below 2000rpm and for it to change up only 1500rpm or so later. Still, it's a nice slick shift.That slick feeling continues throughout much of the rest of the car's controls. The steering is nicely weighted for its intended purpose as well, and has that nice habit of pointing where you want it; too often in this class the steering is too light.Its body control is better than a Qashqai's, as is its handling. Predictably, there is some body roll, but it's well controlled and the S-Cross never has you lurching all over the road no matter how hard you push it. It's here where a bit of the Swift magic begins to shine through, although the smile it raises never develops into a big grin.That's because there are a few niggles with the ride quality. It just doesn't feel supple enough at low- or medium-speeds. The softly-set-up Qashqai beats it in this department as the damping on the S-Cross is just too harsh. If you've spent any time in a Swift, much of the S-Cross's interior will be familiar to you. The design is pleasant enough, although the perceived quality of the materials could be better. Ergonomically, it's sound; the controls are intuitive and you're not baffled by the sheer amount of buttons and switches.The interior is much like the rest of the Suzuki S-Cross: a good and honest cabin from a good and honest car maker. If that appeals to you, then there's no part of the S-Cross that should be a deal-breaker.It's just a shame that the "without being just a family car" part of the original sales pitch and brief falls a bit short because of the iffy ride and tractability of the engine, as the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross really does look good value next to a Qashqai.