Suzuki Auto

2009 SUZUKI SX4 SPORT

Small on price, big on fun

Life often presents the agonizing but usually realistic choice between what you really want and what you can afford. Automotive desire and financial responsibility are not usually good bedfellows. Though reality of the decision is hardly ever as great as the fantasy of the situation, every now and again there's a little win even for the financially disinclined. A lot for a little or more for less is always welcome, especially when it involves having a swell time. Enter into this rare motoring world of the Suzuki SX4 Sport Sedan.

A small and inexpensive car with sport as part of its name should not just look like fun—it should actually be fun. Why suffer in commuter box misery or woefully underpowered engine-induced road-going depression? Going for a drive should be a good time regardless if you're heading into the office or up into the hills with a few bicycles on the roof. The Suzuki SX4 Sport starts out with a feisty engine then wraps it in a package with enough sport to make the car fun, but enough practical features to keep the car well rooted in financial realism.

Performance

At the heart of the SX4 Sport is a 2.0-liter, 143-horsepower twin-camshaft engine. The four-banger supplies plenty of underhood verve for road-going entertainment. The horsepower is a refreshing alternative to the typically gutless world of the underpowered economy class. The SX4 Sport engine features a variable induction system that delivers a throaty growl into the cabin to provide sonic amusement, but not so much that it becomes tiresome over the long haul. The two camshafts are chain driven for added durability over belt-spun versions.

The SX4 comes with choice of a five-speed manual transmission a four-speed automatic. The SX4 Sport automatic transmission is crisper than the usual swishy and indecisive automatic slushbox expected in an economy car special. The automatic is tuned to shift decisively all by itself, and also comes with a manual gear selection feature for freedom of choice in gears in an automatic world. A gear up or down can be had with a few left to right snicks of the shift lever.

Handling

The SX4 Sport suspension starts out with a solid foundation by way of some body reinforcement in the suspension mount areas. The springs sit 10mm lower than the standard SX4, and work together with KYB performance shocks. Anti-sway bars hold the body and suspension together to keep cornering maneuvers more stabilized. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution scrub off velocity when called upon.

The SX4 Sport rides on 17-inch alloy wheels shod with a set of low-profile tires for sporty handling and a more aggressive look. Over the road the SX4 handled inner city driving or mountain road carving with a taut and responsive yet reasonably compliant ride. The runabout holds good compromise between the super taut race-bred suspension of a sports car and the vague mush fest of your average compact econobox. The SX4 is complacent enough around town but has strong legs for winding roads.

Driver's View

The SX4 has an enormous front windshield with odd triangle-shaped vestigial non-opening "vent" windows behind the a-pillar. This ventrangular-shaped glass adds a distinctive wedge shape to the car, and a great deal of forward visibility to the SX4 driving equation. All that glass adds up to better views. For a small car the SX4 feels bigger inside thanks to this giant greenhouse effect.

SX4 driver and passenger seats are up high in the cabin to help with this commanding position. The front seats come with handy retractable center armrests for times when both hands are not on the leather wrapped steering wheel. The sporty if not Spartan looking seats were comfortable even after a full day of driving from seaside to Sierras and back again. Door storage, drink holders and a deep glovebox add more function to the well-sorted interior.

Fully Loaded

Even with economy comes the convenience of the modern world. The Suzuki SX4 runs below 16K but features navigation as standard equipment. The navigation unit pops up out of the top of the dash with a touch and click. A few more taps on the screen and seconds later the Bluetooth paired right up with our smart phone to avoid breaking any California law while driving. The navigation automatically switched to night mode when darkness fell and headlamps were switched on. Interior gauge lighting turns a pleasant shade of orange, which is easy on the eyes for minimum visual fatigue on longer nocturnal forays.

The snub-nosed SX4 Sport sedan has a surprisingly gigantic trunk out in back. The 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space can be extended into the cabin by folding down some or all of the 60/40 rear seating. Rear seating is also positioned high in the greenhouse for stadium style seating in a five-passenger compact car. The standard CD/AM/FM Mp3 audio system can be controlled via steering wheel mounted buttons. Tilt steering along with power windows, door locks, and mirrors all come along for the standard equipment ride.

The Suzuki SX4 is a small car that leans towards being sporty but doesn't have the tendency to beat you up short wheelbase boy-racer style. The SX4 Sport is welcome news in a world where driving is an increasingly dull proposition for those on a budget. In a sea of economy cars that are seemingly purpose built to be little more than appliances, the Suzuki SX4 is a step in a very right direction. People expect a lot even from a low line economy car in the modern world. The Suzuki SX4 Sport delivers more than most. (www.suzukiauto.com)

About the Author

Mike Bumbeck spends a great deal of his time photographing, repairing and writing about cars and their odd effect on those obsessed with their powers.