2010 Suzuki SX4 - Review

By Tim Healey

Tim Healey

Contributing Writer BIO

Tim Healey was formerly an associate editor at Consumer Guide Automotive in Chicago. Before that he worked in the automotive industry as a service... More

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2010 Suzuki SX4 SportBack

There is a slight ride trade-off, it does get a bit bumpy at times. Also, the fast-revving four will require frequent shifting. Thankfully the clutch is light but offers predictable take-up. The shifter is light, too.

Athletic moves sometimes come at a cost, and in this case, the price is paid in terms of noise. This is not a quiet car. The engine is buzzy, making its presence known. At least vibration and harshness are quelled nicely.

The interior disappoints--there's too much plastic and too many hard inserts filling in for buttons and switches that would present in more-expensive models. The pop-up nav screen is a long reach from the driver, and it's small screen is hard to read at a glance. The upright seating position is nice, however.

I ran into a glitch with the wireless cell phone link--it paired to my phone without any problems, but the audio did not play through the speakers. Suzuki has promised to look into it, but no answers have surfaced as of press time.

Small cars often have small cargo areas, and the SX4 is no different. The rear hatch area isn't large, although I did manage to fit six or seven plastic grocery bags back there, along with an 18-bottle case of beer and a six-pack. It took some maneuvering, but I did not need to fold down the rear seats.

Fuel economy is the strong suit of small cars like this, and I averaged 24.5 mpg over 183 miles of combined city and highway driving.

The SX4 presents an interesting alternative to more-expensive hot hatches like the Mazda 3 and the Mini Cooper. It's quick, fun to drive, and easy on the wallet at the pump. But it gives up a lot in refinement and features when compared to those cars. For those looking for fun and fuel economy on a frugal budget, the SX4 makes sense. But for those with bigger bank accounts, the 3, the Mini, or the Volkswagen Golf might have more appeal.