Another Dark Horse: Suzuki SX4

On vacation here in New England, I've had the use of a Suzuki SX4 sedan for the past week. I have to say, for 15 grand (with the manual 5-speed gearbox) , this is a nice little car. For the short money of a Fit or Yaris, you get a roomy cabin, a peppy 143-hp engine, 17-inch alloys, power everything, a CD player, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, a trip computer and even automatic climate control. It also sports a 15 cubic foot trunk, cavernous for this class, though it lacks a fold-down rear seat.

But it's not just a healthy standard features list that makes the SX4 likeable.

With its peppy performance, nicely balanced ride and handling and a quiet, comfortable cabin, the SX4 is pleasant to drive. It shifts easily, felt tight as a drum over crappy roads and had a decent audio system (though it had no jack for my iPod, you can get one through the dealer). 

Against EPA figures of 22 city, 30 highway and 25 combined, I'm getting 29 mpg in over 400 miles of mostly highway driving. Yes, the official numbers are on the low side for the segment, but my actual average of nearly 30 is still nothing to sneeze at.

When you factor in the long warranty and the solid thumbs up that it's getting from folks who've bought it, the Suzuki SX4 (along with the Hyundai Elantra) is a dark horse that deserves a hard look if you're looking for budget wheels. 

John DiPietro, Automotive Editor 

Posted by

johnnyturbo August 7, 2008, 3:00 PM

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Buying New Cars, Fuel Economy

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Economy Car, Suzuki SX4