Confidence is high at Suzuki as SX4 S-Cross is launched

First, we had the updates to the big-selling Swift including an accomplished 4x4 version.

Then we heard that the Keighley-based Colin Appleyard Group had seen Suzuki car sales rise significantly in the last few months. During August, for example, the company registered 80 new vehicles, an increase of 100 per cent on the same month last year.

This encouraging sign has continued through into September with the new registration bringing a further 135 sales.

And now we have the new SX4 S-Cross due to go on sale on October 1, costing from £14,999. This is an important car for Suzuki and one which the company hopes will reinforce its presence in the SUV market.

It is in fact Suzuki’s first Crossover model in this market. Available with either 1.6 litre petrol or 1.6-litre DDiS engines, they are claimed to offer class-leading emissions and low fuel consumption.

In fact, the diesel emits just 110g/km of CO2 with 67.2mpg on a combined route. Impressive!

It has only been a few months since the new SX4 S-Cross was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

SX4 S-Cross is the latest of Suzuki’s ‘world strategic models’ and the company says it makes strong statements in styling, safety, performance, handling and economy.

The most important feature for me is the way it looks given that this is a fashion-led sector.

Striking crossover styling gives a remarkable, bold and sporty look. It offers ample room for passengers and luggage and the world’s first double sliding panoramic glass sunroof has the largest opening area in this category.

When Suzuki’s designers and engineers began developing the SX4 S-Cross they realised they needed to “think bigger” to be able to respond to expectations.

Suzuki created the new SX4 S-Cross by combining its compact car knowhow with technologies honed for sport utility vehicles.

Suzuki has learned a lot from the Swift. It has a timeless quality and it has succeeded by simply getting more things right than wrong. It is easy on the eye, well equipped, keenly priced and painless to live with.

So the SX4 S-Cross continues the theme. Keen to turn up the heat on its new found closest rivals, Suzuki is going after the likes of Nissan’s popular Qashqai with this new model. Plus, with an eye on increasing its footprint in both the business user and Motability markets, Suzuki’s replacement for the old SX4 has some big shoes to fill.

Making the switch from high-rise hatch to full-blown compact SUV was, in light of the rapid growth in the compact SUV market, an easy decision for Suzuki to take.

This latest SX4 has grown in size to become a genuine family holdall and, according to its maker, boasts enough boot space to trump the efforts of many of its closest rivals.

And the SX4 is the first to offer built-in sat-nav and DAB digital radio. And it’s as a result of the low diesel CO2 figure that Suzuki hopes to attract more than a few company car users.

Adding a few grammes of CO2 is the SX4’s all-wheel drive option, which is a user-friendly system offering an auto mode alongside a sport and winter setting. Still, in diesel trim the SX4’s 114g/km figure remains low, and likely to appeal to rural buyers seeking a low cost, high grip compact family car. And if urban use will form the majority of your driving routine, Suzuki’s also got that covered with a CVT auto gearbox for the petrol variant.

Regardless of engine or gearbox choice, out on the road the SX4 displays all the usual Suzuki trademarks: safe and secure handling, good levels of cabin refinement, easily adjustable driving position and, thanks to the SX4’s elevated ride height, good all-round visibility.

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 1.6 SX3 five-door PRICE: £14,999. Entry-level model for the range ENGINE: A 1,586cc, four cylinder unit generating 120ps via five-speed gearbox and front wheel drive. There are four-wheel-drive versions PERFORMANCE: Top speed 111mph and 0 to 60mph in 11 seconds COSTS: town 41.5mpg; country 58.8mpg; combined 51.3mpg EMISSIONS: 127g/km WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles