I've been sitting here scratching my head and trying to think of a competitor for the Suzuki SX4 All Wheel Drive (AWD) I've just road-tested.
The quandary lies in the fact that the SX4 competes size-wise against the likes of the new Golf but the 4x4 component changes things. The CrossPolo comes to mind but besides the ride height and off-road cosmetic bits, it's more cross-dresser than off-roader with drive to the front wheels only.
The Subaru Impreza two-litre RS also comes to mind but it's R40 000 more than the SX4 AWD (R269 000 versus R229 500) and is really a bigger car. And then there's the argument around permanent all-wheel drive (like the Subaru) versus what Suzuki term all-wheel in the SX4.
Then there is the 4x4 Daihatsu Terios...
So I think it's safe to say that Suzuki's little SX4 with added traction has carved itself a bit of a niche. But is it any good?
The Japanese automaker calls the system intelligent All Wheel Drive (i-AWD) with the driver able to switch from two to all-wheel drive (auto or lock) at the press of a button. Day-to-day driving would mean the usual front-wheel drive where best performance and fuel economy figures lie.
Toggle that switch into 4WD Auto, for gravel roads and the vehicle will automatically move some drive to the rear wheels should the front ones start slipping. The 4WD Lock setting, as it suggests, provides permanent drive to both axles up to 60km/h, upon which it will revert to the 4WD Auto setting. The AWD is the only model in the SX4 range to get electronic stability control.
Let me say that this SX4 is a pavement-hopping lifestyle hatch - it's not the kind of thing you'd drive up Africa and doesn't pretend to be.
We did some mild off-roading at our test facility and it's capable of taking on the urban and semi-urban jungle. It had the traction to handle small hills, muddy conditions and rough veld with aplomb. In fact, had it not been for the lack of ground clearance, in 4WD Lock it would probably be capable of much more.
Suzuki kept the 175mm ride height the same as the standard two-wheel drive SX4.
Apart from the i-AWD drivetrain, the SX4 is similar in layout to its front-wheel drive sibling. It gets the same suspension configuration - independent Macpherson strut in front, torsion beam at the rear - and the same 205/60/R16 tyre size.
The AWD derivative has minor interior and exterior tweaks but under the skin they gave the manual box a sixth gear in two and all-wheel drive derivatives and swopped the previous four-speed auto in the front-wheel drive for a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
More interestingly, they upped the power of the two-litre (there's one engine in the range) from 107 to 112kW and from 184 to 190Nm - thanks to variable valve timing and a higher compression ratio.
It doesn't feel noticeably quicker than the pre-upgrade SX4 manual but still offers a solid, honest driving experience. The steering and handling feel direct. I did notice a bit of a lurch in the clutch but a slight change of driving technique seemed to remedy this.
Sprint times at altitude weren't too bad either and we managed 10.7sec 100km/h.
VERDICT
I enjoyed the manual SX4 when it was first launched in SA and it had my vote as a finalist in SA's 2009 Car of the Year competition. Adding another gear, more traction and more power has only made the offering better.
Fuel consumption of 8.9 litres/100km (Suzuki claims 7.6) for something with minor 4x4 capability and a two-litre engine is decent.
But does it make sense, especially at R20 000 more than the two-wheel drive SX4? Perhaps this is the answer for a buyer not looking for a bulky SUV with its bulkier price tag, provided their off-tar needs are not too serious. - INL Motoring