2008 Suzuki SX4: Funky styling, lots of toys

PETER BLEAKNEY FOR THE TORONTO STAR

The SX4 Sedan is tall for its class, with a cheerfully aggressive snout that flows up to a large raked windshield.

Peter Bleakney

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

If you're going play in the same sandbox as the Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla, you'd better have something that sets you apart from this crowd of perennial heavy hitters. And with the recent joy found at the fuel pumps, the competition in this segment is only going to get tougher

Suzuki's strategy with the $18,995 2008 SX4 Sport Sedan is hit 'em with some funky styling, offer a spacious interior, and bring lots of toys.

New for 2008, this car is a sedan version of the SX4 hatchback. While the hatch is available with all-wheel drive, the sedan is front drive only.

Stylistically, the add-a-trunk-to-me works quite well. The SX4 Sedan is tall for its class (110 mm taller than a Civic), with a cheerfully aggressive snout flowing up to a large raked windshield. From the side, the SX4 has a pleasingly wedgy profile completed by the large trunk

The SX4 Sport Sedan, which costs an additional $1,800 over the base car, gets a tasteful body kit, body-coloured mirrors and door handles, fog lamps and 17-inch alloys.

The tall greenhouse pays dividends in interior room. You sit high in this car (the seats are not height adjustable), and the driving position is less "sport" and more "mini crossover." Not a bad thing. With the doors opening at almost 90 degrees, ingress is a breeze. Outward visibility is exemplary and there's headroom for a 10-gallon hat.

The simple yet functional interior, with tasteful metallic accents, has a high-quality look. The dash and door panel tops feature a grained plastic that appears for all the world like the soft-touch stuff found in high-end vehicles. Except it's rock hard to the touch. So don't touch it. Sadly, the armrest on the door is similarly unyielding to the flesh, and that you can't avoid.

The fabric seats are comfy and supportive however, and the Sport's leather steering wheel with audio and cruise functions (tilt but no telescope) feels good in the hands. The driving position is a bit unusual in that the shifter is way down low, and the pedals are close for those long of leg. That said, I adapted quickly and never felt uncomfortable.

Out on the road, this little sedan continues to impress. I must confess, having not driven a Suzuki for about a decade, I expected it to be a tin box. Far from it. The SX4 feels solid and substantial, with a compliant ride and very little wind noise on the highway. With the tall fifth gear, the tach shows 3100 rpm at 120 km/h.

All the better to hear the standard eight-speaker (with subwoofer) AM/FM six-disc CD/WMA/MP3 audio with auxiliary input – a bonus in this class of vehicle.

On the downside, this short wheelbase sedan tends to pitch on rough surfaces. Steering is nicely direct and the handling competent, but I wouldn't call it sporty as the high centre of gravity and compliant underpinnings give it a slightly tippy disposition.

Like the SX4 hatch, the sedan is powered by a 143 hp, 136 lb.-ft. 2.0 L four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, while the four-speed auto is an $1,100 option.

The four-banger is willing and makes a nice little snarl when pushed, but you'll find most of the work will be done in the midrange – it doesn't spin like a Honda engine. Nor is it as efficient. With a rating of 9.5 L/100 city and 6.8 highway, it's on the high side for this class of vehicle. I saw 8.0 L/100 over a week of largely highway driving.

Clutch action is smooth and progressive and the short-throw shifter snicks into gears with precision.

Kudos to Suzuki for providing six airbags as standard equipment, ABS brakes with Brake Assist and EDB (electronic brake force distribution) with all SX4 sedans. The Sport adds four-wheel disc brakes.

Other standard features include air conditioning (with automatic climate control for Sport models), a dash-mounted information display (fuel consumption, clock, outside temperature), power windows, cruise control, power door locks with remote entry and power mirrors (driver's side heated with Sport).

Suzuki has armed this stylish Japanese-built sedan for battle, and it makes for a compelling entry in this hotly contested segment. During my week behind the wheel, the SX4's cheerful disposition, quality interior and overall level of comfort proved endearing qualities indeed. If Suzuki added a flip-down rear seat and squeezed more efficiency from the engine (direct injection?), it would have a home run.

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