Suzuki are known as being one of the specialists when it comes to 4WD and they have now made a fresh attempt on conquering the very competitive ‘crowded crossover’ SUV market in Australia with their Suzuki S-Cross.
Styling
We live in a confusing world these days when it comes to the automotive industry what with all the crossovers going on. It would be more than fair to say that this hatchback looks a lot more like an SUV especially when compared to its predecessor the SX4. While it looks a little like an SUV though, it is far from looking like a pure SUV, so the lines are definitely starting to get blurred here.
In the sense of styling, the S-Cross does not do anything that has not been done before so there is nothing really to shout home about in this respect. Yes it looks neat and tidy but apart from its clamshell bonnet there is not much to set it apart from anything else in this category.
Under the Hood
The Suzuki S-Cross benefits from a 1.6 litre four cylinder petrol engine that emits a decent 86kw in power and 156nm in torque. It might not make use of the most high tech engineering available these days such as direct fuel injection but it does do very well in fuel consumption. At 5.8litres and 6.2 litres per 100km in two wheel drive and four wheel dive respectively – this is pretty impressive.
One drawback is that the entry level 2WD GL is only available with a 5-speed manual gearbox while the remainder of the range comes equipped with the option of a CVT automatic gearbox.
Safety
There is a decent amount of safety features in the S-Cross ranging from ABS brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, safety belt pretensioners, force limiters and seven airbags. The car feels very solid anyway but it is always a bonus to know that there are numerous features in place to help you should you need them.
Driving
The first thing you will notice when you get the Suzuki S-Cross on the road is the smoothness and sophistication of the drive. It is bigger than its predecessor but it handles like a charm on most surfaces and covers dirt tracks as if they weren’t there.
Steering can feel a little vague when moving in a straight line but thankfully it all feels a lot firmer once you actually need to turn.
The engine underneath feels a little toothless in all honesty and while it is more than adequate it just feels like a turbo diesel would have given it the spark that was needed. Theat being said, it does its job without being spectacular. It is just sometimes we want something a little more to make the drive that more entertaining.
Conclusion
There is nothing particularly wrong with the Suzuki S-Cross but it does not really get the pulses racing either. For sensible people that want something that does the job is functional and economic then this is for them. Those that expect as bit more flair and flamboyance it might be best to look elsewhere.