Suzuki S-Cross fresh car review
Genre-bending hatch offers adequate spectacle and value.
Suzuki S-Cross fresh car review
When it comes to petite SUVs, Suzuki is something of an accomplished. Since the 1970s, it has had an off-road tiddler in its range leading to the still rugged Jimny, which is something of an anomaly in a market segment infatuated with going soft. In the ’80s and ’90s Suzuki also led the way with its Vitara, that later spawned the thicker Grand Vitara.
But since then it has largely been downhill, as the fresh breed of soft-roaders has swamped Suzuki’s offerings. More recently the SX4, a soft-roader based on the Swift puny car, has loved some niche success.
Now it’s back for more, albeit with a fresh name and a slightly fresh way of thinking with the S-Cross. The largest switch has been the adoption of a smaller 1.6-litre engine, which has significantly less power than the Two.0-litre it substitutes. Yet, despite having a longer and broader five-door bod, the S-Cross is about one hundred ten kilograms lighter than the SX4 it substitutes.
What do you get?
The S-Cross GL starts at $22,990 drive-away for a manual or $2500 more for an auto (Suzuki recently readjusted prices, which were originally out of step with its standing in the SUV world).
Included are 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, cruise control, stability control and seven airbags (dual front, front-side, side curtain and a driver’s knee airbag). As with many compact SUVs there’s only a space-saver spare tyre, which can be a limiting factor for those planning to go off-road.
That’s a leap in price over the SX4 by thousands of dollars, partially offset by some more gear.
The better tooled GLX (from $29,990) comes only with an auto transmission and brings satellite-navigation, dual zone air-conditioning, auto wipers and headlights, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, leather steering wheel, wise key entry with shove button begin and 17-inch alloys. It’s also available with four-wheel-drive for another $3000.
There’s also a Prestige model that sits at the top of the S-Cross tree, at a substantial $34,990, bringing a panoramic sunroof and leather trim as well as the four-wheel-drive system. While it’s well specified, the price thrusts the puny Suzuki SUV into territory occupied by larger offerings from the likes of Toyota, Subaru, Mazda and Honda.
What’s inwards?
There’s a formal feel to the cabin of the S-Cross, but it works reasonably well, with the occasional splash of faux metal cracking up the dark but attractive patterns and finishes.
Related Content
Up front the seats are comfy enough and there’s good adjustability to the driving position.
The touchscreen is the only letdown, with an at times fiddly menu system and puny volume knob that lowers the ambience and takes the edge off usability.
Excellent head room translates to the rear seats, with gam room just OK. There are no air vents out back, however, and the central seatbelt retracts into the roof, which isn’t ideal when it comes to quick folding of the split-fold seats.
Where the extra exterior dimensions truly pay off is in boot capacity; while it primarily looks shallow there’s a removable false floor that exposes a larger cavity underneath. Outer binnacles on each side also look after smaller items.
Under the bonnet
Few cars go rearwards on spectacle these days, despite the shove towards improved fuel efficiency. But that’s what Suzuki has done with the S-Cross.
The 1.6-litre engine makes noticeably less power and torque than the Two.0-litre it substitutes. Even with the loss of weight, it leaves the car with a worse spectacle equation than the SX4.
No surprise, then, that it feels underdone when it comes to acceleration.
A modest 86kW of power is backed up with just 156Nm of torque, the latter produced relatively high in the rev range, at 4400rpm.
That means low-rev acceleration can feel lacklustre and, sometimes, the CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission; it has an infinite number of ratios) can fumble as it attempts to match the driver requirements to the engine’s output.
Generally the CVT transmission helps with making the most out of the engine, but extended ascents can leave the engine revving annoyingly as it attempts to maintain tempo. However, it infrequently lets the engine tap into its meek peak power, with maximum acceleration often leaving the engine revving inbetween five thousand and 5500rpm.
Average fuel use is claimed at a respectable 6.Two litres per one hundred kilometres, but in everyday suburban driving the engine is working pretty hard, which translated to closer to 9L/100km.
On the road
The S-Cross doesn’t sit as high as some SUVs, which works in its favour when it comes to driving dynamics.
The five-door figure sits relatively plane through arches, albeit with some lean if you thrust stiffer.
It’s backed up by above average grip from the 17-inch Continental tyres, which produce reassurance where other cars may be letting out a squeal.
Less amazing is the rail, which can be clumsy over sharper bumps, while subduing higher speed ripples more convincingly. There’s also some noise from the suspension as it goes about its business over poorer surfaces.
Speaking of noise, the S-Cross is generally hushed but can bring a noticeable roar into the cabin on selected bitumen surfaces.
Verdict
The S-Cross doesn’t stir the SUV game on at all and in the engine department has taken a rearwards step, which is disappointing given the plethora of models on suggest.
Its fate as an also-ran – albeit one with a pleasant enough interior – is cemented by pricing that is not particularly enthralling against the fresh breed of compact soft-roaders.
Suzuki S-Cross pricing and specifications
Price $32,990, plus on-road and dealer costs
Engine 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol
Transmission CVT auto, front-wheel-drive
Weight 1125kg, 1190kg for 4WD model
Safety seven airbags; stability control
Suzuki S-Cross fresh car review
Suzuki S-Cross fresh car review
Genre-bending hatch offers adequate spectacle and value.
Suzuki S-Cross fresh car review
When it comes to puny SUVs, Suzuki is something of an accomplished. Since the 1970s, it has had an off-road tiddler in its range leading to the still rugged Jimny, which is something of an anomaly in a market segment infatuated with going soft. In the ’80s and ’90s Suzuki also led the way with its Vitara, that later spawned the thicker Grand Vitara.
But since then it has largely been downhill, as the fresh breed of soft-roaders has swamped Suzuki’s offerings. More recently the SX4, a soft-roader based on the Swift puny car, has liked some niche success.
Now it’s back for more, albeit with a fresh name and a slightly fresh way of thinking with the S-Cross. The fattest switch has been the adoption of a smaller 1.6-litre engine, which has significantly less power than the Two.0-litre it substitutes. Yet, despite having a longer and broader five-door figure, the S-Cross is about one hundred ten kilograms lighter than the SX4 it substitutes.
What do you get?
The S-Cross GL starts at $22,990 drive-away for a manual or $2500 more for an auto (Suzuki recently readjusted prices, which were primarily out of step with its standing in the SUV world).
Included are 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, cruise control, stability control and seven airbags (dual front, front-side, side curtain and a driver’s knee airbag). As with many compact SUVs there’s only a space-saver spare tyre, which can be a limiting factor for those planning to go off-road.
That’s a leap in price over the SX4 by thousands of dollars, partially offset by some more gear.
The better tooled GLX (from $29,990) comes only with an auto transmission and brings satellite-navigation, dual zone air-conditioning, auto wipers and headlights, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, leather steering wheel, wise key entry with thrust button embark and 17-inch alloys. It’s also available with four-wheel-drive for another $3000.
There’s also a Prestige model that sits at the top of the S-Cross tree, at a substantial $34,990, bringing a panoramic sunroof and leather trim as well as the four-wheel-drive system. While it’s well specified, the price thrusts the puny Suzuki SUV into territory occupied by larger offerings from the likes of Toyota, Subaru, Mazda and Honda.
What’s inwards?
There’s a formal feel to the cabin of the S-Cross, but it works reasonably well, with the occasional splash of faux metal cracking up the dark but attractive patterns and finishes.
Related Content
Up front the seats are comfy enough and there’s good adjustability to the driving position.
The touchscreen is the only letdown, with an sometimes fiddly menu system and petite volume knob that lowers the ambience and takes the edge off usability.
Good head room translates to the rear seats, with gam room just OK. There are no air vents out back, however, and the central seatbelt retracts into the roof, which isn’t ideal when it comes to quick folding of the split-fold seats.
Where the extra exterior dimensions indeed pay off is in boot capacity; while it primarily looks shallow there’s a removable false floor that exposes a larger cavity underneath. Outer binnacles on each side also look after smaller items.
Under the bonnet
Few cars go rearwards on spectacle these days, despite the shove towards improved fuel efficiency. But that’s what Suzuki has done with the S-Cross.
The 1.6-litre engine makes noticeably less power and torque than the Two.0-litre it substitutes. Even with the loss of weight, it leaves the car with a worse spectacle equation than the SX4.
No surprise, then, that it feels underdone when it comes to acceleration.
A modest 86kW of power is backed up with just 156Nm of torque, the latter produced relatively high in the rev range, at 4400rpm.
That means low-rev acceleration can feel lacklustre and, periodically, the CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission; it has an infinite number of ratios) can fumble as it attempts to match the driver requirements to the engine’s output.
Generally the CVT transmission helps with making the most out of the engine, but extended ascents can leave the engine revving annoyingly as it attempts to maintain rhythm. However, it uncommonly lets the engine tap into its meek peak power, with maximum acceleration often leaving the engine revving inbetween five thousand and 5500rpm.
Average fuel use is claimed at a respectable 6.Two litres per one hundred kilometres, but in everyday suburban driving the engine is working pretty hard, which translated to closer to 9L/100km.
On the road
The S-Cross doesn’t sit as high as some SUVs, which works in its favour when it comes to driving dynamics.
The five-door bod sits relatively plane through arches, albeit with some lean if you shove tighter.
It’s backed up by above average grip from the 17-inch Continental tyres, which supply reassurance where other cars may be letting out a squeal.
Less incredible is the rail, which can be clumsy over sharper bumps, while subduing higher speed ripples more convincingly. There’s also some noise from the suspension as it goes about its business over poorer surfaces.
Speaking of noise, the S-Cross is generally hushed but can bring a noticeable roar into the cabin on selected bitumen surfaces.
Verdict
The S-Cross doesn’t budge the SUV game on at all and in the engine department has taken a rearwards step, which is disappointing given the plethora of models on suggest.
Its fate as an also-ran – albeit one with a pleasant enough interior – is cemented by pricing that is not particularly enthralling against the fresh breed of compact soft-roaders.
Suzuki S-Cross pricing and specifications
Price $32,990, plus on-road and dealer costs
Engine 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol
Transmission CVT auto, front-wheel-drive
Weight 1125kg, 1190kg for 4WD model
Safety seven airbags; stability control