1-26-2007
2007 Suzuki SX4 AWD
by Dave Stall
2007 Suzuki SX4 AWD has SUV features, only smaller

If you must have all-wheel drive but can't afford it, Suzuki has solved your AWD problem with the introduction of the 2007 SX4 AWD.

The name says it all. "S" stands for sport, "X" stands for cross and the "4" stands for the four seasons you may need AWD. Suzuki has taken all the attributes found in an SUV, shrunk them into a neat little package and badged it the SX4. The majority of the reactions are "it's cute" and I admit it does have a personality. But what it really has is functionality, which is what the automobile should provide.

The Suzuki SX4 has a lot going for it. Not only is it the least expensive AWD vehicle on the market, it's really a comfortable ride in town. Sure, on the freeway you feel the bumps. As you know I'm six-feet tall and some cars (and even a truck or two) are just a little too tight for my liking. But the SX4 is really a comfortable ride from Murrieta to Alpine. The power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 143 horsepower and 136 pound foot of torque.

It gets 24 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the open road.  Suzuki put a fuel mileage computer up at the top of the dash next to an outside temperature reading. I almost laughed when I let off the gas and the fuel mileage jumped to 60 miles per gallon but if you put the pedal to the metal, the computer drops to eight miles per gallon. I could do without that annoying little information center but after time I'm sure I would get used to it. It might even keep my right foot light on the gas pedal just to see how good of fuel mileage I can really get.

The all-wheel drive system comes in three modes - two-wheel drive for dry pavement, all-wheel drive that can distribute 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels, and "lock," which locks up 30 to 50 percent of the power to the rear wheel and shift automatically to auto mode over 36 miles per hour.

This is a five-door hatchback with folding rear seats, a hard cargo cover that covers the rear storage area, back seats that fold flat for added storage and the rear seating is pretty comfortable, even for me. My Suzuki came with a "racy red" exterior and a black interior with polished aluminum touches. The abstract design of the seat fabric adds to its look. My tester came with the four-speed automatic transmission but (as you all know) I would have opted for the five-speed manual, which is standard on all three models (the base, convenience and the sport).

The SX4 is based on the very popular Swift model. The SX4 may be new to the US but in Europe and Asia, the SX4 has won a lot of awards, so don't think you're looking at an untested vehicle. The SX4 is a sport utility vehicle in a smaller package than normal but the little Suzuki really delivers. Check out the list of standard features: air conditioning, driver and passenger front airbags plus side, front and rear curtain airbags and a great sounding AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system. There are manual adjustments on the seat and the leather-wrapped steering wheel also tilts for added driver comfort.

The exterior has 16-inch alloy wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, remote keyless entry, power windows and door locks, intermittent multi-speed wipers and roof rails for those outside toys.

Suzuki has America's No. 1 warranty. It's a 100,000-mile no-deductible fully-transferable warranty plus roadside assistance and loaner car program during warranty repairs. Check with the salesman at Carriage Motors or the nearest Suzuki dealership for more information.

Did I like this Suzuki? I really did, especially with fuel prices creeping up again.  So maybe the Suzuki is the answer to all your driving needs. At least put it on your list if you're looking for a loaded vehicle for under $17,000 with the best warranty available. Want to drive my tester? Give Carriage Motors a call at (951) 694-6060.

Next week, back to Temecula for a hot Nissan from Quality Nissan.