2009 Suzuki SX4 Sedan

    If now is the time for a small car you need to know all the options

    Malcolm Gunn, Special to The Star

    With a litre of gas closing in on the $1.50 mark, fuel-efficient cars of every stripe are in hot demand. That’s good news for Suzuki buyers who have the SX4 wagon with all-wheel-drive availability and its front-drive SX4 sedan counterpart to choose from.

    Introduced for the 2009 model year, the sedan is one of those neat little runabouts that comes across as larger than its diminutive dimensions otherwise suggest. The car is almost the same length as the league-leading Toyota Corolla and is actually about 7.5 centimeters taller, although the Corolla does outpoint the Suzuki by 10 centimeters between the front and rear wheels, which translates into greater leg room.

    To compensate, Suzuki’s designers have taken advantage of the sedan’s tall body to install chair-like seats, including a new-for-2009 split-folding rear bench and fold-up arm rests for the front buckets. Yes, there’s a commanding view for both front- and back-seat passengers, assisted by generously sized windows. Also on the generous side is the SX4’s trunk that, at 439 litres (15 cubic feet), rivals or beats nearly everything in its class plus a number of mid-sizers as well. The SX4 sedan’s sizable boot actually helps make it longer than the wagon version by nearly 38 centimeters.

    From the outside, the SX4’s styling is considerably less gawky than that of the previous Aerio sedan that was cashiered following the 2006 season, even though that model was also on the tall side. Here you get neatly rounded lines and curvy, flared-out fender openings that can be filled with available 17-inch alloy wheels. This is one attractive four-door with few, if any, styling missteps.

    The SX4 sedan uses the same basic suspension as its wagon counterpart but the sedan is tuned to be a bit stiffer. It also sits slightly lower to the ground, which it can get away with since there’s no all-wheel-drive clearance issues to deal with.

    What the sedan does share with the wagon is a 143-horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that operates through a five-speed manual transmission, or optional four-speed automatic. The feisty 2.0 delivers its maximum 136 pound-feet of torque at a relatively low 3,600 rpm, which means it shouldn’t be the buzz-bomb that other higher-revving engines in the SX4’s class tend to be.

    If you were worried that the base SX4 sedan arrives in stripped-down form for its sub-$18,500 base price (including destination charges), you’d be happily mistaken. Count on air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, CD-equipped stereo, four-wheel disc brakes, remote keyless entry and power windows, outside mirrors and door locks as part of the standard package.

    An optional Sport version upgrades the ventilation system to climate control and adds an aero body kit with fog lamps, cruise control, heated outside mirrors, alloy wheels, eight-speaker premium sound system, Apple iPod connectivity and a leather-covered steering wheel with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

    There’s very little left in terms of stand-alone options, save for an acrylic hood protector and carbon fibre instrument panel trim, both of which can be dealer installed.

    As with all Suzuki vehicles, the SX4 Sport comes with a five-year/100,000-kilometre powertrain warranty to go with its standard three-year/60,000-kilometre bumper-to-bumper coverage.

    Suzuki isn’t necessarily the brand Canadians automatically think of when checking out the compact-car field. But when you consider the SX4’s attractive design, superior degree of standard content and a healthy dose of power, this enthusiastic little number could easily fill the bill and reduce fuel bills at the same time.

    WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: 2009 SUZUKI SX4 SEDAN

    TYPE Four-door, front-wheel-drive compact sedan

    ENGINE 2.0-litre DOHC inline four-cylinder (143 hp)

    TRANSMISSION Five-speed manual; four-speed automatic (opt.)

    MARKET POSITION Although not a top-ranked contender in the small-car field, the SX4 sedan has managed to elbow its way into an increasingly competitive compact arena.

    POINTS * Roomy passenger car for its size.* Standard four-cylinder produces impressive power.* Lengthy standard-equipment list. * Excellent seating position.

    * Split-folding rear seat finally available for ‘09. * Wagon’s all-wheel-drive system should be offered.* Standard navigation system added to U.S. models for 2009, but not in Canada. * List price easy on the wallet.

    SAFETY Front airbags; side-impact airbags; side-curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes; traction control (opt.); stability control (opt.).

    THE NUMBERS L/100 km(city/hwy): 9.2/6.5 (AT) Base price: $18,500 (est., including delivery.)

    BY COMPARISON

    NISSAN SENTRA

    Base price: $16,800

    Roomy, thrifty sedan. Available high-output SE-R and Spec V.

    HYUNDAI ELANTRA

    Base price: $16,000

    Well equipped and well priced, with lots of space and features.

    TOYOTA COROLLA

    Base price: $16,000

    Top-selling performer with a low base price and a rep for quality.

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