Amazing Suzuki engine for SX4

Test Drive by Graham Breeze

The facelifted Suzuki SX4 S-Cross arrives in showrooms in October equipped with the company’s amazing Boosterjet petrol engine and ready to take on the small SUV sector.

“Amazing” is the only word to describe an engine unit offering nine per cent more torque than the outgoing 1.6litre petrol, with 11 per cent lower CO2 emissions and 10 per cent improved fuel consumption.

Crazy figures I know – but real. Doubters have been mocking my raving monologues all week after returning from the vehicle’s launch totally gobsmacked by the performance of the Boosterjet unit under the bonnet of the completely new SX4 S-Cross.

Available with 1.0 litre or 1.4 litre Boosterjet petrol engines and a 1.6 litre DDiS version, which emits just 106g/km of CO2 and offers fuel consumption of 68.8mpg on the combined cycle, you can see just why Suzuki bosses are particularly upbeat at the moment.

Suzuki originally created the S-Cross by combining its compact car knowledge with technologies honed for sport utility vehicles.  As a result of focusing on giving the S-Cross distinctive crossover styling, class leading space for passengers and luggage, 4WD performance and one of the lowest CO₂ emissions in the segment, it achieves a solid combination of styling, utility, safety, performance and fuel economy.

The company is targeting just 5,000 sales in the UK in the next 12 months and expects the fleet market to take note of the outstanding economy figures taking 50 per cent of those sales. And with prices from £14,999 to £22,849 those sales could well come from buyers who would normally choose the more expensive Vauxhall Astra.

The S-Cross first went on sale in October 2013 and now, three years later, the major facelifted model is introduced with more distinctive and upright front end styling offering  a stronger and bolder road presence.

Ground clearance is now slightly higher at 180mm versus 165mm and new design headlamps help provide both higher efficiency and a sharper look. At the rear, newly designed LED rear combination lamps are used to provide a cleaner and more contemporary style.

The distinctive new interior design utilises an updated soft-touch dashboard pad, framing highlights for the centre panel and newly designed seat fabric for SZ4 and SZ-T models.

S-Cross claims ample room for five occupants and while the back is spacious enough you really wouldn’t want to travel as one of three. A double sliding panoramic glass sunroof is fitted as standard on the SZ5 model with one of the largest opening areas in its category at 560mm.

All SZ4 models are equipped as standard with seven airbags, ESP, Bluetooth, DAB digital radio, air conditioning, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control with speed limiter, air conditioning, heated door mirrors, black protective skid plates and black wheel arch extensions.

SZ-T adds LED Projector Headlamps, satellite navigation, polished 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking camera, front and rear parking proximity sensors, Dual Zone automatic air conditioning, front fog lamps, rear privacy glass, silver roof rails and silver rear skid plates. Suzuki introduced the SZ-T model specifically with Fleet buyers in mind, although it is available to retail customers as well.

Equipment for the top of the range SZ5 model includes Radar Brake Support (RBS), leather seat upholstery, heated front seats, double sliding panoramic sunroof and aluminium roof rails.

A range of six exterior colours are available for the UK market; Superior White is available as a solid colour with Silky Silver Metallic, Mineral Grey Metallic, Cosmic Black Pearl Metallic, Sphere Blue Pearl Metallic and Energetic Red Pearl Metallic available as a £430 option.

CO₂ emissions are competitive across the range at just 113g/km for the 1.0-litre 2WD model and 119g/km with optional automatic transmission. The DDiS 2WD model achieves even lower CO₂ emissions of 106g/km that result in an annual VED charge of just £20 – another reason why fleet buyers will be attracted.

Suzuki’s ALLGRIP system is available on SZ-T and SZ5 models with four driver-selectable modes. It debuted in the S-Cross model at first launch and has proved very successful in both this model and Vitara.

Pick of the range for me has to be the 1.0litre Boosterjet SZ-T which hits the road at £19,499 and has a top speed of 112mph, does 0-62mph in 11 seconds and produces 56.4mpg on the combined cycle while producing only 113g/km of emissions. That means no road tax in the first year and just £30 afterwards.

The model is well equipped with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, ESP and hill-hold control. Driver and passenger safety is dealt with by seven airbags, side impact protection beams, an immobiliser and deadlocks.

The 1.4-litre engine offers strong benefits in performance too with a 0-62mph acceleration time of 10.2 seconds for both manual and automatic transmissions and a maximum speed (where permitted) of 124mph.

Suzuki’s ALLGRIP system is available on SZ-T and SZ5 models with four driver-selectable modes. It debuted in the S-Cross model at first launch and has proved very successful in both this model and Vitara.

I’ve long been a fan of Ford’s 1.0 litre engine but the three-cylinder Boosterjet might just have the edge. This is a Suzuki that you just have to drive to understand just how good it is.