Love at second sight

The sedan version of the SX4 is now in dealerships, and we can now say farewell to the Aerio. In the very-competitive compact sedan segment, does this little Suzuki have the necessary qualities and abilities to distinguish itself?

The SX4 replaces the Aerio which was discontinued in 2007.

When we reviewed the hatchback SX4 last year, we were charmed by its cute looks and the fact that you can get it with all-wheel drive, which few rivals offer. However, we were less impressed with the automatic transmission. The sedan will try to do better this time around.

Adequate powertrain
The SX4 sedan is equipped with the same engine as the hatchback variant, a 16-valve, 2.0-liter inline-4 that produces 143 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque. On paper, these numbers seem more than enough, and in reality, it's also the case.

However, this engine isn't as rev-happy as the ones found under the hoods of Honda Civics and Mazda3s, among others. But accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h with the manual transmission takes 9.3 seconds, which isn't bad. In short, we can prod the engine to our desire, but it just doesn't encourage us to do so, and its sound at full throttle isn't the most pleasing thing to listen to.

The shift lever, which is rather long since the seats are bolted high, works well but can't be manipulated as quickly as the ones in other compacts.

As for fuel consumption, the sedan fared better than last year's SX4 hatchback; 9.4 L/100 km, as opposed to 10.6 observed with the 2007 model. The SX4 we drove did have all-wheel drive, however, which hurts fuel economy and which isn't available with the sedan.

The suspension has sharp reflexes, and despite the height of the car that gives it a high center of gravity, this SX4 handles itself well in the twisties. We can whip the car down highway on-ramps and have a little fun. Let's just say that Suzuki is a little optimistic by calling this version the Sport, but we quickly notice pleasing driving dynamics.

The 2.0-liter engine offers enough punch to get you around town with ease.

Just as cute, but more elegant
The SX4 sedan shares the same cute-as-a-button face as the hatchback model, but its trunk gives it a classier, more mature look. The front bumper and fog light frames are slightly different between the two body styles, but otherwise, there isn't any other distinction right down to the B-pillar.

The body extensions and the 17-inch wheels give it a sporty look.

Dimensions-wise, the wheelbase of both models is identical, but the sedan is almost 15 inches (375 mm) longer, which is considerable. So, the car benefits from a trunk with a volume of 439 litres, the biggest of its segment and more than in the old Aerio.

Visually, the Sport model adds 17-inch alloys with 205/50R17 tires wrapped around them, a lower-body aero kit and fog lights. I really like the final result, and the SX4 Sport is a nice-looking car, in my opinion.

Nice cockpit fit and finish
Like in the SX4 hatchback, Suzuki created an interior with quality materials and a design that's very pleasing to the eye and to the touch. The wheel-mounted controls (standard in the Sport model) are as solid and straightforward as those in the Mazda3 and Mitsubishi Lancer.

The seats are comfortable, but they'd benefit from a little extra lateral support. A big advantage of the SX4 compared to its competition is the driving position; the seats are mounted high, so occupants get an upright and off-the-floor position. Obviously, entry and exit is great, thanks to that high roofline.

In back, we see the tight legroom space and immediately think that we'll be awkward back there, but it's an illusion; again, the high seat cushions mean back-seat occupants will sit with a straight posture and--surprise--our legs have all the space they need.

A negative aspect of the SX4 sedan is the rear seatback that doesn't fold down. That's bad for those who often carry long objects, and what's peculiar is while the sedan doesn't have this feature, the hatchback model does. Maybe Suzuki figures that people who need extra space will just naturally choose the SX4 hatchback anyway.

Even though it is equipped with 5 seatbelts, it will better suit four occupants.

But the biggest flaw of this vehicle concerns the fatness of the A-pillars. They are so wide that I have to tilt my head over when I'm turning left on street corners, to make sure I won't be hitting the sidewalk or another vehicle in the intersection. I guess you get used to it after a while, but after a week, it still bothered me as much.

The trunk is big for the size of the car but the seatback does not fold down.

Competition
The SX4 Sport sells for $18,995, which is pretty good considering its equipment list, and what the competition offers. Here's the exhaustive list of compact sedans, with similar equipment levels:

Chevrolet Cobalt LT 1SB with side-curtain airbags, $20,090
Ford Focus SES with 6-CD changer, $20,494
Honda Civic LX, $20,980
Hyundai Elantra GLS Sport, $20,995
Kia Spectra LX Convenience (without alloys, side and side-curtain airbags or ABS), $18,195
Mazda3 GS with Sport package, $21,295
Mitsubishi Lancer ES, $19,698
Nissan Sentra 2.0 S, $19,598
Pontiac G5 SE 1SB with side-curtain airbags, $20,690
Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4-door (without alloys), $20,695
Toyota Corolla Sport (without side and side-curtain airbags), $21,135
Volkswagen City Jetta with Comfort group, A/C, side and side-curtain airbags, $19,795

The SX4 is an excellent value, since it's the least-expensive of the lot, if we excuse the stripped-down Kia. For example, only the Focus can be equipped with a 6-CD changer, unless we pay for higher trim levels that are much more expensive. Note that the base SX4 sedan starts at $17,195.

Conclusion
The SX4 sedan doesn't make a very good first impression, because its engine leaves us a little disappointed. That's not a good thing when your potential customers only have about 15 minutes to test drive the car before purchasing.

However, after a few days, the car shines more and more brightly, and we then admire it for its qualities; it's spacious, well-finished and well-equipped for the money. Can we call it love at second sight? I wonder if Suzuki will sell more sedans than hatchbacks... I wouldn't even be surprised.


Good-looking
Spacious cockpit and trunk
Interesting price



Rear seatback doesn't fold down
Engine works well but lacks excitement



Reduced visibility with the fat A-pillars