A surprising little diesel
Under the hood is where you'll find greater separation from the North American SX4. Here sits a small 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine that produces 88 horsepower -- about a dozen more than the tiny smart fortwo, by the way.

Just because horsepower figures are unimpressive doesn't mean driving dynamics are too. Of course, the limited number of ponies inevitably leads to a limited top speed. Passing maneuvers on the highway are fairly laborious at times. Plus, engine speed is pretty high when you exceed 95 km/h.

However, like any other diesel powerplant, this one makes up for it by generating a remarkable amount of torque -- 158 pounds-feet at only 1,500 rpm, to be exact. This allows surprising takeoffs in the city and in low-speed conditions which, after all, represent the bread and butter of such a small car.

Add to that a nicely precise steering and decent brakes and you get an efficient, dynamic commuter worth considering.

Like any other diesel powerplant, this one generates a remarkable amount of torque.

The rebirth of diesel
Anytime diesel comes up in a conversation, a lot of folks still have in mind the black sooty smoke and unpleasant smells these engines were once guilty of. Fortunately, the situation has considerably improved. In fact, if it were not for the necessity to let the engine warm up a few seconds before starting the ignition, diesel technology would be (almost) totally transparent.

Aside from the odor, a diesel engine also does not sound like a typical gasoline mill. You can appreciate the difference particularly at low engine revs. As soon as you reach a cruising speed, though, you can no longer perceive any difference. That said, the SX4 is far from quiet on the highway. The engine is noisy, whether you're driving the gasoline or diesel model.

Our tester proved to be very fun to drive, both in the city and suburbs. It also felt pretty nimble and easy to steer. Even better, the small diesel engine achieved great mileage despite Arctic-like temperatures (under 6 L/100 km).

Even with all that, however, the Suzuki SX4 DDIS is still a long way from coming to Canada as a production model. Company executives are expected to make their decision in the upcoming months.


Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux