Suzuki Sx4
The Suzuki Sx4 looks like a four wheel drive but in reality is somewhere between a super-mini and a small 4x4. Priced from £11,295 to £15,395, it comes with a choice of 1.6 litre petrol engine and 1.6 litre DDiS, or a 1.9 litre DDiS diesel.
The 1.6 litre petrol will do 0 to 60 mph in 10.8 seconds with a maximum speed of 112 mph and petrol consumption of 33.2 mpg for urban conditions, 48.7 mpg for non urban and 41.5 mpg combined. The Sx4 comes in two trim models; GLX and 4GRIP. The GLX version looks more like a car designed to carry passengers whereas the 4GRIP has more of the traditional 4x4 and SUV elements, including four wheel drive, side protection mouldings, extended wheel arches, alloy wheels, skid plates at the front and rear plus under protection mouldings.
All models come with safety features including ABS with EBD, plus driver and passenger airbags. The Suzuki Sx4 handles the road well as you’d expect from such a vehicle and it can adapt to rougher than usual terrain, but the reality for most UK drivers is that they are unlikely to encounter any conditions more rugged than negotiating speed bumps or mounting a grass verge.
The Sx4 also comes as a saloon, although unlike the other vehicles in the range it only has a two wheel drive option. The saloon does, however, have the advantage over the others of greater storage space in the boot. Overall, the Suzuki Sx4 is an economically sound proposition for drivers wanting the appearance of a 4x4 without paying more for a larger vehicle.