- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.6i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
86kW, 156Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 6.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto (CVT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Suzuki S-Cross new car review
When it comes to small SUVs, Suzuki is something of an expert. Since the 1970s, it has had an off-road tiddler in its range leading to the still rugged Jimny, which is something of an anomaly in a market segment infatuated with going soft. In the '80s and '90s Suzuki also led the way with its Vitara, that later spawned the bigger Grand Vitara.
But since then it has largely been downhill, as the new breed of soft-roaders has swamped Suzuki's offerings. More recently the SX4, a soft-roader based on the Swift small car, has enjoyed some niche success.
Now it's back for more, albeit with a new name and a slightly new way of thinking with the S-Cross. The biggest change has been the adoption of a smaller 1.6-litre engine, which has significantly less power than the 2.0-litre it replaces. Yet, despite having a longer and wider five-door body, the S-Cross is about 110 kilograms lighter than the SX4 it replaces.
What do you get?
The S-Cross GL starts at $22,990 drive-away for a manual or $2500 more for an auto (Suzuki recently readjusted prices, which were initially out of step with its standing in the SUV world).
Included are 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, cruise control, stability control and seven airbags (dual front, front-side, side curtain and a driver's knee airbag). As with many compact SUVs there's only a space-saver spare tyre, which can be a limiting factor for those planning to go off-road.
That's a leap in price over the SX4 by thousands of dollars, partially offset by some more gear.
The better equipped GLX (from $29,990) comes only with an auto transmission and brings satellite-navigation, dual zone air-conditioning, auto wipers and headlights, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, leather steering wheel, smart key entry with push button start and 17-inch alloys. It's also available with four-wheel-drive for another $3000.
There's also a Prestige model that sits at the top of the S-Cross tree, at a substantial $34,990, bringing a panoramic sunroof and leather trim as well as the four-wheel-drive system. While it's well specified, the price pushes the small Suzuki SUV into territory occupied by larger offerings from the likes of Toyota, Subaru, Mazda and Honda.
What's inside?
There's a formal feel to the cabin of the S-Cross, but it works reasonably well, with the occasional splash of faux metal breaking up the dark but attractive patterns and finishes.
Up front the seats are comfy enough and there's good adjustability to the driving position.
The touchscreen is the only letdown, with an occasionally fiddly menu system and small volume knob that lowers the ambience and takes the edge off usability.
Great head room translates to the rear seats, with leg room just OK. There are no air vents out back, though, and the central seatbelt retracts into the roof, which isn't ideal when it comes to quick folding of the split-fold seats.
Where the additional exterior dimensions really pay off is in boot capacity; while it initially looks shallow there's a removable false floor that reveals a larger cavity beneath. Outer binnacles on each side also look after smaller items.
Under the bonnet
Few cars go backwards on performance these days, despite the push towards improved fuel efficiency. But that's what Suzuki has done with the S-Cross.
The 1.6-litre engine makes noticeably less power and torque than the 2.0-litre it replaces. Even with the loss of weight, it leaves the car with a worse performance equation than the SX4.
No surprise, then, that it feels underdone when it comes to acceleration.
A modest 86kW of power is backed up with just 156Nm of torque, the latter produced relatively high in the rev range, at 4400rpm.
That means low-rev acceleration can feel lacklustre and, occasionally, the CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission; it has an infinite number of ratios) can fumble as it tries to match the driver requirements to the engine's output.
Generally the CVT transmission helps with making the most out of the engine, but extended ascents can leave the engine revving annoyingly as it tries to maintain pace. However, it rarely lets the engine tap into its meek peak power, with maximum acceleration often leaving the engine revving between 5000 and 5500rpm.
Average fuel use is claimed at a respectable 6.2 litres per 100 kilometres, but in everyday suburban driving the engine is working pretty hard, which translated to closer to 9L/100km.
On the road
The S-Cross doesn't sit as high as some SUVs, which works in its favour when it comes to driving dynamics.
The five-door body sits relatively flat through bends, albeit with some lean if you push harder.
It's backed up by above average grip from the 17-inch Continental tyres, which deliver reassurance where other cars may be letting out a squeal.
Less impressive is the ride, which can be clumsy over sharper bumps, while subduing higher speed ripples more convincingly. There's also some noise from the suspension as it goes about its business over poorer surfaces.
Speaking of noise, the S-Cross is generally hushed but can bring a noticeable roar into the cabin on selected bitumen surfaces.
Verdict
The S-Cross doesn't move the SUV game on at all and in the engine department has taken a backwards step, which is disappointing given the plethora of models on offer.
Its fate as an also-ran - albeit one with a pleasant enough interior - is cemented by pricing that is not particularly enthralling against the new breed of compact soft-roaders.
Suzuki S-Cross pricing and specifications
Price $32,990, plus on-road and dealer costs
Country of origin Japan
Engine 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power 86kW at 6000rpm
Torque 156Nm at 4400rpm
CO2 emissions 146g/km
Fuel use 6.2L/100km
Transmission CVT auto, front-wheel-drive
Weight 1125kg, 1190kg for 4WD model
Safety 7 airbags; stability control