Suzuki SX4 sedan test drive since 2010 sedan

Suzuki SX4 Hb test drive: Funny, but real

Prior to this, my acquaintance with Suzuki cars was limited to Jimni SUV, which I classified as small, but real. SX4 HB deserves a similar assessment: funny, but real.
I repent: Partially this is plagiarism. I heard the definition of a cool little car from an old acquaintance - Anton, who is in charge of the Suzuki press park. And on the exterior SX4 is really that.
Frivolous red-orange color, with large wheels large for their size, with burdocks of the rear view mirrors, causing an instant association with Cheburashka, the car, nevertheless, creates a feeling of something whole. The beneficial effect on the appearance of the SX4 of the famous designer Georgetto Jujaro is affected.
True, one question on the exterior still arose. The all -wheel drive SX4 HB is 135 mm longer than the version with the front -wheel drive, and the increase is achieved due to the design and body kit. It can be assumed that the length was increased to maintain proportions at the sight of the side. The fact is that the SX4 HB is slightly higher than the single -axle version and for the balance of the appearance, the designers lengthened the car visually. In my opinion, in a car capable of moving by off -road, it was unlikely that it was worth paying for a picture by a decrease in the corners of the overhang.
However, there is enough emotions to master the workplace.
SX4 has a straightened landing car typical for a car. Due to this, the space of the cabin is saved, and the external review is also improved. The first impression of the seats they are quite tough. The second they are very comfortable. The configuration of lodgers and the lateral support of the front chairs guarantee a clear fixation in combination with sufficient freedom. And the mentioned rigidity in the heat gives an additional positive effect: parts of the body are smearing less in contact with the chair - especially with its lower pillow. :)
The depreciation characteristics of the seats are well combined with the capabilities of the suspension, which deserves the same definition: stiff, but comfortable. Its energy intensity with a margin is enough to swallow the numerous irregularities of domestic roads. Here you need to add wheels in size 205/60R16. The numbers indicate that the rubber on the SX4 HB is highly profile. This allows you not to be distracted by either potholes, nor for bumps, nor on the curbs and the suspension easily cope with them.
But what the SX4 is unexpectedly soft so the pedals. However, to unusually weak pressure, legs will adapt very quickly, but the advantages of such pedals in the city are undeniable. In traffic jams, they first begin to complain about the excessive load of the sole. At the wheel of SX4 this happens noticeably later than on other cars.
Little effort on the brake pedal, however, does not interfere with very accurately dose the rate of slowdown. The SX4 brakes are not sharp, and they are in harmony with the dynamics of the car as a whole.
The gas and clutch pedals (the all -wheel drive version of the SX4 is equipped only by a mechanical checkpoint), with all their softness, as informative as the brake pedal. The gear lever has a medium length. Of course, the SX4 box does not have a minted accuracy of switching expensive sportsmen, but there are no doubts about the reliability of the inclusion in the fact that you will get to the desired gear, when working with it does not arise.
The inclusion of the rear gear is performed without any fuses: movement to the right to stop and backward. However, the gearbox lever, even in the extreme right, does not go far from the driver. Therefore, there is no desire to switch it with a reverse grip, which with this scheme of the box is fraught with troubles.
The SX4 engine (1.6 liters, 106 hp) is quite consistent with the mass and aerodynamics of the machine. On the bottoms, he frankly lazy, and in order to force him to work, you need to keep speeds at least two and a half thousand per minute. However, the gearboxes of the checkpoint allow you to untwist the engine quickly enough, so the driver of the SX4 does not feel the inferiority in the fast flow of cars.
The transfer number of the steering and the ratio of the track base give SX4 very decent maneuverability, which is important as in city, and outside it. The back of the steering wheel is average, which suits the driver of not too high qualifications. But the reactive efforts on the steering wheel in the neutral zone are practically absent. Therefore, the start with an abandoned steering wheel often leads to a sharp screening of the car.
The SX4 review is very good. It is provided by a large area of \u200b\u200bglazing (including the front triangles, which on most other cars perform purely decorative functions) and high landing. What is done behind is also clear. The already mentioned burdock -shaped external mirrors tried here. True, when moving with an open window, they create a fairly loud noise due to streaming streams, but this can be considered not too high at a good review back. Moreover, it does not even arise in the heat to open windows in the SX4 of strong desire: a simple air conditioner copes with its task no worse than sophisticated climate control systems for much more expensive cars.
A similar principle of construction has a system for parking. It is extremely simple, but it performs its functions properly.
The SX4 washer can not be called otherwise than the first inclusion was impressed by the powerful. The fact is that the nozzle nozzles are three -point, and due to this they instantly cover the windshield with washing liquid. With our, to put it mildly, not too clean roads, this is a valuable quality.
I failed to test the all -wheel drive in action: the weather was too good, and there was no time to get out on the ground. I can only broadcast part of the technical description. The SX4 HB transmission has three modes. At the first, he behaves like an ordinary front -wheel drive city car. In automatic mode, depending on the road conditions, there is a redistribution of torque between the front and the rear axles. Finally, on an openly bad road or off -road, you can transfer the transmission control key to Lock mode then torque will share between the axes in a ratio of 50:50.
 
In front-wheel drive, in motion around the city, fuel consumption displayed on the on-board computer display was 9.8-9.9 l/100 km. A little bit too much for a city car. However, all-wheel drive, even if disconnected, still eats a certain amount of gasoline. Yes, and the regime in which I traveled is difficult to call it economical too much energetic accelerations with a good engine promotion.
Summary. SX4 HB may seem a few excessive for a city car anywhere but not in Russia. In motion along our dirty and/or snowy streets and roads, he should be very good. It can also be recommended to summer residents who have the problem of the last mile. Full -wheel drive, large clearance and high wheels will provide it with cross -country ability, sufficient to guaranteed to crawl from the asphalt of the highway to the gates of the native phase.
Do not forget the price factor: there is hardly another car that has similar off -road capabilities and at the same time costs less than 600 thousand rubles. The front -wheel drive version is even cheaper from 475 thousand rubles.
Well, a funny, but at the same time a harmonious appearance of the SX4 creates a pleasant contrast with its business capabilities.

The business car club thanks ITISI Auto Rus, the official importer Suzuki Motor Corporation, for the car presented on the test drive.
 
 

Source: Business car club