AutoWeek Test – Suzuki S-Cross

Invisible Pioneer

Suzuki S-Cross

The Suzuki S-Cross can be considered a pioneer of compact crossovers. The car was recently radically renewed. Powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid support, the S-Cross can show its qualities in this test.

In which segment does the Suzuki S-Cross operate?

Suzuki launched the SX4 in 2006. At the time, a special car, which stood high on the wheels and with its MPV-like monospace design had a remarkable amount of interior space. In 2013, his considerably larger successor, under the name SX4 S-Cross, appeared. The S-Cross that Suzuki introduced at the end of 2021 is in fact still based on this model. It has been thoroughly adjusted, because in addition to the new nose and butt, the sheet metal of the doors is also different. This makes the car look tougher and more modern than before, but it is far from hip or futuristic.

Over the years, the range of compact crossovers and SUVs has expanded considerably. The Nissan Juke is often seen as the founder of this segment, but the Suzuki SX4 was really earlier. The Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 are very popular, but the Hyundai Bayon, the Kia Stonic, the Skoda Kamiq and the Volkswagen T-Cross are also preferred by many buyers over the compact hatchbacks of the relevant brands.

What has changed in the interior of the Suzuki S-Cross?

In addition to the aforementioned exterior innovations, the Suzuki S-Cross has also been greatly improved on the inside. Although it all looks very business-like, and there is still some room for improvement in terms of finishing, the word ‘neat’ certainly applies. The artificial leather with which the dashboard of the tested Style version is covered does a lot for the quality experience. The high seating position remains unchanged. That gives a lot of overview, but partly due to the gear lever placed low in the car, the driving position is not so ‘involved’.

Especially the middle part of the dashboard is clearly different than before. The 9-inch screen of the successfully renewed infotainment system is placed above the ventilation grilles. Although the S-Cross is not a forerunner in the field of the latest technology, the possibilities of the system have been further expanded (including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and the whole is graphically quite beautiful. It is a pity that Suzuki does not mount a round volume knob.

Suzuki S-Cross

Is the Suzuki S-Cross suitable as a family car?

The dimensions of the new S-Cross remained virtually unchanged, but compared to a number of competitors, such as the Nissan Juke and the Opel Crossland, the Suzuki is clearly longer. As a result, the car has a relatively large luggage space: 430 liters fit behind the rear seat. When the sofa is folded down, you can carry 1,230 liters of luggage. With a maximum towing weight of (braked) 1500 kilos, the Suzuki S-Cross 1.4 BoosterJet Hybrid is an ideal tow vehicle for many caravan campers.

When the rear seat is in use, passengers have plenty of legroom. However, the headroom is disappointing, because the panoramic sunroof (an option on the most complete Style version) takes precious centimeters. Tall adults can get into serious trouble as a result, if the two-position adjustable backrest does not offer a solution. If space in the back is a problem, try the S-Cross without a glass roof.

Suzuki S-Cross

What engines does Suzuki supply in the S-Cross?

The drivetrain of the S-Cross in this test is an old acquaintance. It is the 1.4-litre BoosterJet engine with mild hybrid support. With its power of 129 hp, the four-cylinder appears to be an excellent powertrain for this car. The engine does its job civilized, performs without drama and has a decent consumption. Suzuki gives an average of 5.3 l/100 km (1 in 18.9), we came to a consumption of 6.0 l/100 km (1 in 16.5) during the test. A range of 825 kilometers is possible on a full tank of 50 liters.

Optionally, the 1.4 BoosterJet can be combined with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. In addition, Suzuki has announced a full hybrid powertrain for the S-Cross, which will be added to the delivery program in the second half of 2022. This involves the same motorization as in the Vitara Full-Hybrid, with a 102 hp 1.5 four-cylinder engine that works together with a 33 hp electric motor. This produces a combined power of 115 hp. The S-Cross Full-Hybrid will have a six-speed robotic manual gearbox. An all-wheel drive version of this engine variant will also appear.

How does the Suzuki S-Cross ride?

The Suzuki S-Cross is a light and easy to operate car. The steering is precise, but also quite numb. The six-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly and forgiving. This is how you can also describe the chassis, because speed bumps in particular are processed very smoothly. If dynamic expectations are required, they should not be very high. The S-Cross is definitely not a noise box, but ambient and driving noises penetrate the interior more clearly than with some competitors.

Suzuki S-Cross

Is the Suzuki S-Cross a cheap car?

A strong point of the S-Cross (and Suzuki in general) has traditionally been its pricing. And nothing has changed with the new model. Prices of the S-Cross 1.4 BoosterJet Hybrid start just below €29,000 for the Comfort version. This version is mounted on 17-inch alloy wheels and the safety equipment includes the Suzuki Safety System, with adaptive cruise control, a lane assistant, blind spot warning, traffic sign recognition and a fatigue assistant.

Second trim level is the Select, which costs almost €30,000. This includes climate control with separate temperature control, heated seats and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, which warns of approaching road users when reversing. We tested the most complete version of the S-Cross, the Style. This also has a 360-degree camera, partly leather upholstery, a 9-inch multimedia screen (instead of 7 inches). The price of the S-Cross Style remains well below €32,000. Unless you opt for an automatic gearbox and/or four-wheel drive, metallic paint and the panoramic sliding roof.

The choice of AutoWeek test coordinator Marco Gorter

At Suzuki you will always have to consider whether you also take other matters for a specific option, for example seat heating, since separate options hardly exist with the Japanese. The middle trim level has a number of nice features such as separate climate control and heated seats, which are probably worth the relatively modest extra cost. The top version offers nice trinkets, but they are less essential.

.

– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl

Recent Articles

Related Stories

Stay on op - Ge the daily news in your inbox