SX4 is bigger, prettier and less thirsty

Even the entry-level GL MT comes with a good range of features.

The SX4's expansion, both outside and in the living quarters and luggage area, are immediately noticeable with its length being stretched by 165mm, its width by 10mm and its wheelbase by 100mm and although this doesn't seem like much on paper, it does provide more legroom and pushes out the packing space to 430 litres (that stretches to a ginormous 1,269 litres by folding the rear seats flat).

The roomier interior and larger boot will appeal to the owners of outdoor toys, campers and families with off-spring who generally tend to require a removal truck for a day's outing to the beach.

All in all, some rather nice changes

Suzuki makes sexy, strong, reliable vehicles that appeal to a wide spectrum and the brand has a loyal and growing local supporter base. The outgoing SX4 was a bit short on eye-candy and its youthful exuberance and playful nature was also reined back by its relative low ride height which limited off-tar excursions.

It's a high-riding, capable rough-track rider.

The new SX4, on the other hand, has developed into quite a high-riding, capable rough-track rider - particularly the two flagship GLX models that are armed with AllGrip, an all-wheel drive system that can distribute power from front to back wheels if extra rear traction becomes necessary.

At last! Keeping it simple

The simple setting selections are dialled in by shifting a control knob between auto, sport, snow and lock and although it is never going to empower the SX4 to climb to the top of Table Mountain it does instil a modicum of confidence in the driver to tackle tricky, rocky patches and badly scraped mountain roads. At the launch drive in Gauteng, we crawled up a steep, fairly rough patch of mountain-side which posed no challenge to the slick city boy-cum bush ranger.

To keep the tree-huggers and the polar bears happy the newly launched SX4 is powered by a less powerful but more fuel and emissions-friendly 1.6-litre (previously a 2-litre) that produces 86kW and 156Nm in a not-overly-enthusiastic fashion compared to the previous model's 112kW and190Nm. But then, on the plus side, the more up to date power plant sips only 5.8 to 6.2-litres/100km, depending on which model you drive.

Is that space, or what?!

Also new is a CVT automatic gearbox which has to be one of the most irritating automotive inventions of modern times unless you are a zillion years old, hard of hearing and find absolutely no pleasure driving anything with a combustion engine. The continuous drone of a CVT is worse than flying kakalula, drinking boxed wine or having to eat a plate of chicken a la king and it spoils the otherwise good fun to be had at the helm of the smartened up SX4 (and most other vehicles). OK, so some drivers, NOT including anyone with a drop of high-octane in his or her bloodstream) actually "don't mind it so much"

The Sexy Suzy

I drove the top of the range, GLX model with CVT and AllGrip and was happy to exchange it for the lower-specced entry model GL with the manual transmission which, although only a five-cog box, is much more in tune with the nature of the SX4.

The new five-model, two specification level Sexy Suzy range wears pretty clothes and nifty make-up, and its fancy bag of goodies include steering controls, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, lots of airbags, ABS brakes and ESP,

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The new five-model, two specification level Sexy Suzy range wears pretty clothes and nifty make-up, and its fancy bag of goodies include steering controls, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, lots of airbags, ABS brakes and ESP, even on the entry level GL MT. The smarter, more expensive GLX models get extra bragging rights with all of these plus HID headlights, parking sensors, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry.

The new five fancier SX4 Suzuki variants are expected to add further growth to Suzuki's impressive expansion in South Africa. The models and prices (including a three-year/100,000km warranty and a three-year/90,000km service plan) are:

Specifications

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