Yes, there is a Sportback version of the SX4. Didn't know about it? Well now you do!
Suzuki provided us with a Quicksilver Metallic Sportback GTS featuring the new 2.0L engine, a manual transmission, and sporty 17'' rims wearing Dunlop rubber. Mind you, there aren't any "trim levels" for the Sportback. It's as simple as deciding on a color, and if you want the manual or a continuously-variable transmission.
We wanted to test the SX4 Sportback in the real world, from morning meetings to taking the crew to dinner. The SX4 is for someone with a high-energy soul, so let's see how it stacked up.
The inside of the SX4 puts off a feeling of modern, cool design with dark plastics and seat fabric, and aluminum-like trim.
The driver's seat took just a few adjustments to find the right position, where we felt a comfortable distance from the steering wheel. The SX4 Sportback doesn't offer a telescoping steering wheel though, but we didn't find the need to adjust it if we could!
Plastics inside has a nice grained texture to them, but someone forgot the padding that belongs underneath. Elbows weren't forgotten though, as the door features a padded area and each front seat has a rotating padded armrest on the opposite side.
Drink space was aplenty all around for such a compact car, with each door featuring a bottle holder. Two cupholders were in front of the shifter, while we didn't see any for rear passengers.
Legroom in the front was just enough, with the driver's seat pushed all the way back and fitting a six-foot tall driver perfectly. The second row is a different story though, with scare legroom thanks to what we believe is too long of a seat-bottom. Otherwise all passengers get their own raising headrest.
The trunk of the Suzuki SX4 Sportback was the size we expected it to be, small. The cargo cover that raises and lowers with the tailgate intruded on space, but it also prevented us from blocking our rearward vision with cargo. The rear seats folded down to increase space when we needed it, and we liked that they were split 60-40.
The first thing we noticed when we got the "keys" was that it was actually just a fob, a Smartpass fob that is. The key stays in our pocket, we press the rubber black button on the door handle, the doors unlock, and the SX4 Sportback takes you to the moon!
Just kidding. After we got in the sporty hatchback, we simply put our foot on the clutch and brake, turned a plastic knob that's filling in for the key, and presto! The 2.0L engine comes to life!
After we got a grip on what just happened, we noticed a bunch of cool features. Automatic single-zone air-conditioning, a 6-disc CD changer with eight speakers and allegedly a woofer, but we think ours must hae been disconnected since we didn't feel much thump. The radio was simple to use and easy to read though, so we applaud Suzuki for excelling in the human factors part of the head unit.
We noticed (and played with) a multi-function trip computer sat between the speedometer and tachometer showing instantaneous fuel economy, distance to empty (really important), average fuel economy, average speed, and the outside temperature.
Feeling up the leather-wrapped steering wheel, buttons for the cruise control and audio controls tickled our fingers. Both systems were easy to modulate, and we especially liked the standalone MUTE button on the steering wheel that instantly quieted the speakers.
Lastly, we couldn't forget about the feature that made us love the Suzuki SX4 Sportback even more. The standard touch-screen navigation system wasn't anything you'd see factory-installed from any other automaker. It was a unique-to-Suzuki Garmin unit that rested on the top center of the dash on its own pop-up door. Some people might thing this is cheap, but that's the whole point.
The Sportback integrates the unit in such a way that makes it function as any other "integrated" system, playing all voice prompts through the cars speakers and muting whatever else we had playing at the time. It's as simple as any other Garmin unit, but integrates MSN Direct for free for an entire year. The service downloads real-time traffic, locates local gas stations with the cheapest gas, offers news, weather, and stock information, and even allowed us to look up our flight status.
Cheap on price it is, but cheap on features, performance, and usability it isn't! Two years from now when there's a navigation system that will cook us lunch as we drive to our destination, we'll be glad we opted for a "cheaper" system instead of some $1,500 option that will be archaic.
The SX4 Sportback can probably avoid an accident thanks to its superior handling, but if there is a case when it can't, you're covered. Like every car on the market, this Suzuki comes with six airbags and standard active safety equipment like stability control and traction control.
The traction control allows a bit of tire chirping when in first gear (and with half-way worn tires), but it should help the SX4 Sportback combat wet and light snow conditions with little worry. Like always though, we still recommend snow tires if you live in the snow belt states.
Four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution come standard as well.
For a final price of around $18,513, the Suzuki SX4 Sportback is an awesome value. There are few vehicles that offer this combination of driving enjoyment, low price, and standard technology features.
We did wish for more rear legroom and a better sound system though. The latter can be fixed quickly, but if you like carting friends and their stuff around, it might not happen in the SX4.
In the end though, the SX4 Sportback was easy to drive in every environment because of its small size, solid chassis, and well-tuned suspension. It's for performance-minded drivers who want great fuel economy and a lot of bang for their buck!
