Suzuki SX4 AWD

Suzuki has come a long way from being a sole manufacturer of motorcycles, progressing seamlessly into the automotive world with a raft of models that offer good value for money, are reasonably well equipped and fun to drive. 
The Swift in particular was ,and remains a huge success for the company, as does its latest upmarket Kizashi and range of off road Vitaras.
On test here is the cheekily styled SX4; a cross over hatch- cum all wheel drive, that I found remarkably pleasant to drive.
The SX4 is powered by a sprightly 2 litre engine,that has no trouble keeping up with traffic. On a recent 300 k road trip the motor was smooth and unobtrusive,with more than enough power for overtaking.
Fuel consumption during my week with the SX4 averaged around nine litres per 100 kilometres.
Wind and road noise were very subdued at highway speeds, in fact almost right up there with more expensive vehicles for sound minimisation. 
Ride comfort is among the best in class, handling most surfaces with the ease of a much larger vehicle.No crashing or jarring over unpleasant bumps.
Steering feel was good, just the right amount of feedback.
The wheel itself is a tilt only device, but it contains controls for cruise and audio.
Visibility out of the large glass area of the SX4 is excellent all round, with small fixed quarter windows next to the A pillar, and wrap around glass in the C pillar, helping to give the impression of spaciousness.
And despite being a small car, there's a goodly amount of head and leg room. I am more than 183 cm tall and was still able to find a good driving position.
The manually adjusted seats are very comfortable, but there is no lumbar adjustment.There are fold down armrests for driver and passenger,and door armrests are also padded for extra comfort. Sun visor mirrors are not illuminated.
Oversized wing mirrors a welcome feature.
The cargo area is quite small, but has a false floor that reveals a deeper well for extra bits and pieces.
There's no spare wheel.
Suzuki has fitted an all purpose information, audio and navigation screen in the central dashboard and it's quite easy to use.
This high end SX4 also has automatic climate control,keyless entry and start.
The car I drove was fitted with the now almost commmonplace CV belt drive transmission.Under hard acceleration the engine revs flare before the car catches up, as is the case with most of this  type of gearbox. Once used to the sound and feel, it's a perfect match.
The SX4 has manual override paddles on the steering column, and you can self select a range of gears with the console shift lever as well. The SX4 is driven by the front wheels with the rear pair joining the powertrain when the terraIn gets rougher. A button on the console allows you to select two wheel or all wheel drive, as well as an auto  position for the gearbox to decide which ratios and wheels should be driven, depending on the conditions. 
Suzuki's build quality is excellent. A well proven tester's benchmark is how the doors of a car sound when being shut.
The SX4's  delivered a solid satisfying thud, in fact better than some more expensive vehicles of my experience. Nothing tinny here!
The SX4 on test is the top of the range, and while not the last word in luxury, for under thirty thousand dollars  there's enough to please most people.
If you are in the market for a zippy, practical, comfortable, all purpose vehicle for any age group,the SX4 is most definitely worth a look.
It performs well as a city runabout,yet is equally at home on the open road.
Peter Sellen