Comparison review: Six subcompact hatchbacks (Fifth place)

June 9, 4:36 PMDC Car ExaminerBrady Holt

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The 2009 Suzuki SX4 hatchback is marketed as a "crossover" because of its optional all-wheel-drive, but it's really just an
underpowered subcompact. See more photos of the SX4 below the article in today's slideshow. 

Fans of the Suzuki SX4 call it an unappreciated gem for its interior room, handsome looks, and agile handling. 

Thanks to its available all-wheel-drive – Suzuki calls this hatchback a “crossover” because of that feature – the SX4 offers all-weather capability in a very compact and inexpensive package. And the ride and handling is more stable than the subcompact norm. 

Unfortunately, the SX4 recalls the days before the average subcompact car had decent pep. Acceleration is tepid off the line and downright straining on its way towards speed. The car driven for this review needed to downshift to make it up a mild incline at 55 miles per hour and wasn’t happy even on level ground. 

Granted, the car driven for this review is the slowest of the SX4 models: the all-wheel-drive automatic transmission version. It’s what the dealer – Jerry’s Suzuki of Leesburg, Va. – had available in stock. Perhaps the front-wheel-drive stickshift configuration, which would have been the most comparable to the others in this comparison, would solve the problem. 

But good luck finding one to see if that’s the case. The Jerry’s salesman said there isn’t much call for either front-wheel-drive or a manual transmission in the SX4 hatchback, and there are no high-volume Suzuki dealers in the D.C. area that would stock lots of different models. A 230-pound weight difference suggests there would be some improvement, but whether the car’s acceleration would improve from “poor” to more than just “pretty bad” remains unknown. 

EPA fuel economy ratings list an improvement of less than one mile per gallon between the two versions as well, leaving the SX4’s 24 miles per gallon in mixed driving as the worst in this class. An 11-gallon fuel capacity cuts short its range per tank as well. 

Furthermore, the rest of the SX4 isn’t as special as its supporters suggest. It does have a steady ride by subcompact standards, but so does the Pontiac G3, and neither is that far above the class average. And while the SX4 is more agile than the G3, it would need sharper steering and quicker responses to be fun to drive. The noisy, droning, straining engine also diminishes any overall sense of refinement. 

Also, while the SX4 is roomy for such a small car, so is most everything else in its class. High seats that maximize thigh support are the norm in both the front and rear, and the Suzuki’s rear seat, like again like the G3’s, is comfortable enough but not nearly as roomy as several of its competitors. Cargo capacity behind the rear seat is also limited, at 16 cubic feet that’s mostly height. The rear seat tumbles forward in a two-step process rather than just plopping flat, but it yields a flat load floor and a tall – if not very long – cargo hold.

The all-wheel-drive remains a key advantage. If you’re looking for the system, you won’t find it in anything as inexpensive as the SX4. But if you’re fine with your engine powering just two wheels, you can find something more fuel-efficient and more spacious for the money. 

Overall grade: C+

Coming up tomorrow: FOURTH PLACE

*Note on pricing: when possible, the vehicles tested for this review were comparably equipped. It wasn't always possible. Every vehicle in this comparison is offered with about the same comfort and convenience features and with a manual transmission, but the specific cars available to drive for this comparison ranged from base-price stripped-down models to overequipped ones, and several had their optional automatic transmissions. These discrepancies will be noted in each review and corrected for as much as possible.