What's the news?
It is only a few months since the SX4 S-Cross debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, but Suzuki UK has announced price and specification details for the model that will go on sale in the UK on October 1. Pricing for the Nissan Qashqai rival will range from £14,999 for the SZ3 1.6-litre petrol version up to £23,594 for the SZ5 1.6-litre diesel with AllGrip four-wheel drive.
Exterior
Suzuki says it created the S-Cross by combining its compact car knowledge (think Swift and Alto) with technologies honed from its sport utility vehicles (Vitara and Jimny). The result is a vehicle that fits into the crossover mould of offering MPV practicality and an SUV view of the road in a car not much bigger than a family hatchback.
The design is said to offer ample room for both passengers and luggage plus the handling traits of the Suzuki Swift. A range of eight exterior colours will be available for the UK market including a new option - Crystal Lime Metallic.
Mechanicals
Power for the C-Cross will come from either a 1.6-litre petrol engine or a Fiat-sourced 1.6-litre diesel. Both variants are available in either front- or four-wheel with the four-wheel drive model badged as an AllGrip. This system includes four driver-selectable modes - auto, sport, snow, and lock - allowing the driver to select the best setting to suit road conditions. You are unlikely to traverse the Mongolian Steppes in this car, but muddy roads and a drop of snow should prove no problem.
A manual gearbox is offered as standard but the petrol car can be equipped with a CVT automatic transmission that drops emissions from 127- to 125g/km. An even larger saving is made in AllGrip models with 5g/km shaved off by the CVT. Fuel economy remains untouched no matter the transmission at 51.3mpg, but rises from 47.8- to 49.5mpg with the auto.
Anything else?
The SX-4 S-Cross's panoramic sunroof is described as a world first as it consists of two sliding glass panels (one in front of the other). With the roof closed the panels combine for an overall length of 1,000mm while with the sunroof open, the aperture has a length of 560mm.
Paul Healy - 19 Jul 2013