Published:
6 November 2013Trim levels comprise of SZ4, SZ-T and range-topping SZ5 models. The entry-level models come equipped with 16in alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, heated wing mirrors, DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity as standard.
Upgrade to SZ-T and you'll find the SX4 S-Cross adorned with sat nav, a reversing camera, parking sensors, LED headlights, automatic lights and wipers, 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, and keyless entry and start, while the range-topping SZ5 models gain a leather upholstery, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control and radar braking system.
If the Suzuki name registers with UK car buyers at all, it is likely to be filed under the ‘cheap and cheerful’ bracket. That description would not be inaccurate, either, as the Japanese firm has become a past master at delivering both of those attributes without ever overstepping the boundaries of good taste.
The S-Cross is another worthy example of that approach. On the admittedly decently equipped, entry-level SZ4 we originally tested, there was more matt plastic on and around the functional dashboard than you’d find on a 20-year-old Bush CRT television, but Suzuki’s first-rate fit and finish means that it never feels offensive to the touch.
Savvy buyers touring the car’s legion of rivals will notice the difference in materials elsewhere, too, particularly on items such as the seats and gear knob – although the difference in price between the S-Cross and its competition ought to make up for it. The Dacia Duster has already shown us this year that there’s plenty of room in the crossover segment for precisely this kind of compromise.
