Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 1.4 Boosterjet Hybrid 2020 UK first drive

Despite this, it doesn't feel that much different out on the road. The engine pulls from low revs with more than enough strength for town work, with a 0-62mph time of just over 10sec. And it certainly isn't out of its depth on faster roads, either, because it’s commendably flexible when hooked up to the six-speed manual gearbox – no doubt partly thanks to helping hands from the ISG.

Indeed, you can only really detect that this S-Cross is electrified when you lift off in lower gears, thanks to the usual sensation of engine braking being noticeably stronger as energy is captured. Don’t get us wrong: it’s no Nissan Leaf – you still absolutely need to use the central pedal – but the sensation of regeneration is present, unlike with Suzuki's old 12V set-up.

As for the actual benefit of this, we averaged 38.7mpg over 200 miles of mostly motorway but also some town duty (not at all congested, for obvious reasons), during which time the computer says the electric idling saved me a cute 0.06 gallons of fuel. 

That figure is admittedly short of the official 45.4mpg, but it would no doubt be higher if it had not spent so much of its time at 70mph – and those 12V Suzukis have an impressive track record in my experience.

The biggest weakness of the S-Cross continues to be its suspension. The primary ride is nothing to write home about, but you might put pen to paper in complaint about the way that small intrusions are dealt with. The car feels rather brittle at low speeds, alerting you to potholes and such, fidgeting all the while. All of the family will feel much more comfortable in something like the Skoda Karoq.

The flipside of this is that the S-Cross actually corners rather tidily, without excessive body roll or a desperation to show you what understeer is. While we’d still point you towards the nimbler Seat Arona if you want a low-cost crossover that can provide some fun on a country road, the S-Cross isn’t quite a domestic appliance.

It should be said that the Arona has nicer steering as well, but that’s not to say the S-Cross’s isn’t consistent and well weighted; it’s just not one to inspire confidence.

Suzuki should be praised for the speed with which it has managed to act in electrifying its model range so as to reduce its CO2 emissions. 

The theory behind its new 48V mild-hybrid system appears to hold water, even if the economy improvement over the old 1.4-litre S-Cross might not quite hit the claimed 17%, and every little helps for manufacturer, customer and environment alike.