MAINLY FUN
The S-Cross is Suzuki’s most mainstream SUV. But it’s also got a cheeky side.
Suzuki specialises in tiny cars with character. It can take humble ingredients and cook up a budget-priced machine that’ll give you supercar-sized smiles on the way to the shops.
It’s fair to say that as its offerings get bigger, Suzuki gets further out of its comfort zone. Consider the Kizashi medium sedan (2009-16), which was actually a class-leading model in its day — AA New Zealand Car of the Year winner, even — but fell pretty flat in the market because people struggled with the idea of a larger Suzuki family car.
Which brings us neatly to the S-Cross. This model line started as the SX4 crossover compact-hatch in 2006, but from its second generation in 2013 it grew into a larger and more mainstream SUV, on a shared platform with the current Vitara.
The “all-new” S-Cross isn’t exactly that. But it is a major inside-and-out refresh, taking the brand forward in technology/ equipment. And also a little further into risky (for Suzuki) mainstream family-car territory.
For the record, it’s 225mm longer overall than Vitara, with a 100mm stretch in the wheelbase. Lower, but wider. Not exactly massive at 4.3m long, but definitely the biggest thing you’ll find in a Suzuki showroom.
The previous model was accomplished but hardly a looker, with that toastrack grille. The new one is actually quite swish at the front, with a sliver of chrome that joins the grille and LED headlights. The back’s gone more butty, with a massive fullwidth garnish.
The new interior propels it ahead of sister Vitara, with an iPadlike infotainment touch screen propped up on the centre console. There’s a new OS and it’s also the first Suzuki to have wireless Apple CarPlay; Android users get a lesser deal, because that still requires a cable.
The cabin is still far from fashionforward: neat but very conservative and a sometimesstrange blend of new-tech (infotainment, 360-degree camera display on our JLX turbo test car) and old school, like the analogue instrument panel, spindly trip-reset button and manual handbrake.
It’s a spacious small-medium SUV, with the wheelbase stretch liberating impressive rear legroom and a pretty decent 440-litre boot (65l more than a Vitara). The cargo floor is dual-height, so you can have either maximum space (up to
1230l with the seats folded) or click it up a level to have flat loadthrough with the seats down.
Suzuki has been a bit bold and only offers the S-Cross with the
1.4-litre BoosterJet turbo engine — the same as a Swift Sport, or the top Vitara models. It’s in the Clean Car Discount neutral band, so no rebate or fee. But it’s no economy king in smallcar terms, with an ontest average of
7.5l/100km (official figure 6.9l). And you have to feed it 95 octane fuel.
There’s a mild-hybrid version of this engine available in Europe and that may come. But it would potentially push the price up, the economy gains are
small — it can’t drive on EV power alone, for example — and it still needs premium fuel.
From a driver’s point of view, the BoosterJet is a treat: lots of lowdown torque and beautifully smooth, even if the 103kW peak power output is quite modest.
Past SX4s have dabbled in continuously variable transmission (CVT) technology, but the turbo has a six-speed automatic which is also pretty slick.
The upgraded safety-assist suite now includes “adaptive cruise with stop & go”, according to Suzuki. The adaptive bit is excellent and it will indeed brake down to standstill — but it only holds for two seconds, and if the car ahead hasn’t moved by then it cancels and starts creeping forward.
The top JLX turbo is available with AWD for an extra $2k and it’s a worthwhile spend if you’re venturing anywhere outside urban limits. It’s an on-demand full-time system, so well-tailored towards on-road driving, with a Sport mode that shifts a little extra torque to the rear.
It’s no sports SUV, but that perky powertrain, clever AWD setup and a 1265kg kerb weight give the S-Cross an agile character on the open road. You might even say it’s fun, which is not a given with cars in this segment. The AllGrip AWD system also features a Snow mode and a proper 50/50 Lock setting, to get you out of the truly slippery stuff.
Suzuki is clearly aiming for much broader appeal with the new S-Cross. It’s mainstreamed the styling massively and sharpened up the tech/equipment. It ticks the important space and safety boxes for sensible people and the looks certainly won’t offend. Serious face emoji.
But there’s a little more to the S-Cross JLX AWD than meets the eye. There’s enough verve in the mechanical package to still put a smile on the driver’s face and take you to new places. Any $40k family SUV that can still do that is okay by us.
‘ The new one is actually quite swish at the front, with a sliver of chrome that joins the grille and LED headlights.