If my experience driving around Chicago is any indicator, there's quite a market for small, sporty-looking hatchbacks. Most of them are heavily modified used cars, and against this benchmark the SX4 performs quite well, if for no other reason than it has up-to-date safety equipment.
It's when the SX4 is compared with other new offerings that it suffers. Is it as crisp, poised and refined as the segment leaders? Nope. And while it's fun to drive on twisty roads, it's not the most fun. The SX4 doesn't look like many other cars on the road, and the SportBack version is well-differentiated from its siblings. For some people, that plus good handling will be enough. I'm not convinced, though, that I wouldn't be happier in day-to-day use with something different.
The Name
Kizashi! There's something about recent Japanese car names — or at least
names from Japanese car companies — that inspire us to bellow them. It started
with Toyota: Venza! Now it's Suzuki: Kiz ...
Sun Visor
The sun visors can be pulled down to block
glare coming through the windshield, or
they can be unhooked and turned to the
side to block glare coming through the side
window.
CAUTION:
When unho ...
Shortcomings
The Kizashi does have its shortcomings, one of which is backseat roominess:
As mentioned in the 2010 review, legroom in particular is a couple of inches
below the norm. It also has a couple of qui ...