In crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the SX4 earned the top rating, Good, for front and side impacts. Rear crash protection — arguably less significant than front or side protection — is rated Marginal, keeping the SX4 from IIHS Top Safety Pick status. Standard safety features include six airbags and antilock brakes; an electronic stability system is optional.
Reliability ratings for the SX4 are strong; Consumer Reports surveys have rated the car Much Better Than Average, its top score, since the SX4's inception. Equally impressive is Suzuki's seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The automaker has yet to release pricing for the 2010 SX4 , but 2009 sedans ranged from $13,299 to about $19,000 for a loaded SX4 Sport. That's a relative bargain for this class. On the features front, technology trumps luxury: Leather upholstery, heated seats and a moonroof were unavailable for the '09, but top trim levels included a navigation system, automatic climate control and a keyless access system. Base models, on the other hand, came stripped, including manual windows and no stereo. No doubt there will be some equipment and pricing shuffles for 2010, but they shouldn't be too drastic.
SX4 in the Market
Certain buyers may still find the SX4 suits them well, and there are no red flags on the reliability or safety fronts to caution otherwise. But the car has been leapfrogged by its competitors — in gas mileage, interior quality, ride comfort and more. It still has some neat tricks, but for all the compromises, the SX4's charm is wearing thin.
So, what gives?
I am convinced, after driving several versions of the Kizashi, including the
subject of this week’s column, the 2011 Kizashi Sport SLS sedan, that Suzuki can
make cars better than, or certainly ...
Built Like a Brute
The Suzuki Grand Vitara continues Suzuki's 40-year heritage of building
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Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Specified Fluid
Use an automatic transaxle fluid equivalent
to DEXRON®-III.
Fluid Level Check
CAUTION:
Driving with too much or too little
fluid can damage the transaxle.
You must check the fl ...