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.
Equator RMZ-4, Quay and Quad Concept Vehicles
Designed to match Suzuki's performance-oriented motocross motorcycles, the
RMZ-4 concept offers rugged off-road performance in a Crew Cab. This
Equator-based concept, built by the Carlab of Orange ...
Cigarette Lighter and Ashtray
Cigarette Lighter (if equipped)
To use the cigarette lighter, push it all the
way into the receptacle and release it. It
will automatically heat up and will pop out
to its normal position when i ...
Off-Road
We drove an RMZ-4 Equator around several trails at Knibbe Ranch, about 55
miles north of San Antonio. The ranch, consisting of 2,000 acres of Texas hill
country, is mostly covered with scrub oak a ...