Suzuki SX4 (From York Press)

Suzuki SX4

1:52pm Friday 22nd January 2010 in

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That’s it, then. Where once snowmen stood proud, the last dirty remnants of the big freeze can be seen.

We are back to some sort of normality after weeks of slip-slide journeys.

Except that there are now innumerable potholes and a few flooded roads to contend with.

I suspect that more than a few motorists would have preferred to have been behind the wheel of something a little more robust to cope with the ice and snow, something with a touch more ground clearance, a raised ride height and an extra layer of protection during the worst winter for decades. Not a full-blown 4x4, but something that provided that bit more confidence when the going got tough.

Something like Suzuki’s SX4, which might be described as the original compact crossover. It is built to withstand the knocks and bumps of the city in two-wheel drive set-up, and there’s a higher specification version that has four-wheel drive.

Suzuki, buoyed by increased UK car sales of about nine per cent in 2009, has made several refinements under the skin of the gutsy SX4 for 2010 – there’s better soundproofing, improved transmission and better rigidity.

There are some minor changes to the exterior styling, too, plus the introduction of a revised 1.6-litre petrol engine that offers ten per cent more power, ten per cent lower fuel consumption and a 13 per cent drop in CO2 emissions to 143g/km.

There’s also a 1.6-litre diesel version with CO2 emissions of 129 g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 57.6 mpg, and Suzuki is toying with the idea of introducing a two-litre diesel engine.

What’s more, Suzuki has held the price of the SX4 despite these improvements, with the entry level car costing £11,640.

Even the standard SZ3 model offers six airbags, remote cental locking, air conditioning, MPs/WMA compatible CD tuner with eight speakers, four electric windows, a driver information display and illuminated steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

The SZ4 model, which is priced at £12,255 for the manual version and £13,280 for the automatic, adds fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, side body protection strips and heated door mirrors. Petrol engine versions also get keyless entry and start, a dashboard centre speaker and automatic air conditioning.

In April, the top-of-the-range SZ5 model will arrive, complete with rear privacy glass and an intelligent all-wheel drive system that allows the driver to select automatic four-wheel drive, two-wheel drive or a lock mode that maintains full traction up to about 40mph. Expect a price tag of about £14,000 for this model.

The 2010 model retains scuff plates front and rear, its pronounced wheelarches and wide front rear track, but there is a redesigned front bumper and grille, plus a new design for the alloy wheels.

There’s a definite sense of purpose about that wedge shape and the protective cladding that will appeal to those seeking something more rugged than a conventional hatchback but do not intend ploughing through muddy fields.

Inside, the mostly black interior is highlighted with metallic-coloured accents and the instrument panel is both user-friendly and easy on the eye. That’s partly because of the LED backlit three-dial cluster behind the steering wheel. In addition, information on fuel consumption, fuel range and the outside temperature have now been relocated from the top centre of the dashboard to directly ahead of the driver in the instrument cluster.

The ribbed seating is surprisingly comfortable, and leg room – even for rear passengers – is again better than what might be expected in a car of this size.

This is a car that’s easy to live with, and it’s also easy to get in and out of because of the large door openings and higher ground clearance, and the slightly higher setting of the rear seats makes for a more pleasant experience in the back.

Those rear seats have a 60/40 split and can also be tumbled forward to increase the load capacity from 270 to 625 litres.

And up front, the driver will find cushioned armrests (a really nice touch) alongside the neat dashboard and centre console.

This is a much-improved niche car for Suzuki that may well find some conquest buyers after such a harsh reminder of the vagaries of the British weather.

Suzuki SX4, from £11,640

Engine: 1.6-litre petrol.

Transmission: Five-speed manual, driving front wheels, or all-wheel drive.

Performance: 0 to 62mph in 10.7 seconds; top speed 115mph.

Fuel economy: 45.6mpg combined.

CO2 emissions: 143g/km.