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PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
while initial acceleration feels sprightly, the SX4 SportBack takes a while to get to 60 mph
CNET
The [CVT] unit can also be controlled via steering wheel-mounted paddles, which proved helpful during "spirited" driving.
Motor Trend
Steering is quick and nicely weighted.
Consumer Guide
The car stays comfortably planted, no doubt aided by the wide 17-inch rubber on which it rides.
AutoWeek
Maybe we expected too much from an all-wheel-drive vehicle that weighs 2,982 pounds.
Edmunds' Inside Line
Both versions of the 2011 Suzuki SX4 come standard with a 150-horsepower version of Suzuki's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, along with a six-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Suzuki's Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive (I-AWD) system is standard on the Crossover, whereas the SportBack, the entry Sedan, and the fancier Sport sedan make do with simpler front-wheel drive.
The SX4 feels smooth and zippy in normal commute-style driving, with enough torque from the engine to feel responsive with either transmission. The manual gearbox seems the best way to take advantage of the engine's sprightly mid-rev response; however paddle shifters that simulate fixed ratios in the CVT give the driver a feeling of control that meshes well with the SX4's sporty feel—which includes steering that loads and unloads nicely.
Because of its height and taller, more compliant suspension, the SX4 Crossover doesn't take nearly as well as the other models to truly enthusiastic driving, when its engine booms and the body rolls in turns. It's also the heaviest model, and the SX4's overly aggressive throttle tip-in can convince you there's more power—until you drive foot to the floor. Crossover models get an unusual AWD setup, called i-AWD, that has a front-wheel-drive only model to aid fuel economy on dry roads, while in its normal mode the system can send up to 50 percent of power to the rear wheels.
Conclusion
The 2011 Suzuki SX4 SportBack and sedan models offer impressive handling and a nimble feel, while the Crossover trades some of that for all-weather traction.
