TARGETED at young professionals, the Suzuki SX4 Sport Crossover is said to offer the best features of a sporty compact and an SUV.

The facelifted five-seater was launched last Tuesday, featuring exterior and interior changes.

Viewed head-on, the SX4 looks like a mid-sized sedan but you soon realise this is a high-clearance, compact hatchback after going around to the side.

It sports a new front bumper, a newly designed front grille with chrome effect and new 16-inch alloy wheels. The interior this time comes with dark chrome instrumental panel centre garnish, and new seat fabric and door insert.

The facelifted Suzuki SX4 Sport Crossover features exterior and interior changes.

Internal space has been well thought out, and both the front and rear seats feel spacious and comfortable. There’s no centre console between driver and front passenger, although the glove box and door pockets provide ample storage.

Other than that, the latest SX4 looks well equipped – electric power steering, ABS with electronic brake force distribution (discs all round) and the dual front airbags should satisfy most potential buyers in the price bracket.

Safety is enhanced with a newly introduced brake override system. This override mechanism enables drivers to halt the vehicle if the accelerator pedal becomes stuck. The throttle-override technology effectively stops the vehicle when the brake and accelerator pedal are depressed at the same time.

The high ground clearance of 175mm lends it another element of a crossover vehicle.

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile said it is confident that the improved features in the vehicle, introduced in 2007, will help to boost the sales of the model.

Women make up 54% of its buyers,

As before two variants are offered: the Standard version and Premier, priced at RM91,888 and RM96,888 (on-the-road with insurance) respectively. This is an increase of around RM1,900 across the board. Both use a four-speed automatic transmission, which is not in keeping with the times when most vehicles have moved on to five or six-speed transmission.

Unlike the Premier version, the Standard does not have leather seats or V-Kool tinting.

The 4X2 softroader is equipped with a 1.6-litre engine putting out 110bhp at 5,600rpm and 150Nm at 3,800rpm, about par for the course in this category.

It’s available in a choice of five colours: copper, white, black, silver, and grey.

Among those present at the launch were the new management team of Suzuki Malaysia Automobile which included managing director Keiichi Suzuki and chief operating officer Tengku Zainudin Tengku Jaafar. — George Wong

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