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Review of the 2009 Suzuki SX4 Crossover

2009 Suzuki SX4

Price Range $13,299 to $18,539

suitable for: Diapers
School
Teens

21 to 23
City MPG

28 to 31
Hwy MPG

5 Seats
2 Rows
2 Latch Connectors
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Interior

From its price and size to its standard AWD, nearly everything about the SX4 appealed to me. The seats, however, were horrible. Note to Suzuki designers and execs: Please add the option of higher-quality seating! I’d pay more for it.

I couldn’t get comfortable in this car because the seats seemed to push me into a hunchback pose. The seats need a little manual lumbar support or somethin’ in there. Moms, how important is comfort when buying a new car? For most people, it’s close to the top of the list.

The SX4 has some neat interior features I wasn’t expecting, such as a pop-up navigation system and a digital readout on my average gas usage, which averaged a combined 26 mpg. The outside-temperature display on the dash is sweet! I also enjoyed the front seats’ armrests, although I kept mine in the “up” position so it wouldn’t interfere with shifting. The SX4’s A-pillar did get in the way of my view, but I got used to it.

In the second row, the Latch connectors are easy to find, and the cupholders are in the door bins, which is inconvenient at best.

My two kids were about all I could fit in the backseat; throw in a bulky backpack and there’d be some space issues. My 6-year-old bumped his head — more than once — trying to maneuver into his booster seat. Plus, the loosey-goosey seat belt buckles made for lots of complaining from the peanut gallery. I had to contort my body to reach back and help with the seat belts. The outdoor-temperature display said it was minus 11 outside, so I wasn’t about to go back out there! If you live in a warm climate, this is when you take a moment to reflect upon your good fortune.

The cargo area was surprisingly roomy, and the cargo net was yet another pleasant surprise. Seven grocery bags and a gallon of milk took up less than half the cargo space; I’d say there was plenty of room for a large grocery run. Now, if you buy in bulk or travel with a large stroller and diaper bag, space will be an issue. For my family, the SX4 gave me enough cargo room to meet 95 percent of my daily needs (the remaining 5 percent involved trips with luggage or bringing the dog along).

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

shopping around: At cars.com

key interior: Features

    ● Navigation
    ● Cruise control with steering-wheel controls
    ● Rear seat tumbles forward
    ● Speed-sensitive volume

available interior: Colors

  • Black

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