As previously reported, Suzuki has decided to include navigation on its SX4 Sport and Crossover before you make the first mark on the options list. That will make the $15,999 car the lowest priced car in America to come standard with talking maps. And now they're set to arrive in the SX4 Special Editions that arrive in Suzuki showrooms this month.
To recap, the nav system is called TRIP -- Travel, Real-time traffic, Information, and Play -- and incorporates several Microsoft features. Drivers can get traffic info, weather reports, headline news, stock quotes, movie listings, the lowest priced gas in the area, and directions to 500 nationwide Suzuki dealerships. If buyers go for the expansion module, they'll also get Fodor guide reviews of eateries and nightlife spots. It sounds like an awful lot to do in such a little car, but that's the march of progress.
[Source: Suzuki]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
So what @ Jul 5th 2008 9:31AM
I really am beginning to like this new Suzuki. More so than the Fit/Yaris/Versa/Aveo crew.
But the question is: Would you really buy it over a Ford Fiesta when it comes?
idts..
Brent @ Jul 5th 2008 11:06AM
The Suzuki doesn't get very good mileage if I remember correctly. (Too lazy to look it up.)
Soul Shinobi @ Jul 5th 2008 11:22AM
I'm really excited about it too, but I must say that the Fit is the most car for your money today, in my opinion. I do have high hopes for the SX4, it being Fit-like and have AWD. I've heard you can turn the AWD off and run off the front wheels for economy, Brent. I'm not sure what it gets for mileage either way though.
Duders @ Jul 6th 2008 1:15AM
it does get pretty terrible mileage. And from what I recall the awd version only comes in auto. Lame sauce. And yeah, just buy a subaru :P
Beastage @ Jul 5th 2008 9:31AM
Definitely good value for the money tho the 3 door version is much better.
Torrent @ Jul 5th 2008 12:10PM
3 door? We're talking about a Suzuki.....Right?
Oh man. How long did i sleep?
Seoultrain @ Jul 5th 2008 4:33PM
No 3-door version of the SX4. Maybe you're talking about the Swift?
Beastage @ Jul 6th 2008 8:15AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_SX4 , of course there is a 5dr version.... sorry I wasnted to say 5dr
tankd0g @ Jul 5th 2008 9:56AM
I can buy a TomTom for $120. Keep your satnav and give me a turbo.
1337 @ Jul 5th 2008 9:04PM
But if Suzuki didn't sell gimmicky satnav, they might have to build better cars...provided they want to have any sales.
SPG @ Jul 5th 2008 12:58PM
Including built in Sat Nav seems like the car phone craze. People ended up getting portable mobile phones (cell phones) and having somthing connected to your car was less useful. Car phones (the argument could be made about Sync, etc. though) stopped selling.
Now people can buy inexpensive portable Sat Nav or even Sat Nav on their mobile phones.
I would rather do that, have a portable Sat Nav. Not to mention, when the car is 10 or more years old, the big (probably dead) screen on half the cars out there is going to be a silly eyesore.
Esprit bird @ Jul 5th 2008 1:04PM
What are the real world numbers on this thing? some places have the 4 door only getting 21 mpg mixed driving, while some places even have the awd driver getting 25 mixed...
Noe @ Jul 5th 2008 1:10PM
23/31 auto, 22/30 man: i love the car but the fuel economy is lacking, i'd buy this in a second if it gave me 25/35.
Edison @ Jul 5th 2008 1:58PM
Actually the new EPA ratings are too unreliable. If you check out fueleconomy.org you can see that most drivers are actually getting from 33 to 41 in combine driving instead of the 26 combine that Suzuki has publish because they have to use thew new stupid ratings. So (not too good in match here) you actually do get 25/35 or perhaps more.
Kotse @ Jul 5th 2008 4:35PM
Over at fueleconomy.gov, the average fuel economy of the SX4 sedan auto owners are getting around 36.9mpg...
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm
Disgruntled Goat @ Jul 5th 2008 9:40PM
Yea, which would you trust more, a standardized test meticulously given to all cars equally in the exact same way, or anecdotal evidence by the random public with who-knows-what driving habits and a personal bias to boot?
JT @ Jul 5th 2008 2:29PM
#1) There are N0 3 Door Models of SX4 . If there is... please post the link.. would be interested in one, perhaps(if they fixed a few issues...see below).
They have a 5 door CUV sx4, which is about 162.7 inches total length(like my in-laws have, since October 06, with 65,000 miles already..work car......)and the sedan is 175-176 inches in length; 4 doors...143HP engine for both models... 30 MPG avg.
This is a FWD/AWD vehicle(the CUV version) ...and they have got around 32 hwy a few times recently... avg is 30, though, for daily use.
The Yaris(for comparison..not same class of vehicle, though).. is rated 33-34 hwy..so.. this is not too bad.
2) My gripe? We saw how Excellent the SX4 cuv is for the in-laws, and wanted the sedan version(really, wanted a hatch, like the Reno, but built by Suzuki, not GM-DAT)..
Problems:
a) No Tilt Steering Column available, even as an option.
b) No fold-down rear seats( it's not 1990 anymore..so....where's the fold-down rear seats at?).
c) No sunroof option(lot of other maker's offer this).
d) No center storage console/arm rest(well, they have an armrest, optional, it's a small, fold-down thing, hooked to the side of the seat, and only for the driver, iirc).
Nice car..But.. when you don't include a tilt-steering column, and other items.. why bother with Navigation?
You can find you way around, but be uncomfortable behind the steering wheel?
Suzuki used to load their cars up...guess electronics are cheaper than tilt-steering, folding (or fold flat)rear seats, etc?
Kotse @ Jul 5th 2008 4:42PM
Btw, it was mentioned in some car blogs that Suzuki will bring over the fwd SX4 5dr hatchback sometime next year...
ecurb2369 @ Jul 6th 2008 11:18AM
There already is a FWD version of the Crossover in some regions... we sell them here at my Suzuki dealership on the east coast.
socarboy99 @ Jul 6th 2008 8:20AM
The SX4 is a screaming value. I've had my '08
sedan with convience pkg & automatic for 7 months now. I'm averaging 29MPG, this is competative with similar equipped competitors'
vehicles. One thing this vehicle will give you
is a high chair like seating position; this thing
sits up as high as a 2WD compact pickup.
My suggestion for Suzuki would be to make an armrest as standard equipment, I had to add this
to mine; this would have been a better choice to
increase standard equipment vs. a Nav unit.