Suzuki SX4 Details, Photos and Videos

The Suzuki SX4 is a compact car and crossover developed jointly by Japanese automaker Suzuki and Italian automaker Fiat, sold since 2006. It was available as a hatchback and sedan, with the former available in both front and four wheel drive. In 2013, the second generation was launched, called Suzuki SX4 S-Cross — now exclusively a mini SUV, with a sedan version no longer offered. The first and second generation SX4s sold alongside one another until 2014. The second generation SX4 has not been marketed as a Fiat, and the SX4 sedan was replaced with the Suzuki Ciaz.

The original model was sold in certain European markets as the Fiat Sedici. It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign Giugiaro studio and has been produced since 2006. Although originally intended solely for Europe, the SX4 is sold in most of Suzuki's international markets. Especially as a 4WD hatchback, the SX4 occupies a specific market niche of mini SUVs. Depending on the market, it was available with petrol engines in the 1.5 to 2.0 litre range, and Fiat's 1.3 to 2.0 litre diesels.

SX4 continues Suzuki's tradition of mini SUVs and compact SUVs, like SJ, Jimny, and Escudo. It was introduced in Japan on 1 December 2005, and internationally at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio, the SX4 (an abbreviation of "Sports X over 4 all seasons ") replaces the Aerio (Liana in some markets). The "SX/4" designation was previously used (1981–83) by American Motors (AMC) for a sporty liftback model in its all wheel drive AMC Eagle passenger cars.

Although originally intended solely for the European market, the SX4 is sold in most of Suzuki's international markets. It falls within Japanese regulations concerning vehicle external dimensions and engine displacement for a car classified as a "compact". It is manufactured at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Esztergom, Hungary; Manesar, India; and Sagara, Japan.

Production in Hungary was expected to be 60,000 units per year — two thirds to be sold by Suzuki and one third by Fiat, badged as the Sedici.

The SX4 Crossover has also been sold in Indonesia since 2007. Earlier models were directly imported from Japan (Completely Built up/CBU), however, locally assembled versions were introduced a year later, to meet the higher than expected market demand. The locally assembled versions are then equipped with some new features, including four wheel disc brakes and Multi Information Display. The SX4 sedan was also sold in Indonesia as the Suzuki Baleno from 2008 until 2010.

Base engines are the 1.5 litre gasoline unit identical to the one used in the Swift, 1.6 litre gasoline (with VVT) with maximum output of 102 PS (75 kW; 101 hp) (which powers Suzuki SX4 Sedan sold in India by Maruti), the new 1.6 litre VVT seen in the new Grand Vitara, and a 107 PS (79 kW; 106 hp), 1.9 litre DDIS — along with the Fiat diesel engine with a maximum output of 120 PS (88 kW; 118 hp) and maximum torque of 280 N⋅m (210 lb⋅ft).

The SX4 was initially released as a five-door hatchback body style, marketed as the SX4 Crossover. With boot space of 300 liters (270 liters VDA) and 60:40 split fold rear seats, they have a tumble/roll configuration that allows for a flat load area up to a maximum volume of 1045 liters (625 liters VDA).

The sedan model, marketed as the SX4 Sport, debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show and was released in Japan, India, and a few Eastern European markets. It replaced the Suzuki Aerio sedan and also the Daewoo-based Suzuki Forenza sedan and station wagon.

The North American market model arrived in 2006 as a 2007 model year, as Suzuki's entry level AWD vehicle. Differences from the European model are the offering of AWD as standard (2WD Version available in Canada, Europe, Israel, and China while AWD is optional in Canada) and only with the 2.0 litre J20A 143 hp (107 kW; 145 PS) inline-four gasoline engine with timing chain instead of timing belt.

In 2007, Suzuki Auto posted the best year end close in company history, with SX4 sales a primary contributor to this success.

The United States base price (model year 2008) for the five door hatchback (marketed as the SX4 Crossover) included "intelligent" All Wheel Drive (iAWD), power door locks, power windows, power mirrors, CD player with MP3 capability, and keyless entry. Available were anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, fog lights, and an advanced key in a Touring package.

The model year of 2009 saw SX4 sedans with standard GPS navigation systems manufactured by Garmin with Bluetooth, weather, and a gas station locator.

The United States sedan of the SX4 (marketed as the SX4 Sport) is only available in front wheel drive (FWD). Except for the absence of iAWD, the option packages for the SX4 Sport closely matched those available for the SX4 Crossover. The sedan's boot has 515 liters of cargo capacity.

Both the 1.6 litre FWD hatchback and 1.6 litre FWD sedan models available in Israel (four speed automatic only) and Malaysia, are fully imported from Japan.

In Indonesia, only a two-wheel FWD drive CKD version with 1.5 litre engine for both sedan and hatchback is offered, available in five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission option. Later, SX4 hatchback in Indonesia is offered in two variants: the standard SX4 Crossroad and the fully optional SX4 Crossover.

Both two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the SX4 are available, although not all combinations of drivetrain and body style may be available in a given market (for instance, until the latter part of the model year of 2008, the United States SX4 Crossover was only available with iAWD). The AWD models use an electronically controlled iAWD three mode four wheel drive system, user selectable between front wheel drive 2WD mode, automatic AWD AUTO mode, and AWD LOCK 50:50 split permanent AWD LOCK mode which can only be used up to 64 km/h (40 mph), after that it switches to AWD AUTO mode.

The 2010 SX4 received changes to the grille, taillights, instrument cluster, climate controls and door trim, as well as a restructured cargo hold, removing the fold up rear seats in favour of an 'arena seating' raised rear seat layout. Non-fleet all-wheel-drive models added new rear skid plates. They were also upgraded with front (ventilated) and rear (solid) disc brakes, six airbags (front, side and curtain), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Cruise control and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) - optional in 1.6 litre models.

A new SportBack model offers a lowered sport tuned suspension, body kit, rear spoiler, and also removes the roof rack.

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