Maruti Suzuki SX4 Car Review 2014

There is no denying the kind of pedigree Maruti Suzuki holds in the Indian car market, especially when it comes to selling small cars or as we all call them, hatchbacks. Models from Maruti Suzuki are known for their fuel economy, affordability and compatibility with Indian conditions. However, for some odd reason, India’s largest passenger car maker has not been able to transform this magic into the big segment (sedans and SUVs). SX4 is one such car, which has not been able to deliver the sort of performance that other models from the company do. Despite being a car with great credentials and being a value-for-money prospect, it has not raked up the numbers. Now, let’s take a closer look at why Maruti Suzuki SX4 has or has not managed to strike a chord with customers in the entire country.If there is one word that personifies the design of SX4, it bold. An out and out masculine looking car, the most striking thing about the appearance of this sedan is its front grille, which adds to its boldness. Also, the prominent Suzuki insignia embedded at the centre of this grille further enhance its appearance. SX4 has a great stance along with dual-colour front body bumper. The wind screen is huge, made from toughened glass and features intermittent wipers. For a mid-sized sedan, the only drawback in the SX4 is that it is slightly over-sized.

It would be safe to say that once you sit inside the SX4 sedan, you can tell it is a Maruti Suzuki car. Interiors of this car are not bad, in fact they are quite nice, but lack the cutting edge premium quality that most of its competitors would possess. There is a black and beige dashboard, which has an elegant design. Highlights of the interiors of this car are three assist grips, chrome finish on door handles and AC louvres. The instrument panel is average and features tachometer, switch illumination colour, key off reminder and an integrated audio system with touch screen navigation and Bluetooth.

Let’s talk about the main thing now, the performance of Maruti Suzuki SX4. This sedan comes in both petrol and diesel variants. SX4 diesel is fitted with a super turbo DDiS engine that is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. This engine has a displacement of 1248 cc, which propels it to deliver an output of around 88 bhp along with peak torque of 200 Nm. Now, considering the engine specifications, the performance being delivered by the SX4 is quite impressive. As per company claims, SX4 diesel delivers a fuel economy of around 21.79 kmpl, something that is really good.

Petrol version of Maruti Suzuki SX4 is equipped with a 16 DOHC VVT engine that displaces 1586 cc. This engine, also mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, produces a superb output of 102.7 bhp along with top torque of 145 Nm. These statistics, given the kind of fuel economy delivered by SX4 petrol, around 16 kmpl, are definitely good.

Putting all these facts into perspective, it would be hard to imagine why SX4 is not selling like hotcakes in the market. However, reasons for the same are quite evident if one looks closely. First of all, for mid-sized sedan buyers, it is not just about affordability and fuel economy as they tend to have a greater affinity towards factors like style and class. Models like Honda City, Skoda Rapid and Hyundai Verna are combinations of style, looks and performance. Despite all this, Maruti Suzuki SX4 remains to be an excellent car that has been overshadowed by its competitors.