SUZUKI, THAT PROLIFERATOR of everything from quads and trikes to superbikes, makes no apologies about being lifestyle oriented and outdoorsy about its car line-up. From the humble Alto town car to the terrain defying Grand Vitara each model has its own flavour, look and purpose. Here’s where Suzuki’s own Swiss Army knife fits in ­– the SX4 Cross(X)over, now available here with the four-wheel grip its name promises, and delivers, in other markets.

BUT WHAT IS IT?

Launched in 2007 and in SA with front-drive only in June 2008, the SX4 came across as a tallboy interpretation of the C-segment hatchback. Its gravelly aspirations were hinted at by superior ground clearance and rugged plastic claddings in the same vein as the VW Cross Polo, Renault Scenic Navigator and more recently the Nissan Grand Livina X-Gear.

Equipped now with up to 50% drive to the rear wheels as well, and a sticker price of R229 500, it’s likely to duel with the likes of the smaller-engined but more off-road capable Terios. A special selling point is that the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine under the crimson bonnet of our test car produces 112kW and 190Nm, delivering sportier performance than the looks might indicate. Inside the cabin you have Golf 6 challenging degrees of space, so naturally it should compete against that too. But that’s not really the case. No. You get the impression Suzuki doesn’t make up a clearly defined list of rivals to pit their products against, choosing instead to face off the SX4 against damn near everything in our buyers’ guide. Plucky Japs!

METAL HEAD

At first glance the SX4 comes off a bit unresolved. A chunky rear end and sharpened visage seem at odds, but what happens in the middle marries the two ends into one cohesive metal arrowhead. The greenhouse in profile is large, which equates to airy cabin space. A dip in the waistline around the A-pillar, and more notably the rise that follows at the base of the quarter light, enhances the muscular arches up front. A black-trimmed set of inflated wheel arches house a meaty set of 16-inch alloy wheels (wrapped in 205/60 rubber) allowing the overall design to lean towards the masculine category, with some help from the steeply raked windscreen and a butch set of roof rails.

Despite the onslaught from photocopier-ridden China and the previously mentioned contenders in the crossing-over hatchback genre, the SX4 still manages to retain its own distinctive identity. They’re easy to spot on the road and I can testify to encountering at least two of them on my daily route. Upfront the SX4 is handsome following revisions to the grille, and a pair of foglamps is fitted as standard. Pity they are housed within a bumper endowed with such a weak ‘jaw line’.

CABIN FEVER