Suzuki SX4: Underrated Cars

"therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now)" (therevengeofthesaab) 04/03/2014 at 20:37 • Filed to: Underrated Cars

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Welcome to my new short semi-regular series about cars that were overlooked and/or underrated.

The 1st gen Suzuki SX4 was truly underrated in North America, with Suzuki America and Canada almost bankrupt, They needed a new car to get past their reputation of building old Daewoo Crapcans with GM Gone (See Chevy Aveo). The SX4 seemed destined for huge sales and saving Suzuki in North America, AWD for Offroading, Subcompact size for Cites, It was even styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro!!! It also had a sedan for those who hated hatches.

With a 150 Horses under the hood from a 2.0, It was much more powerful than almost all the other subcompacts in the market. Reviews claimed this car as a great handling and sporty car.

Unfortunately, It seemed like no wonder how well a car is, the badge on the grille is the most important. The SX4 was never a great seller, especially the sedan.

I am sure if the car had a Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, or Chevy badge in the front, it would have been everywhere. Like other Suzuki's cars (Suzuki Swift GTi). This car might be underappreciated today, but one day the rest of the world will finally appreciate this car. Did I mention it was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the same man who designed the Lamborghini Miura!!

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 18:33

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And it had an Italian counterpart - the Fiat Sedici.

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 04/03/2014 at 18:35

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I like the suzuki better

jkm7680 > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 18:53

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There are a couple of Oppos who have these I believe.

I've looked into 6spd models with 4wd. Nearly new cars for under $15,000 with low mileage. Good deals those.

Dunnik > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 18:54

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I agree. I saw several forlorn orphans at probably the last Suzuki dealership in the Toronto area. They're selling remaining inventory, used Suzukis and other used cars.

I saw several SX4's with their factory plastics still on them, forlorn and unloved in their dealer lot. AWD, available manual, Made in Japan, too, instead of wherever labor is cheapest.

People like Subaru for just these reasons.

Oh well. Too little, too late Suzuki.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 19:01

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This is probably the only modern compact I want.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 19:13

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Love the Suzuki. Too small for me to likely own one, but I do like them. For your next Underrated cars, maybe consider the Mitsubishi Montero. I think they are cool looking, generally good trucks (having driven a few but never owned one), but despite having been popular elsewhere, they are overlooked in the U.S. in favor of the more expensive Land Cruiser and the V8 Suburbans/Expeditions. Just a thought.

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/03/2014 at 19:31

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Sure, I'll look into it!

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > Dunnik 04/03/2014 at 19:33

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Yeah, My Dad brought one about a 9 months ago, it was $5000 off. He can't drive a manual though, so he got a CVT, He says it quite fun for a CVT car

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 20:40

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They will become great used rally cars

PanchoVilleneuve ST > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 20:42

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Here's one with an Alfa V6 in the back.

Your boy, BJR > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 20:45

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Idk why, but I've always had unnecessarily strong feels for these cars.

this one was for sale at a used car place in my town, yes, it's caged. Yes the back seat is gone. Yes, it's turbocharged. I had such a raging want boner for it.

EDIT: Added motor and cage pics.

No Prius Needed > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/03/2014 at 20:53

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Awful clearcoat.

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > PanchoVilleneuve ST 04/03/2014 at 21:15

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MY EYES!!!!!! CANNOT UNSEE STANCED CAR!!!!!!! On the other hand that guy just ruined it's great rallying chassis doing that.....

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > Your boy, BJR 04/03/2014 at 21:16

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DID YOU BUY IT!!! DID YOU BUY IT!!!! DID BUY IT!!!!! Say...Where's the ad?

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > jkm7680 04/03/2014 at 21:17

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Yeah my dad has one.

Your boy, BJR > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 21:37

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No, this was like a year ago, it sold real quick.

fhrblig > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 21:55

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My partner owned two of them. When we met, he had a black '07 AWD Touring, and he then got an '08 AWD Sport. He loved it; I loved driving it in the snow, but in regular weather I hated the automatic (they both had the 4-speed slushbox and not the later CVT). His mom loved it too, and she ended up buying one. All in all, it was a good little car. Terrible city MPG, though; he got below 20 more than a few times.

He has an AWD Juke now, and I like it better in normal weather but it doesn't seem to be as good as the SX4 was in the snow.

Stupidru > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 22:04

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seems great on paper until you drive one and realize it's massively under-powered. I have 165hp and cry everyday I drive my car because it's so anemically slow

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > fhrblig 04/03/2014 at 22:06

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My Dad has one and he says the same thing about the MPG

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > Stupidru 04/03/2014 at 22:08

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My Dad drives one, he says it's quite good, more powerful than most subcompacts he driven before

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 04/03/2014 at 22:11

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I think they may become a future classic actually. My Dad owns one and he switches cars quite often, so in a few years he might sell it. (I BETTER ASK HIM FOR IT!!!!!!)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/03/2014 at 22:15

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future classic? No.

Future budget race car? Yes

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 04/03/2014 at 22:18

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With Suzuki Leaving North America and very few sold, I think it has the potential. Or at least it will be a Novelty Item

Twism > therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) 04/04/2014 at 01:31

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I am actively looking for one of these for a winter car (Hello, wonderful depreciation!). The reliability is good, power is decent, handling is nice, and it accepts mods fairly easily. Plus, there is a sweet rallye suspension kit for those, which raise the whole car about 1-2 inches. add some red mudflaps and a refuse STI wing, and you got a bitchin rallye car!