Suzuki's SX4 crossover was certainly modish on paper when it was launched, tapping into the emerging craze for cars that were the missing link between hatchbacks and 4x4s. Unfortunately, where Nissan got it dead right with the Juke and Qashqai crossovers, Suzuki seemed to miss the point slightly.
The SX4 looked more like an ungainly lanky hatchback than a low-riding, funky SUV but enjoyed reasonable sales from launch. A mid-life facelift was intended to address some of the problems that had been found with the car and to broaden its appeal further.
Bumpers and detail finishes were tweaked front and rear and trim levels brought in line with the rest of the company's range and changes were made to some of the engines offered with the car too. Not profound changes then, but to enough to keep the SX4 competitive - on paper.
The 1.6-litre, 118bhp petrol engine has received the most attention and is coincidentally the pick of the range, with its improved economy (Suzuki says the two-wheel drive manual version will achieve 45mpg) and decent spread of power. The engine is willing to be pushing and suits the SX4's character.
The car handles very well, especially considering its raised ride height. It has the direct steering of the Swift and despite a little roll on turn-in, does resist the urge quite well. You'll need to stir the gearstick a lot to get the best out of the engine, but it's a pleasant shift and adds up to a surprisingly amusing package.
There is a four-wheel drive system available for the SX4, and it works quite well, but is largely pointless unless you actually intend to get the best out of it. You would probably be better off leaving that box unticked and enjoying the petrol savings without its weight slowing you down.
As you would probably expect from a Suzuki, though, quality is still an issue with the SX4 - refinement is really quite poor with engine noise an issue and the interior is not made from decent materials, even if it does feel like it'll stand up to wear and tear.
The SX4 is an entirely likeable car, but doesn't work hard enough to justify its existence. The sad fact is that being a crossover it doesn't do any one thing particularly brilliantly and consequently there are better cars out there depending on what you want out of your supermini.