2007 Suzuki SX4 First Drive New Hampshire

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Introduction

Suzuki SX4 - 2007 First Drive: It is one of the most famous campaigns in the annals of television advertising: the Great Pepsi Challenge. Simple and revealing, the spots consisted of a taster, a tester, a blindfold and two glasses of cola. The surprise of people who liked the taste of Pepsi - and some marketing-driven facts about how many did - was splashed on the telly across the country, much to the chagrin of the Coca-Cola Company.

In today's more cynical world, we would probably scoff at the notion of such a ploy having an impact on the choices we make. At the time, however, Coke was the Big Dog of soda sales, and that commercial had a significant impact: Coca-Cola drinkers were genuinely surprised when they selected Pepsi, as were viewers. As a result of that commercial, Pepsi actually began to outsell Coke whenever the two were side-by-side on supermarket aisles, and it launched many years of classic taste-test commercial battles.

Suzuki should do the same with its 2007 SX4 hatchback. Brand plays strongly into the decision-making process, yet if one were blind to the name on the label it would be hard to avoid giving the Suzuki SX4 careful consideration. To a mix of competitive power, interior room and stylish sheetmetal, the SX4 adds more standard features - and all-wheel-drive - to create a vehicle that outperforms many of its mainstream competitors. In one of today's hotter selling segments, we can only imagine what the popularity of the SX4 would be if the badge on the front was a Toyota emblem instead of the Suzuki "S." There would be a waiting list, certainly. Capacity issues, probably. And just imagine the reams of fawning articles that would be written about the might of the Japanese automaking giant.

Ah. But that is an "S" on the grille, so instead of the Next Great Toyota we have a vehicle that many will toss onto the justification pile - those cars people have no intent to purchase but say they do in order to make themselves feel better. It's easier, after all, to follow the crowd and buy into the brand image of Dodge, Toyota, Honda or others, even though these competing cars would be harder to live with than would the SX4.

So put on a brand blindfold before you decide what to buy, and if you're shopping for a small, sporty five-door, take a good look at the Suzuki SX4. With competitive power, all-wheel-drive, and lots of passenger and cargo room all wrapped in a nicely styled package, the SX4 may well be the taste most car testers prefer.

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Model Mix

Value-priced to compete with the likes of the >Dodge Caliber, Honda Fit and the Mazda 3, the 2007 Suzuki SX4 comes in two trims with few optional upgrades. As the base model, the SX4 offers the same mechanicals and safety features as the more expensive XSport - though it misses out on several convenience items. Still, at a sticker price that's expected to start at $15,000 and top out at $19,000, base and XSport are admirably equipped.

On the standard features list for all SX4 models is all-wheel-drive, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 142 horsepower, your choice of either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, and 16-inch wheels. Common standard safety features include four-wheel disc antilock brakes and six airbags including side-impact and side-curtain bags. Inside, all SX4s get power windows and door locks, a tilt steering wheel, remote keyless entry, air conditioning, and a stereo with CD and MP3 capability. An optional Convenience Package can be purchased for the base SX4, offering cruise control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated radio controls.

The SX4 XSport comes fully equipped, adding Suzuki's electronic stability program (ESP) with traction control (TC), a SmartPass keyless entry and start, and an automatic climate control system. The XSport also gets a six-disc in-dash CD changer with seven speakers including a subwoofer, power heated mirrors, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with stereo controls, silver roof rails, and fog lamps.

Compared to the Dodge Caliber, one of the SX4's natural competitors, the Suzuki offers more at the base level but less at the top end. A Caliber SXT, for example, costs around $16,000, but for that you miss out on the SX4 XSport's all-wheel-drive, get less horsepower, and fewer convenience features than the Suzuki. At the top of the Caliber trim chart, however, sits an all-wheel-drive R/T model with 172 horsepower, which is 30 more than the SX4 XSport can muster. The Honda Fit, meanwhile, starts at around $1,000 less than a base SX4, but offers almost 40 less horsepower and doesn't come with all-wheel-drive. A base model Mazda3 s five-door is more expensive, starting at $17,370 and equipped with ABS and side airbags, but no all-wheel-drive system. The Mazda3 s suffers just a 26 pound weight penalty, so despite the SX4's peppy character, enthusiasts who live in temperate climates may prefer the sportier and more powerful Mazda 3.