Mother Proof's view

I’m on the fence about the 2009 Suzuki SX4 Crossover. I absolutely loved its looks, its low, low price, and its all-wheel drive and standard electronic stability control. The SX4 handled my demonic, snow-drift-covered driveway with absolute grace, and it took sharp corners with just a little leaning. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but a four-speed automatic is available. I could tell right away that this lil’ trooper wasn’t getting stuck in the snow, no matter how rough the conditions.

The SX4 had enough power to accelerate in fifth gear. With that peppy five-speed manual, it gets an EPA-estimated 21/28 mpg city/highway in all-wheel-drive versions.

On the flip side, I couldn’t stand the SX4’s uncomfortable seating, the stereo’s whining, buzzing sound and the backseat’s floppy seat belt latches that my kids couldn’t manage.

Exterior

The SX4 is as cute as a button. As I gave it a good once-over, I had the urge to play with it as if it were one of my son’s toys! Our test car was a brilliant shade of White Water, which glistened gleefully against the snow. Despite its small size, the SX4 has tall windows for improved visibility, and they also added to its unique look. Its 16-inch tires fit the SX4 just perfectly.

I appreciated the size of the side-view mirrors, which are larger than some I’ve experienced on full-size SUVs. The rear wiper is convenient and adds that, “Oh, I wasn’t expecting that,” touch.

The SX4 I tested came with a black-accented crossover body kit. This added a sporty look to the crossover. The test car also had a rear skid plate, the point of which I couldn’t really see. The SX4 is noticeably higher off the ground than the typical economy car, which is an added bonus for tackling tough terrain. The seating was a bit higher, too, which I liked because I hate feeling like my butt might be inches from pavement.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Not Really

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Good Times

Interior

From its price and size to its standard AWD, nearly everything about the SX4 appealed to me. The seats, however, were horrible. Note to Suzuki designers and execs: Please add the option of higher-quality seating! I’d pay more for it.

I couldn’t get comfortable in this car because the seats seemed to push me into a hunchback pose. The seats need a little manual lumbar support or somethin’ in there. Moms, how important is comfort when buying a new car? For most people, it’s close to the top of the list.

The SX4 has some neat interior features I wasn’t expecting, such as a pop-up navigation system and a digital readout on my average gas usage, which averaged a combined 26 mpg. The outside-temperature display on the dash is sweet! I also enjoyed the front seats’ armrests, although I kept mine in the “up” position so it wouldn’t interfere with shifting. The SX4’s A-pillar did get in the way of my view, but I got used to it.

In the second row, the Latch connectors are easy to find, and the cupholders are in the door bins, which is inconvenient at best.

My two kids were about all I could fit in the backseat; throw in a bulky backpack and there’d be some space issues. My 6-year-old bumped his head – more than once – trying to maneuver into his booster seat. Plus, the loosey-goosey seat belt buckles made for lots of complaining from the peanut gallery. I had to contort my body to reach back and help with the seat belts. The outdoor-temperature display said it was minus 11 outside, so I wasn’t about to go back out there! If you live in a warm climate, this is when you take a moment to reflect upon your good fortune.

The cargo area was surprisingly roomy, and the cargo net was yet another pleasant surprise. Seven grocery bags and a gallon of milk took up less than half the cargo space; I’d say there was plenty of room for a large grocery run. Now, if you buy in bulk or travel with a large stroller and diaper bag, space will be an issue. For my family, the SX4 gave me enough cargo room to meet 95 percent of my daily needs (the remaining 5 percent involved trips with luggage or bringing the dog along).

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

Safety

In addition to its seats, Suzuki needs to improve its crash-test ratings before it can receive top honors from this momma. The SX4 received only four stars out of five from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for frontal- and rear passenger side-impact crash tests. It did receive five stars in front seat side-impact crash tests. The SX4 scored a Good (the highest score) in frontal and side-impact crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It scored a Marginal in the IIHS’ rear crash tests.

The SX4 Crossover comes with electronic stability control, antilock brakes, all-wheel drive, dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags for both rows.

LIFESTAGE

Diapers: Parents with babies will want to make sure all their gear fits into the cargo area.

School: The space can get a little tight in the backseat, but two kids can sit there comfortably.

Teens: The SX4 would be a great first car for a teen.