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For Skiers - It’s all good

By: Motormensch

Let me lay this on you, an image of you and three of your pals hitting the slopes for a weekend. Everything is packed and you rented the best fitting ski boots you’ve ever worn. With board (or skis) placed on your shoulder and your best impersonation of Shaun White cued up in your head – you make a b-line for the car.

Then it all goes wrong.

Oh crap! Your nifty car that zips in fair weather bogs down and leaves you stranded. You were doing so well without chains until you slid off/sank down/wiped-out/oozed-to-a-stop. Now, you and your friends are going to spend a chunk of your skiing time digging out… before it all happens again.

Improbable? Well, that happened to me about 20 years ago (without the Shaun Whitepart – I don’t think he was even born yet). I know it happens to many skiers. What’s more, it happens to surfers, climbers, kayakers and folks who just need to get to the store in inclement conditions. Now, add to all of that the possibility of getting lost (to the mountains, ocean, lakes, supermarket, etc.) and wanting a navigation system.

What to do?

There is the legendary Subaru brand, they are fairly economical and one of the cheapest all-wheel-drive (AWD) automakers around. Subaru’s Impreza 2.5i, the cheapest car from Subaru (without navigation), is going to be just under 19K with nothing on it ($500 less if you opt for the sedan).

There’s another company that has quite an international history with off-road vehicles and might just have the car for you. Enter please the Suzuki SX4 Crossover. This is a small, economical car that comes standard with many amenities including a navigation system.

Check it out: Standard navigation.

Sweet!

A 3 mode AWD system that allows you to switch from economical front-wheel-drive to traction adding AWD. Add to that a third selection that allows you to 4-wheel-drive for maximum traction on ice and snow.

Sweeter!

Having a hot-as-hell snow-bunny ask me details about the test model I drove (and me pretending that I still ski… which I don’t) and calling it cute.

Super Sweet!

Less than 18K for an AWD hatchback that has room for 5, gets the best mileage of any AWD in the states and has a killer warranty: “A fully transferable, zero-dollar deductible 100,000-mile/7-year powertrain limited warranty on all new vehicles sold after August 1, 2002.”

Sweetest!

The Suzuki SX4 Crossover is a breeze to drive. Lots of hip room for fat-bastards like me and decent seats make the SX4 Crossover an easy commuter. I have to say “crossover” because the other models like “Sport” and “Sedan” do not come with AWD. The 143 horsepower, 16-valve DOHC in-line four, 2.0 liter (with 136 lbs feet of torque) is an easy going motor that moves you through traffic smoothly. It’s no rocket, but it works well. Knowing Suzuki, it will last the duration of the long warranty.

What’s nice is the more than respectable high 20’s MPG, low 30’s if you take it easy. Last year, I drove one to high elevation and flew through the snow like a chimpanzee on crack (I had fun) and still managed to get in the mid 20’s MPG. The Suzuki SX4 does have a drag inducing AWD so competing with the likes of the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa isn’t the point.

The Suzuki is not the same type of vehicle as many econo-boxes. The body sits high on its springs for good articulation of its suspension. On the other hand, if you compete against the pricier, thirstier Subarus or small crossovers like the Hyundai Tucson SE 4WD – the Suzuki becomes a very compelling companion. 

The interior is in the same league as many economy hatches and small wagons. What I dig is the width of the SX4, as it allows for a lot more than you might think. It’s somewhat triangular and the wide opening rear is a cinch to pack. For its size, the rear seating area is great and I bet families with less than 5 would be comfortable inside. Oh, and DIG those port windows in front of the side mirrors! Way cool for maneuvering and parking.

I HAVEto tell you about the Suzuki SX4 Crossover’s slick little navigation system. It is easy enough for an AARP subscriber to figure out. If you pony up a little more cash, you can get MSN access and have a full onboard computer with internet access at your fingertips. When you need to bring the navigation on a hike (or just to look cool to your buddies), you can! Yup, just unsnap it from its base, grab the handy carrying case and allow it to run on its rechargeable battery for a few hours.

It’s about the size of the Apple iPhone.

As I said, I enjoyed bounding through the snow in the SX4 and even managed a few 4-wheel drifts around corners (if you watch WRC events, you know what I’m talking about)! With its wide stance, you have decent cornering stability. It reminds me of some of the Subarus I drove a few years back. With similar amount of body roll and ride height – without being as ugly as the current Impreza. The Suzuki SX4 is not meant to carve corners, but it is competent enough to be entertaining.

The bottom line is this: Do you want a cheap, economical, roomy, capable all-wheel-drive car with a fat warranty? Check out the Suzuki SX4 Crossover!

I would tell Shaun White, but something tells me he’s able to afford something a tad ritzier – like a Mercedes.

Photos courtesy of: Suzuki America

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