Suzuki SX4 1.6 ZXI Test Drive Report

nitrous · 8th May 2007, 13:38

Sounds more like an "NHC competitor" than a "Baleno replacement."
Got to review it in person .

kunal1983 · 8th May 2007, 13:41

Test Drive was done in gurgaon which has apart from peak hour traffic a couple of isolated roads too.....

@GTO
exactly my view .. 205 are for additional grip and to offset handling woes.

@moralfibre
yes zxi has 205 alloys

@themag
acceleration is not something to rave about and my guess is this is to get some pleasant driving in the city and jack up a dreaded FE.

@technocrat
peak torque at lower rpm would have generated higher accelaration as you reach that peak torque earlier in any gear.

102 ps generated enough power to keep a normal driver happy and not yearn for the peppiness like NHC folks. But to keep general people at large happy they have the engine tuned for less gear-shifts.

I felt that there wasnt enough interior space in Fiesta but this is not the case in SX4. It has ample space and matches NHC in that.

Unavailability of a camera is the reason for missing interior pics. However their website has all the pics and 360 views.

No-one seems to mind the quality of NVH , SX4 is lacking in.

GeekSrik · 8th May 2007, 14:07

kunal and others

i would want to know why you feel sx4 will give only 9-10 kmpl ? i was expecting atleast 12 without ac. this could be an aam junta factor to be put off. much has been asked about the FE, but there havent been any real replies yet due to no one having the car to check it out.

manson · 8th May 2007, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

Sounds more like an "NHC competitor" than a "Baleno replacement."

so they are aiming in the right direction to say the least, atleast from a commercialt point of view. i ve managed to get a friend (silent member) to reconsider his nhc vtec and corolla decisions.

manson.

benbsb29 · 8th May 2007, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

i would want to know why you feel sx4 will give only 9-10 kmpl ? i was expecting atleast 12 without ac.

Most of these are just speculations from various quarters, based on the wider tyres the car comes with, and also the increased weight of the car.
As we have seen based on the postings of some of the members, the dealers claim 14 kmpl too at times, but then again, all mere guesses.
We would just have to wait and see till someone posts the actual FE figures.

I am placing my bets on the car returning 11-12 kmpl in city.

Vid6639 · 8th May 2007, 14:23

It's a jap engine mate. there's no way a 1.6L engine will go into single digits mileage.

kunal1983 · 8th May 2007, 14:28

Has anyone noticed that throughout all its ad campaigns MARUTI themselves have not placed a number of FE ?

I think thats a hint in itself that its FE is nothing to boast about.

and my 9-10 guess was with ac though.

finneyp · 8th May 2007, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUSA

Its really sad the cornering and handling are not upto the mark, i guess the main reason for this is the high GC of 190mm. I think 170mm GC is more then enough. Secondly the looks of the car is a tad dissapointing,

That will put off most of the car enthusiasts on this forum!
But for most of our Indian folks who need a family car, this should be good enough!

Am curious about the mileage too, but to get the factual mileage I guess I need to wait for the Ownership Report of a BHPian here!

sids911 · 8th May 2007, 14:42

How about the gearbox? Is it quick/short-shifting like Swift's?

And the build quality? Three stage doors or very much like Baleno?

greatDrive · 8th May 2007, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid6639

It's a jap engine mate. there's no way a 1.6L engine will go into single digits mileage.

Baleno had a jap engine and used to return 11 kmpl in city like Bangalore, don't get surprised if SX4 with baleno weight + 220kgs + wider tyres gives around 8-9 kmpl initially(before 1st service)

Equus · 8th May 2007, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunal1983

Has anyone noticed that throughout all its ad campaigns MARUTI themselves have not placed a number of FE ?

I think thats a hint in itself that its FE is nothing to boast about.

and my 9-10 guess was with ac though.

The website says "Great Fuel Efficiency" though..

Revvhead · 8th May 2007, 15:22

well surprisingly, the dealer told me i would get a return of 10 in bombay
i asked to be brutally honest and told him that ac, bbay traffic et all.
but i tend to buy his assement offhand, as the figures that he quoted me ofr the baleno were accurate - he said 8, i get 8/9/10 averaging 9, depending on my commute. he was pretty certain whatever i got with the baleno, i would get +2 on the sx4. that itself seesm good to m, if it pans out that way

anyway, i was at the showrrom, did td, but had a good look see around it.
solid build, as opposed to the usual tinny maruti standards.
it sits pretty tall, getting in and out is dead easy.
finally maruti has started some nice touches, liked the key illuminator and the steering cintrols.
the looks are well, passive?? very corolla/verna neutral looks really

svel · 8th May 2007, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunal1983

No-one seems to mind the quality of NVH , SX4 is lacking in.

I mind. But Maruti is not known for high quality NVH characteristics anyway. So, this is not something unexpected.

Good to know that it matches NHC in interier space.

iraghava · 8th May 2007, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCEite

Any pics? And where in Delhi did you reach 160kmph?

Quote:

Originally Posted by unknown

Nice report , Curious to know where u did 160 in peak hours lol

It's not that difficult, if you know the right roads!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Equus

The website says "Great Fuel Efficiency" though..

Have you ever read any manufacturer's website list "Bad Fuel Efficiency" as a feature on a car?

Equus · 8th May 2007, 15:30

My gut feel - Maruti wouldnt say "great" unless its less than 10kmpl with AC.

At the very least - 10kmpl.. I am more inclined to guess 11-12 with AC in city for the VXi (without the auto AC)

8th May 2007, 13:38	#16
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Sounds more like an "NHC competitor" than a "Baleno replacement." Got to review it in person .
	() Thanks

8th May 2007, 13:41	#17
kunal1983 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: delhi Posts: 16 Thanked: 0 Times	Test Drive was done in gurgaon which has apart from peak hour traffic a couple of isolated roads too..... @GTO exactly my view .. 205 are for additional grip and to offset handling woes. @moralfibre yes zxi has 205 alloys @themag acceleration is not something to rave about and my guess is this is to get some pleasant driving in the city and jack up a dreaded FE. @technocrat peak torque at lower rpm would have generated higher accelaration as you reach that peak torque earlier in any gear. 102 ps generated enough power to keep a normal driver happy and not yearn for the peppiness like NHC folks. But to keep general people at large happy they have the engine tuned for less gear-shifts. I felt that there wasnt enough interior space in Fiesta but this is not the case in SX4. It has ample space and matches NHC in that. Unavailability of a camera is the reason for missing interior pics. However their website has all the pics and 360 views. No-one seems to mind the quality of NVH , SX4 is lacking in.
	() Thanks

8th May 2007, 14:07	#18
GeekSrik Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,281 Thanked: 22 Times View My Garage	kunal and others i would want to know why you feel sx4 will give only 9-10 kmpl ? i was expecting atleast 12 without ac. this could be an aam junta factor to be put off. much has been asked about the FE, but there havent been any real replies yet due to no one having the car to check it out.
	() Thanks

8th May 2007, 14:23	#21
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,730 Thanked: 43,483 Times View My Garage	It's a jap engine mate. there's no way a 1.6L engine will go into single digits mileage.
	() Thanks

8th May 2007, 14:28	#22
kunal1983 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: delhi Posts: 16 Thanked: 0 Times	Has anyone noticed that throughout all its ad campaigns MARUTI themselves have not placed a number of FE ? I think thats a hint in itself that its FE is nothing to boast about. and my 9-10 guess was with ac though.
	() Thanks

8th May 2007, 14:42	#24
sids911 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 389 Thanked: 43 Times View My Garage	How about the gearbox? Is it quick/short-shifting like Swift's? And the build quality? Three stage doors or very much like Baleno? Last edited by sids911 : 8th May 2007 at 14:58.
	() Thanks

8th May 2007, 15:22	#27
Revvhead BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 450 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	well surprisingly, the dealer told me i would get a return of 10 in bombay i asked to be brutally honest and told him that ac, bbay traffic et all. but i tend to buy his assement offhand, as the figures that he quoted me ofr the baleno were accurate - he said 8, i get 8/9/10 averaging 9, depending on my commute. he was pretty certain whatever i got with the baleno, i would get +2 on the sx4. that itself seesm good to m, if it pans out that way anyway, i was at the showrrom, did td, but had a good look see around it. solid build, as opposed to the usual tinny maruti standards. it sits pretty tall, getting in and out is dead easy. finally maruti has started some nice touches, liked the key illuminator and the steering cintrols. the looks are well, passive?? very corolla/verna neutral looks really
	() Thanks

8th May 2007, 15:30	#30
Equus Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,123 Thanked: 423 Times	My gut feel - Maruti wouldnt say "great" unless its less than 10kmpl with AC. At the very least - 10kmpl.. I am more inclined to guess 11-12 with AC in city for the VXi (without the auto AC) Last edited by Equus : 8th May 2007 at 15:34.
	() Thanks