On the other end of the Suzuki scale is the eager little SX4 five-door hatchback crossover. Why should the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa get all the ink among the dinky cars?
The SX4 can kick the Fit’s aspirator, with a standard 2.0-liter, 143-hp four driving all four wheels through a three-mode awd system. The Suzuki is a little bigger than the Fit/Versa, two inches bigger in wheelbase and 400 pounds more in curb weight. But it’s smaller than the Mazda 5, Toyota Matrix and Dodge Caliber. It fills its own niche.
And at under $15,000, the SX4’s is a cheap niche. If you don’t drive around in this niche very often, you may be surprised by how underpowered and tinny everything feels, but you get used to it, especially at these prices. Suzuki has modest plans for this thoroughly revamped Aerio, aiming at just 12,000 a year.
Suzuki is the world’s de facto expert on very small cars. As gas prices continue to skyrocket, the company’s once small presence in the States could tag along for the ride.
