2023 Suzuki S-Cross Prestige assessment

Suzuki Australia is difficult to not like.

Its light-hearted promoting is a blessed aid from the intense method most manufacturers pitch themselves, and its vary is equally as enjoyable. The Swift Sport is a riot and the Jimny is a cult hero, with a ready checklist lengthy sufficient to make a RAV4 really feel insufficient.

The newest addition to its vary is the S-Cross. It’s the largest automobile Suzuki provides, given the Grand Vitara is lengthy gone, and wears a brand new look that ought to seem to a broader cross-section of individuals within the hotly-contested world of small SUVs.

Front-wheel drive is out for 2023, changed with AllGrip all-wheel drive throughout the vary, and the inside has a brand new, greater display in range-topping Prestige fashions.

The worth has additionally been elevated considerably, throwing the Suzuki S-Cross into the deep finish with the massive boys in a troublesome nook of Australia’s aggressive new automobile market

Is the brand new range-topping S-Cross one other likeable underdog from Suzuki, or has the worth hike made this SUV arduous to like?

How a lot does the Suzuki S-Cross Prestige value?

The Suzuki S-Cross has been hit with an enormous worth hike, even by 2022 requirements. The outdated mannequin was front-wheel drive solely, and began at $30,490 earlier than on-road prices.

The facelifted automobile is all-wheel drive solely, and kicks off at $40,490 earlier than on-roads. The Prestige on take a look at right here has a $44,490 sticker earlier than on-roads, up $12,500 on the equal pre-update automobile. Ouch.

Rather than the Hyundai Venue and Kia Stonic, the steep new worth pits the S-Cross amongst among the best-selling small SUVs within the nation, together with entry-level variations of medium SUVs.

A variety-topping, all-wheel drive variations Kia Seltos GT-Line is priced at $42,700 earlier than on-roads, whereas the Mazda CX-30 G25 Astina AWD has a $44,690 sticker worth. The up to date Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line goes for $44,700 earlier than on-roads with its 140kW powertrain. If you’re considering of going electrical, you’re not removed from MG ZS EV cash both.

The S-Cross might need a extra beneficiant gear checklist and all-wheel drive, nevertheless it’s not what you’d name good worth. It’s the most costly automobile Suzuki has even offered in Australia.

What is the Suzuki S-Cross Prestige like on the within?

The S-Cross incorporates a extra fashionable tackle the wing-shaped sprint from the earlier mannequin, with what seems to be like leather-based trim on the dashboard forward of the motive force and passenger, and silver trim within the air vents. Only the Prestige will get that additional little bit of silver trim; the bottom mannequin has black vents.

The driver and passenger sit in generously padded fabric seats with leather-based bolsters. You sit excessive, with a commanding view of the highway forward, and there’s sufficient area for tall drivers to get snug with out an excessive amount of stress.

The seat heaters aren’t significantly efficient within the Prestige, and the brief seat cushions don’t supply all that a lot assist on longer drives, nevertheless it’s a simple sufficient place to spend lengthy durations of time.

Even with the sunroof there’s loads of headroom, and the tall home windows imply it feels ethereal behind the wheel. In a world dominated by crossovers with sloping roofs that homicide headroom, the upright S-Cross is refreshingly simple to put in site visitors.

Anyone who’s pushed a Swift or Baleno will recognise the steering wheel, shifter, and handbrake, which doesn’t say a lot for the S-Cross Prestige’s premium intentions. Although the padded armrests, leather-trimmed wheel, and leather-bolstered seats go some method to lifting the atmosphere, there’s no escaping the automobile’s finances origins.

The tinny doorways, full with trim inserts that noticeably strikes whenever you wind down the window, don’t do a lot to raise the sensation of high quality both.

The flagship Prestige incorporates a 9.0-inch touchscreen rather than the 7.0-inch unit that options on the bottom mannequin, with inbuilt satellite tv for pc navigation and a flash surround-view digicam that begins up with a 360-degree flyover of the automobile.

Android Auto is wired, whereas Apple CarPlay may be wired or wi-fi. It’s price noting you solely get one USB-A port up entrance.

The characteristic set is powerful, and the structure is healthier than what we’ve seen from earlier Suzuki infotainment techniques, however the plastic touchscreen feels low-cost and makes clean scrolling a nightmare. It seems to be a bit aftermarket relative to what Mazda or Volkswagen provides, which isn’t ok at this worth level.

There’s a easy, easy-to-use local weather management binnacle beneath the touchscreen, with a fundamental show exhibiting your temperature and air-conditioning mode.

Storage area is respectable up entrance, with two open cupholders, an honest underarm storage bin, and a slot on the base of the dashboard. You don’t get a wi-fi cellphone charger, which you actually ought to at this worth.

At 4305mm lengthy and 1785mm huge the S-Cross is smaller than a Seltos or Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, nevertheless it’s fairly spacious within the again seat. Legroom is respectable behind an grownup driver, and there’s respectable headroom due to the boxy profile.

The Prestige with its sunroof does undergo considerably within the headroom stakes, however that’s widespread throughout the category. Kids and brief adults will match again there, however taller teenagers or adults may have their head rammed into the roof lining.

With no air vents or USB ports, the rear seats are brief on facilities commonplace elsewhere within the class.

You get a fold-down central armrest with cupholders, however the lack of vents again there particularly is a matter when you’re carrying children round in summer time.

Boot capability is 430 litres, increasing to a most 1230L with the again seats down, folded 60:40. There’s a two-level loading flooring, small storage tubs, and a 12V socket, plus a brief spare wheel beneath.

The dual-tier boot flooring means that you can select between a flat loading lip or an additional chunk of area.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

The engine within the S-Cross carries over unchanged. It’s a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol with energy and torque outputs of 103kW and 220Nm respectively.

It runs by means of a variable all-wheel system with an obtainable 50:50 locking mode, however which preferences the entrance tyres on tarmac to save lots of gas. The transmission is a six-speed torque-converter automated, with no handbook choice.

Suzuki quotes a combined-cycle gas consumption determine of 6.2 litres per 100km, equating to emissions of 145g/km.

We noticed 5.4 litres per 100km on a freeway run, and across the 8.0 litres per 100km mark within the metropolis.

How does the Suzuki S-Cross Prestige drive?

The S-Cross is likely one of the most pleasurable small SUVs on the market to drive, thanks in no small half to its skimpy kerb weight.

It’s round 200kg lighter than a 2.0-litre Mazda CX-30, and even in flagship Prestige guise weighs lower than a Toyota Corolla hatchback, which pays off within the type of punchy efficiency and nimble dealing with.

Suzuki’s turbocharged engine (charmingly named BoosterJet) doesn’t precisely form up as a robust beast on paper, however with so little mass to maneuver it feels punchy in the true world.

Put your foot down and it pulls easily from down low, with an honest shove within the again by means of the mid-range. The six-speed automated will hold onto gears all the way in which to redline whenever you bury the accelerator, and is eager to kick down when you’re in a rush.

When you’re simply cruising round city, it shuffles unobtrusively although the gears. There’s no studying curve, as is the case in some rivals with dual-clutch transmissions, which implies anybody hopping out of an older automobile will instantly really feel at residence. With that mentioned, auto brake maintain and idle begin/cease could be helpful inclusions.

Although there are plastic paddles behind the wheel, they aren’t significantly satisfying to make use of – nor does the torque converter really feel all that snappy whenever you take handbook management.

Traction from the AllGrip all-wheel drive system is strong in dry situations. Although it’s entrance biased, you possibly can’t catch it napping with a fast boot of throttle – it simply shuffles torque rearward and hooks up neatly off the mark.

The addition of a handbook 50/50 lock mode for the all-wheel drive system (itself a part of Snow Mode, which dulls the accelerator and relaxes the ESP) turns out to be useful on unsealed roads, and affords drivers an additional diploma of management over how their automobile is working relative to rivals.

Although the engine itself isn’t significantly shouty, the cabin will get fairly noisy on the freeway. There’s extra tyre noise and wind rustle from the mirrors than is right, though it’s no worse than European rivals on sporty rubber.

With mild, direct steering and what appears like a eager entrance finish, the S-Cross loves being thrown round in a method few SUVs can match. It appears like an overgrown Vitara, with the correct quantity of physique roll and loads of grip.

Ride consolation is respectable, however the S-Cross does thwack and thud over velocity bumps and potholes in a method that exposes its finances origins. Not solely are sharper bumps felt greater than they need to be, there’s extra noise within the cabin than you’d anticipate of a $45k automobile whenever you hit them.

Suzuki outfits the S-Cross with an honest vary of driver assists. The adaptive cruise management does a very good job sustaining a spot to the automobile in entrance, and the lane departure warning is wise sufficient to intervene solely whenever you’re truly drifting over the white traces.

There’s no lively lane-keeping help to steer you again into the lane, nonetheless, neither is there lane-centring to reduce the burden on lengthy freeway drives by extra actively taking cost of the steering. Both are options changing into widespread in similarly-priced rivals.

Suzuki’s ahead collision warning is a bit set off blissful, sounding a shrill alarm in conditions the place there’s no likelihood of a collision, though we didn’t expertise any phantom braking from the autonomous emergency braking system.

What do you get?

S-Cross highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic LED headlights
• Daytime working lights
• Front fog lights
• Rear privateness glass
• Keyless entry and begin
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Roof rails
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 7.0-inch touchscreen
• Satellite-navigation
• Reverse digicam
• Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Digital radio
• Dual-zone local weather management
• Adaptive cruise management
• Manual material seats

S-Cross Prestige provides:

• 17-inch polished alloy wheels
• Panoramic sunroof
• 9.0-inch touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• 360-degree digicam
• Leather seat accents
• Heated entrance seats

Is the Suzuki S-Cross Prestige protected?

This up to date S-Cross doesn’t have an ANCAP security ranking.

The outdated mannequin had a five-star ranking, nevertheless it was primarily based on testing carried out in 2013. It’s not clear if Suzuki will re-test the brand new mannequin to earn a 2022 ranking.

Standard security options embody:

• 6 airbags
• Adaptive cruise management
• AEB with Pedestrian, Cyclist detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane departure warning

How a lot does the Suzuki S-Cross Prestige value to run?

Suzuki’s offers a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee with roadside help and capped-price servicing.

Maintenance is required each 12 months or 10,000 kilometres – whichever comes first.

The first 5 providers will set you again a mixed $1945.

CarExpert’s Take on the Suzuki S-Cross Prestige

The S-Cross is a traditional case of proper automobile, mistaken worth.

It’s enjoyable to drive, packs loads of area inside, and has most of the expertise provided in its rivals, however it may’t come near matching their polish or refinement.

If it was $10,000 cheaper than it’s, that may be forgivable. The method it’s priced, it’s unattainable to disregard.

Suzuki provides one other fun-to-drive SUV within the type of the cheaper Vitara, which is the place we’d be trying when you’re married to the model. Like the S-Cross it’s mild on its toes, and packs a turbocharged punch within the again, nevertheless it has a extra palatable price ticket.

If it’s an S-Cross you’re after, the Prestige isn’t the one we’d be choosing. Although it has extra commonplace equipment, it doesn’t really feel all that premium inside contemplating the worth.

You’re higher pocketing the $4000 change and choosing the bottom mannequin.

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