Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Review & Pictures

[Akash]

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Review Synopsis: Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel price tag was between Rs.8.06 – 9.54 Lakh. It officially launched in India in May 2007.[/CENTER]

Maruti Suzuki made its entry into the premium segment with the SX4 crossover sedan way back in 2007. This car was highly appreciated for its muscular looks; however the appreciation was soon overshadowed under the criticism of low fuel efficiency and lack of thoughtful touches after launches of competitors like Linea. With the increasing petrol prices, SX4 sales declined and Maruti Suzuki felt this to be the high time to launch the diesel avatar. Initially there were rumours of a 1.9L engine to get, however the rumours subsided soon. The SX4 diesel is out now out with the familiar 1.3l DDiS engine. We check whether the SX4 will be love in its diesel avatar or not?

 

[Akash]

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Looks and Design.



The New SX4 Diesel appears a lot similar to its Petrol counterpart, apart from the DDiS badge. Let us anyways provide a brief idea of the design yet again. Maruti SX4 aptly justifies its tag line of “The Man amongst the Cars” because from which ever angle it is viewed, the muscles can be seen prominently that makes it stand class apart. Beginning with the face, it is conquered by an angry looking headlamps which sweep back to add a distinctive look. The honeycomb grill looks neat and is well complimented by the chrome garnish around it. While the lower half gets the streamlined chrome, the upper half gets a bold chrome strip which adds to the visual appeal. The fog lamps sport the traditional circular plan and are nothing to talk about; they sit on a clean bumper which has no over use of muscles on it. Now move over to the sides, you will notice the very much demanded “DDiS” badge below the indicator which differentiates the diesel version from the petrol counterpart. The side profile gets the appeal chiefly due to the presence of the muscular wheel arches. The 10 spoke alloy wheels look civilized, but the older version 5 spoke matched the sporty style better. The glass areas look great, but only mismatch being the A-pillar glass which looks a bit out of place. Although it doesn’t look that grand, however it helps a lot in increasing the visibility and avoids any blind spots which would have been there if the glass would have been replaced with a thicker pillar.

The rear profile too comes with the same design; save for the ZDi badge. The clear lamp tail lamps appear fine and go well with the rear design well. The top end variant gets a chrome garnish which looks decent and not at all bling. The high set boot suits the overall design of the car, though it does hamper the visibility while reversing. Parking sensors are highly recommended if you are fond of scratch less bumpers. Needless to mention, the SX4 is the fittest sedan in its segment. We say this looking at its muscles. The heavy look is well complemented by the excellent build quality. The SX4 feels like built to last. The heavy thud feeling approves this notion. Overall, the exteriors stare well even now, but a mild facelift would definitely add to the appeal.

 

[Akash]

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Interiors And Comfort.



The interiors also continue to remain similar. To start with, the steering wheel is same as seen on all the modern Marutis. The top end variant gets music controls on the wheel which lets the music remain in control of the driver even while driving. The instrument control resides analogue Tachometer, speedometer, fuel and temperature gauge. Additionally, there are other warning controls like Check engine lamp, seat belt warning and likes. The dash board gets dual tone beige treatment which looks upright and appealing to eyes. Cabin is well-ventilated and the visibility is good owing to the quarter glass instead of the thick pillar. The central console appears fantabulous with the 2DIN music system and the ACC below. It gets vertical chrome garnish feels up market. However when it comes to the Sound quality of the OE music system, it can be termed as just above average quality. An audio upgrade is highly recommended for Audiophiles.

The top end version has Automatic Climate control which cools the cabin in no time. The rotary AC controls are back lit and look great. The AC vents have circular shape and have been given a chrome garnish around it. The vent can be completely shut when required.
The doors have fabric inserts together with wooden finish on hand rests which looks appealing. Ingress and Egress is a breeze, credits to the wide opening doors, the senior citizens would definitely love SX4. The driver door gets the four window control switches which have been borrowed from the younger siblings. They look low-grade when compared to some other good bits like AC controls. The Driver window gets the Auto roll feature which is good but should have been there for the co-driver as well. Finding the perfect driving position is an easy task in SX4. The well cushioned seats provide high comfort levels and provide apt under thigh support which reduces fatigue during long drives. However, the rear seat still lacks the comfort which its rivals provide.

 

[Akash]

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Engine and Gearbox.



The SX4 diesel is equipped with the 1296cc Diesel Direct Injection System (DDiS) engine.
The powerhouse is similar to the one found in Linea/Punto/Swift, however the power output has been changed so as to make it adequate powered. The same time Maruti Suzuki has worked hard to achieve the fuel economy. Christened as “Superturbo”, the engine has almost negligible turbo lag and the beast easily manages to cruise through the city traffic. The engine is pretty silent but doesn’t love to be revved hard. The noise creeps in the cabin at higher revs. The gearbox of SX4 similar to all the new gen cars is smooth and easy to work with. The only option is the 5 Speed manual transmission and unlike the petrol version, there’s no Autobox as of now. The gears effortlessly position themselves and never seem to disobey the commands. However, the best part of the gearbox is the wonderfully assigned gear ratios. A look at the technical specifications will surely make one doubtful about the drive, however the drive isn’t as sluggish on road as it appears on papers. The gear ratios help a lot in maintaining proper speed with minimum lag.

 

[Akash]

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Performance and Safety.



The 1.3 DDiS engine is not new for us. The unit is obediently doing its duty in many Diesel cars in India, including the Linea and Punto 90HP. However, the performance of almost all of them is very different from one another. This 1.3L heart churns out a maximum power of 90PS @ 4000 rpm and a maximum torque of 200 Nm @ 1750 rpm. Although the specs are similar to the mentioned diesel cars and do not impress on paper; however, the drive did. The tuning of this motor is very diverse from what is done on others running with same heart. The turbo lag is almost negligible owing to the fact that turbo doesn’t kick in suddenly and rushes the power spontaneously; rather it punches in a controlled manner leading to no sudden surge of power but a linear output. This behaviour leads to negligible turbo lag feeling even at lower RPM although it is still there. The power delivery is much linear or straight line which helps the engine in delivering optimum power and move decently in spite of the heavy kerb weight. The city drive is a breeze for SX4 diesel. Save for the rare downshift, the drive is hassle free and decent if not fun filled. The low end response is slow yet decent. The turbo lag is less. It kicks in at 1700-1750 rpm in a controlled manner and it needs a lot of concentration to actually feel the kick in!

The steering adds to the driving pleasure. It provides excellent feedback and feels aptly weighed at all speeds. However, the large turning radius is a turn off when it comes to takes U turns on narrow roads. The drive on straight highway roads can be termed as good if not the best. The motor is rev friendly and easily manages to attain the three digit speeds, however at higher speeds the lack of power is felt. However, considering he high kerb weight of SX4 and the small 1.3L heart, the drive is not bad at all. The suspension of this diesel variant is same as that of its petrol sibling. The front Independent Suspension with Gas filled Mac Pherson Strut & Anti Roll bar and the rear Semi Independent Torsion Beam with gas filled shock absorbers are capable of gulping almost all the bad patches. The braking setup is traditionally the same. The front has the Ventilated discs while the rear gets the drums. The top end variant is equipped with the Anti lock Braking System ABS/EBD (with Brake assist) to ensure excellent handling even during excessive braking. The wide 195/65 tires provide optimum grip in all conditions. Take SX4 anywhere, across all the terrains, the sedan handles well. The massive ground clearance of 180mm further adds to its positives of an all round sedan. All in all, The SX4 diesel can be termed as a good City cruiser which handles well and drinks less.

 

[Akash]

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Fuel Efficiency and Verdict.



Maruti Suzuki SX4 in its petrol avatar was always criticized for its low fuel efficiency. As a matter of fact, it turned out to be the major reason for the prospective buyers to strike SX4 off the list but now the Diesel seems to be a game changer. The SX4 diesel delivered an impressive 21.5kmpl figure in the ARAI fuel efficiency test. This makes SX4 diesel one of the most fuel efficient sedans in its class. Maruti ultimately has come out with the much awaited car. The SX4 was always loved as an overall package, the only negative point being its poor fuel efficiency, now after the removal of this major flaw, it is expected to have major boost in the sales of SX4, which has already started making its prospective buyer wait before they can actually get their vehicle delivered.

 

[Akash]

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Likes, Dislikes and Ratings.



We Like in SX4 Diesel:

• Fuel Economy

• Muscular looks

• Great Handling

• Ground Clearance

• Hassle free After Sales Service

We Dislike in SX4 Diesel:

• Rear seat comfort

• Underpowered Diesel Engine

• Engine noise at high Revs

• Limited storage space in cabin

The Automotive India Star Ratings

• Design and Quality:
  
  (8.5/10)

• Comfort Levels:
  
  (8/10)

• Performance:
  
  (7.5/10)

• Ride Quality:
  
  (8/10)

• Handling:
  
  (9/10)

• Fuel Efficiency:
  
  (9/10)

• Safety:
  
  (8/10)

• After Sales Service:
  
  (9/10)

• Value For Money:
  
  (8.5/10)

 

[Akash]

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Price and Specifications.



Price (Ex.Showroom, New Delhi):

• VDi: Rs. 7,74,000
• ZDi: Rs. 8,62,000
• ZDi Leather: Rs. 8,96,000

Engine:

• Type: 16V, DOHC, DDiS
• Cylinder: 4
• Displacement: 1249 cc
• Max.Power: 90PS @ 4000 rpm
• Max.Torque: 200 Nm @ 1750 rpm

Transmission:

• 5 Speed Manual

Suspension:

• Front: Independent Suspension with Gas filled Mac Pherson Strut & Anti Roll bar
• Rear: Semi Independent Torsion Beam with gas filled shock absorbers

Brakes:

• Front: Ventilated Discs
• Rear: Drums

Wheels/Tire Size:

• 16" Alloy Wheels/ Tubeless Tyres, 195/65

Dimensions:

• Length: 4490mm
• Width: 1735mm
• Height: 1560mm
• Wheelbase: 2500mm
• Ground Clearance: 180 mm
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 50 Liters
• Turning Radius: 5.3m
• Boot Size: 505 Liters
• Kerb Weight: 1245 kg

Colors:

• Silky Silver
• Midnight Black
• Pearl Arctic White
• Azure Grey
• Oyester Blue
• Clear Beige

(Engine specs of SX4 Diesel ZDi Variant)

 

[Akash]

Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Pictures

























Road Test Credits

• Road Test & Photography: Akash
• Edit & Format: 350Z

(C) The Automotive India. All rights reserved. The content such as reviews, images etc. cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission of our authority.

 

[350Z]

Re: Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Road Test Review

Suzuki SX4 Diesel Road Tested.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[type-r]

Re: Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Road Test Review

nice review. i like this car. i know many people who are willing to dump their Dzire DDis for this beast. is it worth it?

 

[Akash]

Re: Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Road Test Review

nice review. i like this car. i know many people who are willing to dump their Dzire DDis for this beast. is it worth it?

Thanks Archit. Like mentioned in the review, SX4 was always loved for its looks and design, the only factor that it lacked was the Fuel efficiency. The rising petrol prices further worsened the things. However i wish the ABS variant was priced a bit lower, or their should have been an option of the same on the base version.

 

[safire90]

Re: Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Road Test Review

Very nice review Akash.
IMO SX4 was a decent seller with 3k odd units compared to Linea's 1k(that includes multijet as well). Now with DDiS Maruti can expect to sell more cars.
The AC knobs look classy. Whats the 'Alarm' switch on the side of headlight level switch?

P.S. can we have a 1-on-1 comparo with the competitors like Vento & Linea here?

 

[Akash]

Re: Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Road Test Review

Very nice review Akash.
IMO SX4 was a decent seller with 3k odd units compared to Linea's 1k(that includes multijet as well). Now with DDiS Maruti can expect to sell more cars.
The AC knobs look classy. Whats the 'Alarm' switch on the side of headlight level switch?

Yeah, the 5k bookings in the very first month has already made SX4 a chart buster. And these booking are for the Diesel version alone.
The Alarm switch besides the head lamp leveler is for the Security alarm control just like the other Maruti's equipped with Nippon security system have.

P.S. can we have a 1-on-1 comparo with the competitors like Vento & Linea here?

Stay tuned to this thread. We will surely get the details requested by you.

 

[Akash]

Re: Maruti Suzuki SX4 Diesel Road Test Review

Comparison Chart