Maruti SX4 - Men Are Back - Detailed review



Maruti SX4 with the tagline 'Men are Back' was almost a 3-year-old hot product from the Maruti stable. Launched in May 2007, the sedan has been raved by auto journos across the length and breadth of India. The SX4 launch was pitted against close rivals Honda City i-Vtec (which was a crowd favorite those days), Chevrolet Aveo, Fiat Linea, Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Verna in the segment. Even though, the SX4 was liked for its looks, it just couldn't compete with the likes of Honda City in terms of technology and features so soon Maruti had to relaunch the SX4 with some mods and tweaks.

Maruti had to work a lot to offer more than the Honda City and the SX4 sedan comes with premium safety features including dual air bags, pretensioners and load limiters in the front and ABS and EBD. Besides other premium features you'd see in SX4 are steer wheel-mounted controls for music system (both these much new features during the launch days), automatic climate control, glass antennae, and the long list definitely appeal the upwardly mobile class buyers.

Maruti SX4 embraced use of VVT technology, the same one that has been used for the luxury SUV Suzuki Grand Vitara.

Maruti Suzuki has launched SX4 with an improved 1.6 VVT engine. The 1600cc VVT engine produces about 2 Bhp more than its previous engine that delivers in all 104 Bhp. The interior and exterior designs also got refinements to give it a better look than the comparable Fiat Linea and the Honda City.

The car went to Guigarro and ITAL Design for design and was meant to be developed as a crossover sedan. Several design modifications were given to the SX4. SX4 with revolutionary European design just bowls many eyes and is unarguably head turner. The contour bonnet with curved wheel arches gives the front an impressive curvy look and the chic like honeycomb grille adds to the awesomeness.

The swept-back design of the headlamps gives the car smoldered looks yet accents the muscular styling. The large wheel arches accommodating 16-inches 10-spoked alloy wheels with high quality tyres are not only quite stylish, they are claimed to be the best in class. Apart from that, the new SX4 has a large and spacious boot space of 504 liters so she can swallow all your stuff. A sturdy windscreen with huge wide mirrors and multi-faced tail lamp cluster, wraparound fog lamps enhancing esthetics of the front, all appear just too good for anyone looking at the SX4.

From THE front SX4 appears big and elegant. The design is made tougher yet look it has been contemporarized with the headlamps, tough bonnet door, and the car bumper. Apart from that, the design gives the SX4 a decently balanced look.

From the rear, SX4 looks elegant with the stubby boot lid that is dominated mainly by tail lamp cluster. The safety aspects have been upgraded with the reflectors integrated into the rear bumper and a third stop lamp. These features apart, the SX4 comes with the highest-in-class 180 mm ground clearance and you can go fearlessly like a man conquering big and small roads ignoring the speed bumpers.

The interior design of SX4 does not have any major changes from its predecessor and if any seat covers and upholstery look refreshing and gear lever looks pretty new in the auto version of the SX4. The music system now comes with USB support to the music player though. The automatic air conditioner with silver dials and the steering wheel mounted controls for the music system give the sedan some sophistication. But overall, the interiors of car look confined and kind of limiting

Engine performance, handling and comfort of SX4
The power mill of SX4 is a 1600cc 4-cylinder 16-valves DOHC engine using petrol as its fuel producing max power of 104.7 PS @ 5600 rpm and a peak torque of 145 Nm at 4100 rpm. The VVT is an advanced engine technology coupled with it is the 'Drive By Wire' technology, and together they enhance the efficiency of the engine and reduce carbon emissions.



The 4-speed auto trany calls for no change of gears and gives you a wonderful driving experience in the city while being not so hard on the fuel (an ARAI tested mileage of 15.5 km and 12.0 km, respectively). But do not expect to touch the ARAI figures and conveniently minus 4 from the two numbers to arrive at actual road mileage.

The suspension of the new SX4 is not one that you'd appreciate and you feel the ride to be bumpy and uncomfortable especially when your acceleration isn't that constant. The wide tyres though give marvelous grip so even the big bully can be easily handled.

Prices of the New Maruti SX4 variants (all Ex-showrrom price New Delhi)
SX4 VXi - Rs. 668,000
SX4 ZXi - Rs. 737,000.00
SX4 ZXi Leather - Rs. 771,000
SX4 ZXi AT - Rs. 802,000
SX4 ZXi Leather AT - Rs. 835,000

The price of new Maruti SX ranges from Rs. 668,000 to Rs. 835,000, and you can choose the color from among an option of Azure Grey, French Éclair, Oyster Blue, Clear Beige, Silky Silver, Pearl Arctic White, and Midnight Black.

Why buy SX4?
Good road grip, amazing ground clearance so even bad roads will be a breeze, good features.

Why deny
Poor suspension, price and poor mileage will make you look at other sedans of the segment, and you'd find better VFM sedan as compared to SX4. Just go out.

Written by .
Last updated on 02-03-2011. Published on 02-03-2011.
Published by Carz4Sale in category Reviews
Latest Comments. Share Your Opinion
waiting for new &sparingly used cars
By Satish on 23-03-2012
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