I realized today that titling this series of blog entries about our long-term 2009 Suzuki SX4 hatchback "Oregon Road Trip" is misleading. This is literally the only photo I have of the car in Oregon. The rest of the time it was locked up in a downtown Portland valet while I was busy driving other cars. The SX4 and I spent Wednesday night in Grants Pass, OR, but it didn't occur to me to take a picture of the car in the Holiday Inn Express parking lot. Sorry.
This is not to suggest that it wasn't a long trip. It lasted about 2,200 miles, and I'll have final totals with best, worst and average mpg on Monday morning. Yesterday was the longest single day with 850 miles of driving on Interstate 5, U.S. 199, U.S. 101, CA Hwy 299 and then Interstate 5 again. I'd never used 199 to cross into California from Oregon, and it's pretty lovely, though you'll see just as many redwoods if you use 101.
Before hitting the road yesterday morning, I wrote that performance is adequate with the car's 2.0-liter inline-4 and 4-speed automatic, and I stand by that today. However, I will say that after dealing with the numerous elevation changes along this route (varies between 1,000 and 5,000 feet), the continual planning and determination required to stay up to speed and complete passing maneuvers did get tiring. And a couple times I got stuck behind a V8-equipped truck or SUV on twisty sections only to have the other driver put his foot into the throttle when a passing zone appeared. Thanks.
Fortunately, the SX4's handling and ride quality make up for many an accelerative inconvenience.
I like the way this car's suspension is tuned. It doesn't feel like an aggressive setup, but the SX4 really feels planted through corners -- you can't take the initial body roll too seriously; it's a bluff.
Yet, there's a lot more compliance here than you get with a Honda Fit. The suspension does an excellent job of mopping up most impacts before they get to you, and that makes a big difference during an all-day, half-the-night drive -- the SX4 feels more comfortable, more substantial (and indeed it is heavier, too, of course) and, in this regard, more refined. There's also less road noise than I'd expect in this price range.
Here are a few more photos -- the first couple are from the 199; the last one is just off the 101 in Del Norte County, California... I don't think I've ever driven through here on a sunny day.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 16,310 miles
super_ongoy says:
06:55 PM, 10/ 9/09
Ahhh nice... I fantasize about quitting my job and just driving cross country one of these days but not in a Sudoku. Wouldn't feel safe driving one on the highway.
actualsize says:
07:06 PM, 10/ 9/09
Erin, at the 199/101 junction just above Crescent City you were about 35 miles south of my usual Oregon road trip destination. But I never use 299 because of snow in winter and general passenger sensitivity to excess cornering in summer. Instead I go down past Willits and cut over to I-5 at Clear Lake.
vt8919 says:
07:47 PM, 10/ 9/09
Sudoku... lol. That last picture is my new desktop pic. :-)
altimadude00 says:
08:41 PM, 10/ 9/09
Is it the next model year that comes out with a more powerful engine?
uncanny_man says:
09:00 PM, 10/ 9/09
That last picture is awesome! I tip my figurative hat to you!
bodyblue says:
05:18 AM, 10/10/09
As long as it does not hurt the MPG and does not require premium fuel then more power is ok. It does not need to be any bigger. (or really more powerful)
veryhrm says:
03:18 AM, 10/11/09
Well, for 2010 the power is up a little and so is the mileage. This is due to variable valve timing and also to a change of transmissions. They are changing to a 6 speed manual and a CVT.
This article from is the only source I've seen that claims that the engine and transmissions are going to be available across all the body styles and 2wd/awd combinations.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/112_0908_2010_suzuki_sx4_sportback_review/index.html
Other articles i've found talk about the Sportback but don't address the rest of the range. According to some people on sx4club.com the 2010s are already available in Canada. They're due in the US any time now.