(Photo by Kurt Niebuhr)
Like everyone else here, I'm not thrilled with the pathetic range of our 2009 Suzuki SX-4. It's mostly due to the small gas tank made necessary by the all-wheel-drive system, and could be fixed, for us here in Southern California, by deleting that option. But this Suzuki has a neat little trick up its sleeve that, in a sense, increases the range on the AWD SX-4.
See, what they've done is equipped the SX-4 with an "electronically controlled coupling device mounted in front of the rear differential." There's a switch (pictured) to pick between all and front wheel drive. Power/Fuel economy losses are estimated at 5-10% for all wheel drive vehicles and having the option to use it only when needed-- ie: not in your daily commute to work-- is a plus.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant
vt8919 says:
10:15 AM, 11/ 6/09
I wish you could do that with Subarus. As much as I like AWD, it really is overkill when you're on dry pavement and are just going to the grocery store.
That said, my Outback 5-speed gets better mileage than our Camry. Believe it.
jeepsrt says:
10:34 AM, 11/ 6/09
I wish I had that on my Jeep SRT8, would make for some fun smoky burnouts.
clarkma5 says:
06:16 PM, 11/ 6/09
It's a nice choice, but then you're still hauling around the weight of the AWD system when you're in FWD mode, so it's clearly not an option for someone who doesn't need AWD at all.
firstwagon says:
06:40 PM, 11/ 6/09
It's not just the weight, you are still spinning all the parts. Driveshafts, diffs, CV joints etc, everything still spins because it's all connected to the wheels.
You can disconnect it at the transfercase but it doesn't help that much. It all still spins.
In the old days you had manual hubs which allowed you to disconnect at the wheels too so all the unneeded components remained stationary but that was too confusing for car types so they stopped offering it.
konocar400h says:
12:33 PM, 11/ 7/09
I like how ESP is beginning to become the norm among all cars. Its useful and really does help in slippery conditions.
And I love turning it off in wide, snow covered parking lots
bimmerjay says:
01:14 PM, 11/ 7/09
@konocar400h,
Electronic stability control will be required on all cars in the U.S. for the 2012 MY, so you'll see the systems ramp up as standard equipment in the next two years. I agree it's an amazing safety feature.
firstwagon says:
04:21 PM, 11/ 7/09
I think advanced driving training is a better safety feature.
Makes me nervous to think about the next generation of drivers never knowing how to recover from a skid.
benson2175 says:
10:47 PM, 11/ 7/09
What are the dead buttons for? Heated seats? Ugh pay 20gs for a car and have to stare at dead buttons. Just buy a used fully optioned something will ya.
sfm5 says:
11:29 AM, 11/ 8/09
in practice, and having an sx4, the switch doesn't seem to make much of a difference in mileage, imho. as someone else mentioned, all the parts are still spinning, and the weight is still there, so still a gas hog.
but i think many people are fooled by the sx4's gas warning light, which turns on waaaay too early. so the range is actually quite good! just keep driving another 30-50 miles after the warning light illuminates.