Suzuki's S-Cross now gets an extra slice of visual pizazz. Jonathan Crouch drives the revised version.

Ten Second Review

Suzuki's S-Cross compact SUV gains a sharper look and more equipment and offers a choive of either mild hybrid or full-Hybrid petrol powertrains. Even in the mild hybrid model, the electrification claims to deliver a 20% running cost improvement. Plus there's plenty of space for a crossover of this size, lots of kit for the money and, unusually in this class, the option of a proper lockable 4WD system in the top versions.

Background

Suzuki must find it frustrating to see other brands doing so well in the thriving Crossover market. The Japanese maker has, after all, been offering products of this sort for some time, most notably the first generation SX4 model, originally launched way back in 2006, easily pre-dating the original Nissan Qashqai that most people think pioneered this class of car. That very first SX4 was a little too small, a little too shy and retiring and a little too poorly promoted to set the sales charts alight the way its Nissan competitor did, but Suzuki watched, learnt and came back fighting. As a result, in 2014 we got the SX4 S-Cross, a much more competitive proposition and a model that's gradually evolved. In 2020 it gained mild hybrid assistance for its 1.4-litre Boosterjet petrol engine and in late 2021, the looks were facelifted too, creating the car we're going to look at here, a compact SUV but a particularly spacious and really quite efficient one.

Driving Experience

This S-Cross now offers two petrol engines. The more affordable, the 1.4 Boosterjet Hybrid (which is actually a mild hybrid and offers 129hp) comes with manual transmission. If you want an auto (actually a 6-speed automated manual), you'll need the 1.5-litre Full-Hybrid 114hp unit. Both engines can also be had with ALLGRIP AWD. Let's start with the cheaper 1.4-litre version. You may be familiar with the way that mild hybrid engines work but just in case not, here's a quick re-cap. Basically, energy that would otherwise be lost when braking or cruising off-throttle is harvested via a kinetic energy recovery system and sent to a small lithium-ion battery that here has been placed beneath the front passenger seat. This is used to drive a belt-driven 'ISG' unit (an 'Integrated Starter/Generator') and power the engine's stop/start system. Suzuki's current 48-volt set-up can also deliver a couple of other important benefits. The first is something quite unusual amongst current mild hybrids - the ability for this car to idle and even coast on full-electric power, though only below 10mph. The other benefit here is something supposed to be now quite common amongst mild hybrid models - the ability to 'torque-fill' under acceleration to compensate for turbo lag. Which is just as well because this S-Cross Hybrid's 'K14D'-series engine was reduced in power a little when the MHEV tech was added to it, plus the car's electrified tech adds 65kgs of extra weight (in the case of the ALLGRIP 4WD version). But at the same time it gained 5Nm of torque (235Nm in total). The 62mph sprint takes 10.2 en route to 118mph. Let's move on to the 1.5-litre Full-Hybrid variant. Here, the engine is combined with a 33bhp belt-driven electric motor generator powered by a tiny 0.84kWh battery. All the power is fed through a 6-speed automated manual gearbox, which you can expect to feel somewhat slow and clunky until you learn to lift off between ratio changes. There's an 'Eco' mode to improve frugality, but you might not want to engage it too often because it restricts throttle response and even in its normal drive setting, this car is no ball of fire.

Design and Build

Visually, the S-Cross has always looked rather dull, so the aesthetic changes made here will be welcomed by dealers, giving this SUV a bolder, more muscular design that enhances its presence with larger and more angular wheel arches and smooth flowing lines. The front design incorporates a raised bonnet line, a piano black front grille and new design 'three LED position' headlamps supposed to help portray a high centre of gravity. This theme continues at the rear with larger combination lamps that integrate horizontally with the rear centre garnish to emphasise a sense of width, in addition to roof rails and integrated rear spoiler. Otherwise, it's as you were. This car remains a mid-sized 'Qashqai'-class SUV that's a little larger than the norm, around 4,300mm in length. Inside, no changes have been made. Up front, it's an inoffensive but not unpleasant piece of design and the fixtures and fittings feel well screwed together from the Hungarian factory, although some of the materials are a bit scratchy. The centre-dash infotainment screen still has graphics that look a bit after-market but it certainly includes quite a lot, with sat nav and 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring as well as a DAB tuner and Bluetooth. The generous 2,600mm wheelbase length frees up plenty of interior room (the 430-litre boot is one of the biggest in the class) and there's very decent rear seat space too. Though the bench doesn't slide, the backrest reclines though a choice of two angles. The twin sunroofs of the top SZ5 model do rob a few centimetres of headroom though.

Market and Model

Pricing is quite a bit higher than it used to be for the S-Cross. The car is now priced at around £26,000 for the base 1.4 Boosterjet Hybrid 'Motion' manual variant: it's just under £33,000 for the 1.4 Boosterjet Hybrid 'Ultra' ALLGRIP version, again with manual transmission. The Full-Hybid version (offered only with 6-speed automated manual transmission) costs from just under £28,000. Standard equipment for the base 'Motion' model is comprehensive and includes seven airbags, 17-inch painted alloy wheels, three-signature LED projector headlamps for low and high beam, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, Traffic Sign Recognition, a Blind Spot Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control with a speed limiter, keyless entry and start, dual zone auto air conditioning, heated front seats and front and rear parking sensors. Moving up to top 'Ultra' spec adds 17-inch polished alloy wheels, leather seat upholstery, integrated on-board navigation, a panoramic sliding sunroof and further driver safety and convenience with the fitment of a 360 view camera. The S-Cross is available in a total of six different shades, of which one is a solid colour and five are optional metallic finishes.

Cost of Ownership

Suzuki reckons that the 1.4-litre Boosterjet unit's 48-volt mild hybrid tech has delivered improvements in fuel economy and emissions of up to 20%, though it's difficult to verify that claim with any real accuracy. The WLTP figures show a front-driven version of the 1.4-litre model managing 53.2mpg and 120g/km, while the ALLGRIP 4WD 1.4-litre version delivers 47.8mpg and 133g/km. In contrast, the 1.5-litre Full-Hybrid 2WD variant manages 54.3mpg on the combined cycle and 118g/km of CO2; or 48.7mpg and 132g/km in Ultra 4WD form. With both engines, it helps that this remains one of the lightest cars in the crossover class. Even the ALLGRIP variant weighs in at only 1,220kgs. With the 1.4-litre mild hybrid model, this car's insurance group is 25D - or 26D for the SZ5 manual. The mild hybrid S-Cross model's BiK tax band is rated at 30% (or 32% for the ALLGRIP variant). An S-Cross mild hybrid owner would be paying £165 of VED for the first year of ownership (£205 for the ALLGRIP) and £140 of VED from year 2 on. As with all Suzukis, this one is covered by a three year/60,000 mile warranty, plus a year of AA Suzuki Assistance, providing 24 hour UK and European roadside assistance, recovery and associated services. There's also a 12 year perforation warranty.

Summary

The S-Cross has long needed a bit of extra pavement presence - and gets it here. Otherwise, this model's attributes remain as before, namely its spacious cabin, potential for light off road exploits and the theoretical frugality of its mild hybrid and full-Hybrid engines. The prominent 'Hybrid' badging here might lead you to expect more efficiency benefits than are actually delivered, the electrification's effect on everyday running costs, though welcome, somewhat marginal. But every little helps and even in the mild hybrid model, the 48-volt tech is certainly useful in the way it better assists with pulling power and allows for fully electrified progress below 10mph. Whether this and the visual update are together enough to make customers interested in the S-Cross who weren't before is more debateable. But it all gives this car extra selling points - and that's never a bad thing.

Body Glass

Electric front windows

Electric rear windows

Rear privacy glass

Rain sensing front wipers

2 speeds (low/high) with adjustable intermittent front wiper + washer

1 speed with intermittent rear wiper + washer

Brakes

Traction control

Electronic Stability Programme

Anti-lock Brake System + Electronic Brakeforce Distribution + Brake assist

Hill hold control

Dual sensor brake support with enhanced pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle detection

Communication

Smartphone link display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

eCall emergency call system

Bluetooth integrated into audio unit

Driver Aids

Power assisted steering

Rear parking camera

Lane departure warning system

Front and rear parking sensors

Emergency stop signalling system

Traffic sign recognition

Rear cross traffic alert

Intelligent speed assist

Adaptive cruise control with speed limiter

Lane departure prevention

Weaving alert

Driver Convenience

Engine auto start/stop system

Driver Information

Navigation system

Trip computer

Tachometer

Driver monitoring system

Blind spot monitor

4.2" colour LCD information display

7" infotainment display

Driving Mirrors

Heated door mirrors

Body colour door mirrors

Electrically adjustable door mirrors

Automatic dimming rear view mirror

Electrically folding door mirrors with built-in turn signal lamp

Entertainment

4 speakers

2 Tweeters

Steering wheel mounted audio controls

DAB Digital radio

USB connection

Exterior Body Features

Body colour door handles

Wheel arch extensions

Aluminium roof rails

Chrome front grille

Chrome effect window sills

Visible VIN plate

Rear side wing doors

Front/rear and under body trim - silver

Side louver bezels in silver

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlamp levelling

Third brake light

Front fog lamps

Rear fog lamp

LED daytime running lights

LED rear combination lamp

Automatic headlights with auto high/low beam

LED headlamps (low and high beam)

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Pollen filter

Heater

Dual zone automatic air conditioning

Interior Features

Front centre armrest

Rear centre armrest

Tilt adjustable steering wheel

3 spoke leather covered steering wheel

Centre console storage

Chrome interior door handles

Fabric upholstery

Gearshift paddles

Telescopic steering wheel adjustment

Centre lower box

Rear assist grips x2

Driver's side foot rest

Luggage area shopping bag hook, net hook x 2

2x Front and rear door bottle holders

Removable double luggage room floor

Front fabric door trim insert

Shift knob piano black with silver accent

12V accessory socket in centre lower box

12V accessory socket in luggage area

4x cup holders (x2 front, x2 rear)

Luggage area cover

Passenger's side assist grips

Interior Lights

Front footwell lights

Front map light

Glovebox light

Luggage area lamp

Centre cabin light

Centre lower console box lights

Safety

Driver and passenger airbags

Height adjustable front seatbelts

Side impact protection beams

Side airbags

Childproof rear door locks

Curtain airbags

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Drivers knee airbag

Front passenger airbag deactivation

Front and rear seatbelt reminder

3 Point ELR rear seat belts x3

Front 3 point ELR seatbelts with pretensioner and force limiter

Seats

Driver's seat height adjuster

Front headrests

Rear headrests

2 stage reclining rear seats

60/40 split folding rear seat

Front passenger side seatback pocket

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Driver and front passenger heated seats

Child seat tether anchorages x3

ISOFIX child seat anchorages X 2

Single front passenger seat

Security

Immobiliser

Locking wheel nuts

Security alarm

Light - on and Key in reminder

Deadlocks

Remote central door locking

Keyless entry and start

Freewheeling key cylinders

Vanity Mirrors

Driver/front passenger sunvisors with ticket holders + illuminated vanity mirrors

Wheels - Alloy

17" Painted alloy wheels

Wheels - Spare

Emergency flat tyre repair kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Capacity in kWh: 0.8

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

Emissions - ICE

Particles: N

HC+NOx: N

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 116

Engine and Drive Train

Engine Code: K15C

Cylinders: 4

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Number of Valves: 16

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: MULTI POINT FUEL INJECTION

Catalytic Convertor: No

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Gears: 6 SPEED

CC: 1462

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - MPG - Low: 56.4

WLTP - MPG - Medium: 61.4

WLTP - MPG - High: 62.7

WLTP - MPG - Extra High: 46.3

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 55.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low: 5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium: 4.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High: 4.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High: 6.1

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 5.1

General

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

Special Order: 0

Special Edition: 0

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 16E

Service Interval Mileage: 12500

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: 999999

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 115

Badge Engine CC: 1.5

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Coin Series: Motion

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: N

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Coin Description: Hybrid

Performance

Engine Power - RPM: 6000

Top Speed: 108

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - BHP: 115

0 to 62 mph (secs): 12.7

Engine Power - KW: 85

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 102

Engine Torque - NM: 138

Engine Torque - RPM: 4400

Engine Torque - MKG: 14.1

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Tyre Size Rear: 215/55 R17

Space Saver?: 0

Alloys?: No

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Tyre Size Front: 215/55 R17

Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY

Wheel Style: N

Vehicle Dimensions

Height (including roof rails): 1593

Wheelbase: 2600

Width (including mirrors): N

Height: N

Width: 1785

Length: 4300

Weight and Capacities

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1740

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 400

Minimum Kerbweight: 1308

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 47

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1200

Max. Roof Load: 75

Max. Loading Weight: 432

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 293

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.8

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 665

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Pearlescent paint

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Silky silver

Paint - Pearlescent

Pearl - Cosmic black

Pearl - Energetic red

Pearl - Sphere blue

Pearl - Titan dark grey

Paint - Solid

Solid - White

Trim - Cloth

Fabric - Black with stitching seat