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A longing for an amber hatchback

Wednesday, 09 April 2008

Some of us like to be spoon-fed with information no matter what we are writing about.
If you haven’t made it to the official launch of a new car, most companies send you a press release and then simply have one of their representatives hand you over the keys of their new model and off you go and discover the car for yourself.
The exception is Fiat, where PR man Joe Gantly, provided he is in the office, will come downstairs, walk you to the car and show you anything new, which for me at any rate is greatly appreciated.
However, I suppose the other method also has its plus points. Basically you have to check out everything for yourself. Suzuki is in the latter category.
Outside Suzuki’s offices I had my eye on an amber coloured SX4 hatchback and was a little disappointed when handed the keys to a silver saloon, which to be fair is the newest model available.
The SX4 hatchback is similar to the Fiat Sedici, while the new saloon model replaces the Liana which took a lot of abuse from test drivers on BBC’s Top Gear programme over the years.

I drove the 1.6 GLX model which includes keyless start, alloy wheels, air conditioning, front fog lamps, leather steering wheel and heated electric door mirrors. But what do you do with the keys when you have a keyless start, put them in your pocket/purse or leave them lying in a cubbyhole near the gear lever?
Don’t laugh, but I thought the key would fit into the permanent gadget in the ignition which starts the car. As I said earlier you just have to figure it out for yourself.
The car has a kind of a boxy feel to it. Yet it’s spacious enough and there is plenty of leg room for everybody. You also get plenty of storage places for drinks etc.
The boot is huge, but when closing the boot I kept getting what could be best described as a tinny sound. The front, which is low set, has an attractive grille and the headlamps are worthy of a sports car. Internally the dash is well laid out and all the controls including the radio/CD are easy to use.
On the road the car handled very well and there were no complaints from family members, who are definitely not members of the two door club and they loved the four doors.
This is the Japanese company’s third new global car following on from the Grand Vitara and the Swift, which won the Semperit Irish Car of the year in 2006. Suzuki is gradually gaining a foothold in Ireland and they now have an impressive 28 dealers in The Republic.
Prices for the saloon model start at e17,495, while the 1.6 GLX model I drove costs e18,995. A diesel version of the saloon is also now available. You will find it difficult to get a cheaper saloon car that can carry five adults.
My wife keeps telling me that there are more silver cars on the road than any other colour. Recently I wasn’t impressed with a silver Mitsubishi Lancer and once again silver didn’t I feel, do anything for the SX4. But if the truth be known. I probably still longed for that amber hatchback version of the SX4 in Suzuki’s car park!

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