Cars

Suzuki S-Cross: Practical family SUV gets 48-volt mild-hybrid boost

Suzuki has given its high-tech 'Boosterjet' engine 48 volts of mild-hybrid assistance. William Scholes tries it in the S-Cross, Suzuki's small family SUV

Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross Suzuki S-Cross

THE arrival of a global pandemic and the shutdown of the economy played havoc with the car-makers' plans, writes William Scholes.

Admittedly this is some way down the long list of side effects caused by the coronavirus crisis that has reshaped every aspect of what we considered 'normal' less than 12 months ago.

Suzuki had the misfortune of attempting to pitch a revamped version of its small family SUV, the S-Cross, into the market just as lockdown started.

As restrictions eventually eased, we were eventually able to get acquainted with the car.

The big news is that the S-Cross is now offered with only one engine choice, a mild-hybrid version of the company's excellent 1.4-litre 'Boosterjet' turbocharged petrol engine.

There's a lot of complicated turbocharger massaging and variable valve timing going on with this punchy and efficient engine, and it's paired with a new lightweight 48-volt mild-hybrid set-up.

Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross Suzuki S-Cross

This adds less than 15kg to the weight of the car, says Suzuki, and is small enough to be located under the front seats but delivers an appealing range of driveability and efficiency benefits.

The Suzuki system uses an 'integrated starter generator' which harvests energy that would otherwise be lost when the car is, for example, braking.

It sends this to a 48-volt lithium ion battery, which can send a burst of power back to the ISG to assist the engine, for example when accelerating from a standstill.

There's also a converter that can deliver a 12-volt supply to power components such as the lights, audio and air conditioning.

The Suzuki system also has 'torque fill' and 'torque boost' features which use electrical assistance to further mask the already minimal 'lag' effect of the petrol engine's turbocharger. The net effect is a smoother acceleration.

The big news is that the S-Cross is now offered with only one engine choice, a mild-hybrid version of the company's excellent 1.4-litre 'Boosterjet' turbocharged petrol engine

Compared to the 1.4-litre Boosterjet engine that Suzuki used to fit to the S-Cross, this new unit posts lower CO2 emissions (139g/km v 164g/km in the WLTP test) and better fuel consumption (45.7mpg v 38.8mpg, WLTP combined cycle).

The engine's power and torque outputs of 127bhp and 173lb ft are more than adequate for a car that, despite being larger than some, is lighter than its competitors - even loaded with options and a four-wheel-drive system, the heaviest S-Cross has a kerb weight of 1,285kg.

Four-wheel-drive is something of a Suzuki speciality, with the technology available on all of its models. This year is the 50th anniversary of the company's 4x4 adventures.

Suzuki calls its system 'Allgrip', and on the S-Cross the driver can change its settings by twisting a dial.

'Auto' leaves the car in front-wheel-drive, only activating four-wheel-drive when wheel spin is detected; 'snow' is tailored for - you guessed it - snowy and slippery surfaces; 'lock' is what you need of the car needs to be extricated from snow, mud or sand; and 'sport' sharpens things up, altering how the four-wheel-drive system moves its torque around in response to the driver's throttle inputs.

Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross Suzuki S-Cross

A front-wheel-drive S-Cross is notably good fun to drive: light weight, a punchy engine and intelligently set-up suspension will do that for a car, while the elevated driving position, excellent controls and great view of the road further help.

However, the Allgrip car in 'sport' mode is positively entertaining. 'Sport' buttons on most cars have a minimal or even negative effect, but here it adds energy and bite to the S-Cross's driving characteristics.

Whether front- or four-wheel-drive, the S-Cross is one of those cars that feels brisker than the figures suggest. The 0-62mph time is 9.5 seconds for the front-driver and 10.2 seconds for the Allgrip car.

You do have to pay for the pleasure of Allgrip, though. It's available only with the range-topping SZ5 trim, which means a £27,799 price tag - an £1,800 premium over the front-wheel-drive car.

That SZ5 is extremely well kitted out, with a huge sliding panoramic sunroof adding to the already strong sense of space and leather upholstery giving an air of luxury.

There's an honest practicality and straightforwardness to the S-Cross's nature. It might lack the visual pizzazz of something like a Renault Captur or Peugeot 2008, but it does offer a driving experience that will appeal to keener drivers who find themselves having to shop for a small SUV

There are two other trim levels. The entry £20,999 SZ4 is well equipped - LED headlamps, DAB radio, Bluetooth, alloy wheels, dual-zone air conditioning and even adaptive cruise control are among the goodies fitted as standard.

From there, it's a £3k step to SZ-T, with its larger 17-inch alloys, keyless entry, sat-nav and smartphone link, is perhaps the sweet spot. The front-wheel-drive SZ5 is £25,999.

All S-Cross models get hill hold control and safety gadgetry that includes a radar-based automated braking system and seven airbags. It was awarded a five-star Euro Ncap crash safety rating when it was launched in 2013.

It's a properly spacious car, too - a consequence of its slightly awkward styling that looks a little top-heavy from some angles. The back seat in particular feels roomier than other small SUV contenders, and the seatback can be set at two different angles.

The boot has a generous volume of up to 440 litres, which increases to 875 litres when the seats are folded.

Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross Suzuki S-Cross

There's an honest practicality and straightforwardness to the S-Cross's nature. It might lack the visual pizzazz of something like a Renault Captur or Peugeot 2008, but it does offer a driving experience that will appeal to keener drivers who find themselves having to shop for a small SUV.

There's a depth of quality to the Suzuki's engineering, too. For example, the Boosterjet mild-hybrid engine delivers real-world efficiency and punchy performance, and it can be had with a highly accomplished four-wheel-drive system.

I tend to get on well with Suzuki cars, and find that they consistently punch above their weight and exceed expectations. Try one, and you might find the same.

Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki S-Cross Suzuki S-Cross