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Car Review
Suzuki S-Cross (2013-2021) review
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Driving
What is it like to drive?
While Suzuki markets the S-Cross as a hybrid, it operates in a pretty conventional way. The electrical assistance doesn’t spin either of the car’s axles, so you won’t be commuting silently or plugging into charge points. Which also means no range anxiety of any kind. Instead the e-power is based around the starter motor, massively smoothing out the stop/start process in traffic (allowing the engine to cut out below 10mph), while boosting the car’s acceleration to fill any gaps in performance from turbo lag. So while 128bhp and circa ten seconds to sixty aren’t startling figures, this is brisk enough for family transport.
Which engine is best?
Nowadays, there’s only one: the 1.4-litre petrol and mild hybrid combo. In its early days (when S-Cross was also prefixed with SX4) this car offered a choice of lazy nat-asp petrol and punchy turbodiesel engines. If you’re buying secondhand, seek out the latter. It’s a bit noisy but it pulls this car along properly.
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Back in 2021, we’d go manual rather than auto if possible; Suzuki does a decent stick shift and the automatic can dither a bit when you really want it to kick down for an overtake. Better to take the reins yourself. Likewise we’d duck out of speccing 4WD if your S-Cross won’t be greenlaning or scrabbling through farmland. It chips away at performance and fuel economy on what is ostensibly a value-driven purchase.
Is it any fun?
Handling wise, this is no better nor worse than any of its rivals. The family SUV sector isn’t one that’s at all competitive dynamically; a Ford Kuga gets close to something resembling 'fun', but short of buying a second-hand Porsche Macan, there’s nothing that’s dazzling to drive in these waters. So the welterweight Suzuki – less than 1.3 tonnes, even with 4WD fitted – can’t help but feel nicely set up. If not an outright laugh, it’s at least pretty agile. It rides comfortably on road and jinks around like a cocksure mountain goat when you head off it.
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