A car no other - the best in its class (video too). Review on Maruti Suzuki SX4

For quite sometime, I have been wanting to buy my first car and was totally got hook to Honda Civic. Test drove it on Noida Expressway and I was smitten by it every bit. The decision to buy a car hastened with my devastated breakup with my girlfriend. Yeah I know what a pity!

And that’s when I decided to buy a sexy car to compensate the emotional loss! But I was hard stretched with the Civic prize tag and then suddenly, out of nowhere, my bank sent a notice of payment of few lakhs for my education loan. and ouufff here goes my dream of owning a car of my liking. So hurtfully, I looked at one segment below and shortlisted NHC Gxi,  Aveo 1.6 LT and Fiesta 1.6. I did test drive every one of this car and found its good and bad stance. However, was not quite happy with any of one of it. So I was left with no inclination towards any of these C-segment cars and after driven a Civic, my heart was just not set for any of the car I shortlisted. then came the SX4 launch. but initially I didn't take too much interest in that because of two reasons:

1) **Its a Maruti Suzuki (known for its small cars mostly)

2)SX4 sedan prior to release didn't appeal to me (car looks weird in images and to be honest, thought it was the worst design)

But one fine day, saw a car in a red light amongst the cars in Lajpat Nagar and it stands out tall and different from others! I am quite familiar with all cars, and oddly this was not one of them. **The car whisks away as if a male lion of a pride is pouching upon an impala.. close inspection, and found out its a Maruti SX4. man, it really took me away just like when a sexy babe stirs at you with a smile and you are blown away with excitement and everything near you becomes beautiful. OK, not that much, but somewhat nearing it! :) So much that the very next day, went to the nearest dealer and test drove a red demo car (was only 120 kms done at that point of time). Man, looks are deceptive, at least on photos. The car looks fabulous, big and tall and the impression was that of a SUV. Wheels are big 16 incher alloys and wide profile tyre. I couldn't still believe it was from Maruti's stable. The looks of the car is much better than any of the C-segment cars I have seen/driven. 'Aesthetic' is the term I would describe. The boot is HUGE.505 litres. It could easily fit 3-4 standard human beings inside.. you never know when you become a serial killer! lol. I was all ga ga over the car and was so excited with my first impression on the looks. but I was concern if the test drive and performance will be equally exciting! The moment the driver passed the driver seat to me, I ignited the car and ooops. the engine was already running. couldn't make out the engine noise at all during the idle period, nor do I feel the vibration of the engine. I was impressed at least, the engine is not noisy! Floor the accelerator and 1, 2 gears and oops. no great torque and power. NOT GOOD. revving hard, and engine noise is familiar, but it is unlike any other, in that the noise was pleasing, kind of sporty, like the one in the Fast and the Furious movie. NO KIDDING! Going to 3rd and 4th gears and that’s when the exhilaration and fun starts. Abundant power train and torque, so much that in bumper to bumper traffic, I could drive the car comfortably by using only 3rd and 4th gear interchangeably.and that's the realistic and practical way with respect to our driving condition. Took the car on Noida expressway and zoom it went by.

The highest I could try out was 110 kmph before the driver became nervous and pleaded with me that the car is yet to be serviced! but no doubt, the car was stable at high speed (couldn't hardly figure out the high speed run from inside the cabin which is good thing), instills confidence with good feedback! In fact, it was the second best ride I really loved after the one with the Civic on the same road. From that moment, my heart was completely set and knew that, this is the car I will see in my garage in few weeks. what added more value to the car was the jealousy/curious looks on Honda City's drivers face when overtaking! they never knew what went by and how! :) ok. VTEC owners, you are excluded. Now about the ride, it cruises quietly over smooth roads and it’s a pleasurable one. no pinch of it is matched by any of the car I test drove except for Aveo. What the car does best is over bad patches of roads. The ride over such roads full of deep potholes, speed breakers etc is just useless to get worried about.

The best part of this car was the staggering number of features which I was looking for in Civic category (which you all know by now, ie. everything I would have got in a D-segment car). The driver's seating arrangement is just awesome. I could get a commanding view of the front as thats where it scores from other comparable cars! But wait, backing it up, and its totally opposite! NOT GOOD. rear visibility is bad and hence, I got parking assistance system with four sensor pods installed on the rear bumper. The integrated audio system (nippon) is more than adequate for my taste. The speakers are good, but music enthusiasts will be happier with a better one.

Bad things NOW. the plastic quality used in the side panels (not the dash) are just plain OK. Not that bad, but not that good either. the engine noise in higher revs may irritate certain people.but I am an exception. I love the revving growl sound as I am quite used to it with Holden V6 and V8 cars (including the infamous commodore). Weirdly, there is no fuel WARNING and its quite of a puzzle!

I have never own a Suzuki before. or in fact, I haven't own a car at all (came back to India after my MS studies from abroad). so I am not too sure what to expect out of a C-segment luxuries car..but whatever I compared here are with the ones that I have test driven. At the end, I was looking for various parameters - safety features being the foremost MUST (being lived abroad for almost 3 years, I know how much safety is in the mind of every car owner/enthusiast), Good ride, pleasurable drive, engaging engine and powertrain if not a very responsive engine, and yes, lot of gizmos and more importantly, a good after sales service. Overall, when I bought the car, I was on the lookout for adding cool accessories, but to no avail, the car comes loaded with everything.so I landed up putting up a spoiler, parking sensors, leather covers, fire-extinguisher and recently much needed noise reducing GoodYear  tyres for good grips and ride.

I get a whopping FE of 12 kmpl (after first service) in city driving with 95% AC on.this is too good to be true from a car that is 1200 kg in weight, 190 mm ground clearance, 1.6 litre petrol engine with 102 horses, 16 inchers wide profile tyres and more. So guys and gals, I don't want to sound like a typical Maruti Salesman, but there is literally no competition for this car in the c-segment, and with affordable services and spare parts coupled with the attractive price tag, its an unbelievable package! So much for it, I don't even feel sorry for breakup with my girlfriend.Kidding! anyways I would advise any prospective buyer to research a bit before spending hard earn cash on a dream car! BTW, its not everyday that you buy a car! Enjoy! (don't forget to watch the video).