Item: Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Suzuki Across

Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid

Toyota C-HR

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Volvo XC40

Boot space is generous in the Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid – in fact, it’s about as good as it gets in the small SUV class. It’s bigger than the boots in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq</a>, although the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/duster/4x4/review/n67">Dacia Duster</a> has a fraction more luggage space.

Not only is the boot roomy, it’s also practical&nbsp;too. A wide opening makes access easy, the floor is low and the boot lip is flush with the floor, which is helpful if you're loading or unloading&nbsp;heavy items.&nbsp;

It’s square in shape, too, with a deep cubbyhole on either side. Lifting up the boot floor reveals more space underneath, which is ideal for keeping valuables out of sight. There’s a removable luggage cover, too. Other handy features include tie-down hooks and a luggage net.

While the S-Cross’s dash layout is easy to use&nbsp;and the switches nicely damped, it's a very plain and drab-looking cabin. There are lots of scratchy, brittle-feeling materials even in areas you touch a lot,&nbsp;such as around the door handles and window switches.

Top-spec SZ5 trim goes some way to alleviating the pervasive sense of cheapness with its standard leather seats, but the overall perceived interior quality is still a long way short of what you get in a Ford Puma, VW T-Cross or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/captur/hatchback/review/n20">Renault Captur</a>.

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The S-Cross’s steering wheel adjusts for both reach and rake, and every model provides driver’s seat height adjustment and a centre armrest. The backrest is adjusted using a lever and can’t provide such precise adjustment as the rotary adjustment wheels provided in many rivals. Electric seat adjustment isn’t offered on any S-Cross, even as an option.

The pedals line up nicely with the driver’s seat, but the seat itself is quite firm and flat. It’s a shame it doesn’t offer more side support&nbsp;and that adjustable lumbar support adjustment isn’t even an option.

The dashboard is so straightforward it&nbsp;looks as though it’s not really been styled or designed at all, with simple air-con switches lower down and a touchscreen infotainment system (or radio unit on entry-level SZ4 models) higher up.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

1.4 Boosterjet 48V Hybrid

14-boosterjet-48v-hybrid

Even entry-level SZ4 cars have a good amount of equipment despite the rock-bottom price by class standards. Appealing features such as 16in alloy wheels, climate control, adaptive cruise control, front and rear electric windows, automatic lights and wipers, a USB socket, Bluetooth and DAB radio are all standard.

It’s well worth spending a little more to buy the SZ-T. It adds keyless entry, 17in alloy wheels, parking sensors and a reversing camera, classier-looking upholstery, leather steering wheel and that touchscreen system we’ve already mentioned.

Range-topping SZ5 is fitted with luxuries such as leather seats, a panoramic sunroof&nbsp;and a better sound system. While it's relatively lavishly equipped, its higher price doesn’t sit well with the S-Cross’s good-value appeal.

The Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid – one of three small SUVs offered by the Japanese manufacturer – does one thing extremely well: keep it simple.

It's arguably the most practical and no-nonsense of the Suzuki trio, with just one engine available and a straightforward choice of three trim levels&nbsp;plus some dealer-fit accessories to personalise your car with.

The S-Cross Hybrid's low price and big boot make it&nbsp;a possible&nbsp;alternative to a range of rivals, from more fun, hatchback-like small SUVs such as the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838"> Ford Puma</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/review/n117">Seat Arona</a> to bigger, ‘proper’ family SUVs including the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7"> Nissan Qashqai</a>.

The sole engine option is a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol that has 48V mild-hybrid technology to boost performance and efficiency without requiring any plugging in –you just drive it and fuel it like any other petrol car.

Manual and automatic gearboxes are available, driving either the front or all four wheels. If you’re after a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/do-i-choose-petrol-or-diesel/n1110">diesel</a>&nbsp;you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Whichever of those three trim versions you go for, air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, automatic emergency braking and some other modern necessities come as standard.

Given that it offers generous equipment and more boot space than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq</a>, the Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid does seem to be an awful lot of car for the money, despite facing stronger and more varied competition than ever.

To find out whether it might&nbsp;fit the bill for your next <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/family-suv">family SUV</a>, read on through this&nbsp;review, and we'll cover how it drives, what it's like for your passengers, the running costs you can expect to pay and much more.

If you decide you want to purchase an S-Cross – or any other new make and model of vehicle, for that matter – find out how much you could save by using the free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> pages, where you'll find some good <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/suzuki/sx4-s-cross/hatchback/deals">Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid deals</a>.

Even very tall people will have enough room in the front seats of an S-Cross. There’s lots of head and leg room, even on SZ5 models with the standard panoramic sunroof, which lowers&nbsp;the ceiling slightly.

Both front doors have a pocket that’ll accept a 1.0-litre water bottle, and there’s a cupholder between the front seats. Between the driver and front passenger is a large cubbyhole with a flip-up armrest.

Just in front of the gearlever is another large cubby that’s ideal for storing wallets, keys, mobile phones and other items. There’s a decent amount of storage space in the S-Cross’s glovebox, too. The front seats are set quite high, so getting in and out should present few problems thanks to wide, tall door apertures.

The Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid is an uninspiring drive by small SUV standards, which have moved on significantly with the arrival of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a>&nbsp;and other cars.

That’s not to say that the S-Cross is bad to drive – the very light steering makes easy work of low-speed manoeuvres&nbsp;and it’s stable on the motorway. There’s very little sense of connection through the steering, though, and it starts to lose front-end grip and gradually wash wide in cornering sooner than many rivals, including the Puma and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/review/n117">Seat Arona</a>.

Even the four-wheel drive S-Cross AllGrip falls short of the grippier, more engaging handling of those other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-suv">small SUVs</a>, so it’s fair to say that the S-Cross is adequate in the way it handles, but nothing more than that.

With a simple monochrome display flanked by two rotary dials and various menu buttons, the entry-level SZ4’s infotainment system is easy to get used to.

It incorporates a CD player and a DAB digital radio that play through four speaks and can be controlled with the multi-function steering wheel, plus Bluetooth and a USB socket. While it's&nbsp;simple to use, there’s no getting away from how archaic it is next to the standard touchscreen systems in almost every rival.

&nbsp;SZ-T and SZ5 trim levels are rather more up to date, adding a colour touchscreen with sat-nav and&nbsp;Apple CarPlay/Android Auto&nbsp;smartphone mirroring. Connectivity is good, but the graphics are dated and some of the menus are confusing. Factor in sluggish responses, and it’s one of the least impressive infotainment systems in this class.

Hatchback

Suzuki is well known as a motorcycle manufacturer, but the car brand has been enjoying decent success in recent years, thanks to a line-up of neat, well-equipped and keenly priced models.

Its expertise focuses on smaller cars, although its high-riding SUV range is also hugely credible, especially the Ignis and Vitara, which are both rated highly by What Car?’s testers and which have enjoyed success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

Well priced, decent to drive and full of useful tech, Suzuki’s cars also generally stand out for delivering good fuel economy. The Ignis, Celerio and Baleno have all stood head and shoulders above the competition during our True MPG testing.

SUZUKI

SX4 S-CROSS

The Suzuki&nbsp;S-Cross Hybrid’s 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine is powerful enough for it to feel comfortable whether you’re bumbling around town or merging into high-speed motorway traffic. It’s even a little faster than many alternatives, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq</a> 1.5 TSI.

Having said that, the optional six-speed automatic gearbox in the S-Cross sometimes lets the engine rev harder than is really useful. Even if you use the steering-wheel mounted paddles for more control over the gear shifts, this simply isn’t a car that feels comfortable during spirited driving, despite the subtle boost of electric power as you accelerate&nbsp;hard. You probably won’t even notice the subtle mild-hybrid system getting involved, and the S-Cross never drives on pure electric power (as full hybrid alternatives like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/c-hr/hatchback/review/n112">Toyota C-HR</a> do). You really needn’t worry about the mild-hybrid gubbins other than to enjoy the improved&nbsp;economy it delivers.

While the automatic gearbox is more convenient and doesn't affect outright pace, we’d still go for the six-speed manual gearbox that’s standard on the S-Cross. The light, positive shift is a pleasure to use and is more enjoyable than the occasionally sluggish gear changes in the automatic.

Good value for money with a big boot, but it feels cheap and rivals are better to drive

The back seats are set higher than the front ones, so head room is tight for adults, especially in models with a panoramic sunroof. Fortunately, leg room is much more generous, as is shoulder room, so it’s no problem for two adults to sit comfortably. Three passengers side by side will find it a squeeze, though, and the S-Cross has a pronounced floor hump for the middle passenger to straddle.

While the S-Cross is good for rear passenger room as long as you avoid that headroom-robbing panoramic roof, there are still better alternatives if passenger comfort is a priority – namely the spacious&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq</a>.

Each rear door has a pocket, but it’s not as easy to access or as deep as those in the front. Like the front seats, the rears also have a centre armrest. The back of the front passenger seat has a convenient map pocket, and there are two cupholders. Again, the door apertures are reasonably wide, making it easy for passengers of any size to get in and out.

The 1.4-litre, turbocharged engine is quiet at normal speeds, but sounds very boomy and coarse if you let it rev out.

Thankfully, you rarely need to use the engine that hard, so most of the time the S-Cross is hushed, especially at lower speeds. The mild-hybrid system also helps to reduce vibration and noise from the engine as it thrums back into life after the stop-start system has kicked in.

&nbsp;There’s quite a lot of tyre and wind noise at motorway speeds, so generally the S-Cross is still some way behind alternatives like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">VW T-Cross</a> when it comes to offering a quiet drive.

As a brand, Suzuki finished a middling 14th out of 31 manufacturers included in the 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n20069">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>. The Suzuki S-Cross itself was ranked a respectable joint 6th with the Skoda Karoq, out of 25 cars included in the family SUV class.

&nbsp;All Suzukis come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, and one year of&nbsp;UK and European breakdown cover. That’s on a par with the Skoda Kamiq and Ford Puma but a long way off the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Hyundai Kona</a>.

There’s quite a bit of pitch and lean from the S-Cross in cornering or over undulating roads, but the soft suspension does pay off in terms of a comfy ride.

Even on 17-inch wheels, it softens the worst of the bumps and ruts around town, and settles nicely on the motorway. Mid-corner expansion joints can send a heavy thump and shiver through the car at speed, though, and there’s quite a bit of noise from the suspension&nbsp;too.

Overall, the S-Cross is a comfortable enough family car, but the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a> are even better at stopping your passengers noticing a bad road surface.

Even though the Suzuki S-Class Hybrid is a big car for its class, it offers good value for money. Indeed, some of the cheaper trim levels undercut certain small <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small">family hatchbacks</a>. When it comes to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-suv">small SUVs</a>, the S-Cross is cheaper than the equivalent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">VW T-Cross</a>&nbsp;even in our favourite SZ-T trim. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/review/n117">Seat Arona</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/duster/4x4/review/n67"> Dacia Duster</a> tend&nbsp;to be even more affordable than the S-Cross if you plan to take out a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/personal-contract-purchase-pcp-explained-car-finance-guide/n19714">monthly PCP deal</a>.

We haven’t had a chance to put the S-Cross through our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/true-mpg-which-cars-beat-their-official-figures-–-and-which-are-farthest-away/n21535">True MPG tests</a> but our time in an automatic version suggested that around 40mpg will be easily achievable, and the manual should do a little better.&nbsp;Emissions are competitive with petrol-powered rivals, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a> (also a mild hybrid) and low list prices help make the S-Cross a very affordable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/company-car-or-car-allowance/n1115">company car</a>. You can save a lot more on benefit-in-kind <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-is-company-car-tax-calculated/n22618">(BIK)</a> tax by going for a full hybrid such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/c-hr/hatchback/review/n112">Toyota C-HR</a>, a plug-in hybrid such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/captur/hatchback/review/n20">Renault Captur</a>, or a pure electric alternative such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e-2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a>.

A bigger concern for running costs on the S-Cross is that it will lose a lot more of its value over time&nbsp;through <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-best-cars-for-depreciation-and-the-worst/n23009">depreciation</a> than almost all the other SUVs we’ve mentioned. Our pick of the range – the manual S-Cross SZ-T – is estimated to retain only 31% of its value after three years and 36,000 miles, which means it’ll only be worth around £7,500. A Puma will have retained about 49% of its value over the same period.

Every S-Cross comes with seven airbags including a driver’s knee airbag, while automatic emergency braking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a>, adaptive cruise control and two sets of Isofix fitting are also standard.

It's&nbsp;missing some of the more advanced safety aids that plenty of rivals offer either optionally or as standard, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning and traffic sign recognition. The S-Cross gained the maximum five stars in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> safety tests, although they have become far more stringent since they were carried out in 2013.

Deadlocks and an immobiliser help guard against theft, but the results weren’t particularly encouraging when security experts at Thatcham Research ran its tests on the S-Cross. It scored well for its resistance to being driven away by a thief but poorly for its resistance to being broken into in the first place.

The rear seatbacks split in a 60/40 configuration and you can fold them down by pushing buttons next to the head restraints. This can be done quite easily with one hand&nbsp;because the seatbacks aren’t particularly heavy or stiff.

In SZ-T cars and above, you can recline the rear seatbacks slightly for improved comfort – a handy feature that's only offered on a handful of other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-suv">small SUVs</a>, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/countryman/hatchback/review/n71">Mini Countryman</a>. The S-Cross still falls short of the sliding seat flexibility offered by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/captur/hatchback/review/n20">Renault Captur</a>.

This may be the entry-point of the range, but Suzuki hasn’t scrimped on standard equipment. You get 16in alloy wheels, air-con, front electric windows plus a touchscreen infotainment system with a DAB radio, Bluetooth and even sat-nav.,

OUR PICK

We’d recommend opting for the SZ-T trim, as it gets the integrated sat-nav and media system, as well as automatic air-con, keyless entry, 17in alloy wheels and a rear parking camera. These upgrades help make the S-Cross look and feel a lot more upmarket.,

SZ-T

sz-t

This features lots of upmarket upgrades including leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control and a better sound system. It’s not an overly expensive upgrade but it’s not a necessary one, either. The glass roof reduces head room, too.,

It’s hard to quibble with the Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid's value for money. It does offer a lot of boot space, a fairly efficient engine and decent equipment for usefully less than you typically pay for many of its rivals. It’s just a shame that it feels cheap inside, is underwhelming to drive and is likely to lose value more quickly than most rivals.

The S-Cross’s tall, wide windscreen and slim front pillars make&nbsp;seeing forwards over the bonnet easy. The generous front side windows help you see out at junctions and roundabouts, too. The view over your shoulder is good, thanks to rear pillars that aren’t particularly bulky and a good size rear windscreen.

Front and rear parking sensors and a rear view camera are standard on SZ-T and SZ5 models, but it’s disappointing that neither can be added to the entry-level SZ4.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

&nbsp;

Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid review

Introduction

What Car? says...