We love the Suzuki S-Cross. There is something strangely attractive in the simple design and simplicity of construction, according to The Car magazine. In addition, it is equipped with an excellent 1.4 liter mild-hybrid turbo engine, which, like a familiar DJ from a cool club, is able to put on real fun without asking a lot of money for it.
The world is rapidly changing. There is not much time left between today and the imposition of an embargo on fossil fuel vehicles. Lawmakers are actively pushing car companies to build cleaner and more environmentally friendly gasoline cars before banning them entirely in 2030. And to keep up with the trend, Suzuki has released a new, fully hybrid version of the S-Cross.
This crossover is equipped with the same 1.5-liter “four” as the Vitara Hybrid. It produces only 113 hp, which in itself is not an example of outstanding energy efficiency. Of course, there have been worse. But the new Suzuki S-Cross full hybrid powertrain against the backdrop of a mild hybrid drive is sadness and pain. We are really disappointed because we know that Suzuki engineers could do better. If you wanted to.
For acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, the hybrid crossover spends a long 12.7 s in the front-wheel drive version and 13.5 s with all-wheel drive. This is a fiasco. After all, the front-wheel drive mild-hybrid S-Cross accelerates to hundreds in 9.5 seconds. In addition, the hybrid unit produces low torque, which is why the gearbox must always shift at least two gears down when accelerating. Although that doesn’t help much either. If you step on the gas hard to overtake a truck on the motorway, the revs will jump to 4000 rpm, and you will still have a hard time overtaking it.
There is another problem: at full throttle, the gearbox twitches. To smooth out the inept operation of automation, it is better to switch to manual mode and independently control the change of steps using the paddles “petals”, for best results, dropping the gas between shifts.
And what about fuel consumption? According to the manufacturer, the all-wheel drive mild-hybrid S-Cross spends 4.9 liters per 100 km on the WLTP cycle, and the fully hybrid – 4.8 liters. In reality, both cars consume an average of about 5.3 liters per hundred. So the only reason you’d choose a full hybrid over a mild hybrid is to get access to lower vehicle tax rates. However, even in this case, we would recommend thinking twice before buying.
The mild hybrid version is better in every way. This model develops 127 hp. and 234 Nm of torque, which is quite a lot for a car that weighs only 1.3 tons. Step on the gas pedal and the S-Cross will blast forward with a merry turbo boost, even if you’re in top gear. The six-speed manual is good: working with a short-stroke rocker is easy and pleasant. The crossover also enters corners well, despite the soft suspension, body roll is small. And even if the rear axle begins to slide, the all-wheel drive system comes into play, which will not allow the car to slip into a skid.
Our main complaint (and it applies to both mild hybrid and full hybrid versions alike) relates to the power steering settings. The steering here is very light, with little feedback that takes some getting used to. Also, the car is noisy. The roar of the engine and the rustle of tires freely penetrate the cabin through thin metal and the same thin layer of sound insulation. After a day spent driving a crossover, you feel very tired.
Despite its modest size, the mild-hybrid S-Cross is a reasonably practical car. Its trunk holds 430 liters, which is less than the 504 liters of the Nissan Qashqai or the 520 liters of the Peugeot 3008. But the S-Cross is almost 150 mm shorter than the 3008, and therefore it is expected to be smaller inside. Moreover, the fully hybrid S-Cross has 137 liters less cargo space, as the hybrid battery is located under the floor. As a result, the trunk here is only a liter more than the Ford Fiesta, which is clearly not enough for a family crossover.
But in front it is spacious for both the driver and the passenger, and even three will sit in the back if you go far. There’s plenty of headroom, too, and if you opt for the top-of-the-line Ultra trim, you’ll get a panoramic sunroof that lets in plenty of light. In general, the interior of the S-Cross is not the last word in luxury, but quite comfortable. Suzuki prioritizes form over functionality, so the upholstery is durable and the dash and door cards are easy to clean. The build quality is also encouraging. Of course, the Peugeot 3008 has a more stylish finish, but the interior of the S-Cross will still look neat in a decade.
And the S-Cross is well packaged. Standard equipment includes automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a media center with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats. You’ll even get front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera so you don’t accidentally run into your neighbor’s bumper. True, we were a little embarrassed by the plug on the steering wheel of the top version of the Ultra: is Suzuki hiding something from us? Still, it’s better than BMW’s “we’ll give you a button, but we’ll charge you to use it” business model.
Suzuki S-Cross is a simple and honest family crossover. Economical, good value for money, spacious and capable of driving pleasure. However, all this is true only if you choose a mild hybrid motor. But the £1,000 surcharge for a full hybrid drive is definitely not worth it.
