Suzuki S-Cross drive by Steve Rogers
I've just driven 1,500 miles in an S-Cross and decided I like old school. I am not against change but some of the tech-mad new cars drive me nuts.
I am of an age where I crave the simple things in life and S-Cross fits the bill. The Suzuki doesn't have catwalk looks, a button free dashboard with a touchscreen so big it wouldn't look out of place on the wall of a lounge, and so complicated I could do with my son's Phd in particle physics to work it all out.
It does have a load of buttons, a handbrake, a traditional twin-dial driver display with old style needles, but don't be thinking this is a car wallowing in the nineties. S-Cross is bang up to date with a sensibly sized touchscreen, every safety feature imaginable and an all wheel drive system that would leave some rivals stuck in the snow.
Our destination was the pretty ski town of La Clusaz, more than 4,000 feet up in the French Alps, and laden with snow. Main roads are kept clear but when called upon to tackle the white stuff S-Cross with its Allgrip system cocked a snook at it.
It is a simple but effective on demand all-wheel-drive system that automatically detects slippage and sorts it out. On treacherous looking untreated side roads I locked in snow mode and tackled descents confident we would make it without any scary moments. We did.
We weren’t the only Suzuki in town, locals have got the message as well because there were no end of Vitaras, S-Cross and even the little Ignis. Allgrip clearly rules in the Alps.
With the best will in the world S-Cross doesn't turn heads it has been feeling its age for ages. A modest facelift has given it a modern light signature and more prominent grille while inside is pretty much the same with a lot of hard black plastic trim.
One significant change is a tech upgrade with a new touchscreen storing a lot more information along with a camera to keep an eye on the state of the driver. This is annoying because whenever you look to use the screen a bleep and a message tells you to keep your eyes on the road. A minor irritation if it keeps you safe but does it have to be so sensitive?
That said, S-Cross is a stress free zone, everything is easy to find. Physical heating controls clearly marked, heated seat switches a touch away and there is a simple button to turn off lane hold assist. Most cars require a deep dive into the touchscreen menus to find it.
The most impressive driver safety feature is the adaptive cruise control. Again, easy to operate, and I used it for hundreds of miles often on long French A roads where it even sensed any curve in the road and slowed the car a touch. My car was a manual but the system is not interrupted by gear changes which used to be the case.
Power comes from the tried and trusted 1.4 litre. It does not light up the performance charts but shines when it comes to flexibility and economy. A new 48V mild hybrid system provides extra torque under hard acceleration for confident overtaking, it pulls from just over 1,000rpm in top gear, and achieved a 51.6mpg over my marathon trip. That is more than impressive for a decent sized family car.
As is the Suzuki way, even the entry level S-Cross has a long list of standard features. Moving up to the range topping Ultra includes keyless entry and start, 360 degree view camera, auto dipping headlights, heated front seats and leather upholstery. The only missing piece of the jigsaw is powered seats but it is too late in the day for that to happen.
By today’s standards the S-Cross looks old school but is a car that offers a lot, particularly when it comes to all wheel drive because for its size and price there are not many to choose from. It now comes with an extended 10 year warranty provided the car is serviced by a Suzuki dealer.
And consider this. If you don’t want to fork out for a new one, the S-Cross is a terrific second hand buy given Suzuki’s top notch reliability record.
Fast Facts
S-Cross Ultra Allgrip
£30,649 (starts £24,999)
1.4 petrol hybrid 109bhp
6-speed manual
0-60mph 11.4secs; 118mph
49.5mpg combined
131g/km. 1st tax £540
Boot: 430-665 litres
Insurance group 22
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