IN THIS FEATURE Bigger than a supermini, smaller than a Focus Flexible four-wheel drive Cabin quality needs looking at

Unlike most such systems, though, the four-wheel drive 'domain' is selectable by the driver. The normal 'economy' mode is front-wheel drive only. The 'lock' mode connects front and rear axles solidly together to get the SX4 moving on a very slippery surface, but the clutches allow some front/rear slippage once moving to prevent transmission wind-up. The third mode, 'auto', lets torque head rearwards as required just as in other systems, with front-wheel drive the dominant feature until help from the rear wheels is needed. 'Lock' automatically changes to 'auto' above 37mph.

The suspension is designed to keep body lean low despite the SX4's height and almost Grand Vitara-matching ground clearance. Normal struts are used up front, while the rear torsion beam is bent upwards in the middle to make room for the propeller shaft and rear differential, when fitted. Automatic transmission is offered only on a front-drive 1.6, incidentally.

4x4 system can be switched by driver to front-drive only

Suzuki describes the SX4 as having an 'emphasised mouth for activity look.' That said, the SX4 doesn't exactly ooze visual toughness; it's really a tall hatchback with a wedgy stance and a three-piece wraparound rear window. It was hard to gain an impression of the interior quality of a production SX4, because the examples we drove at Suzuki's Ryuyo test track in Japan were mid-term prototypes with smooth mouldings, but there's certainly plenty of space and a great view out from the high-set driving position.

There's an opportunity missed in the cabin, though. The rear seats fold forward in a double-tumble, but they don't slide and can't be taken out. Nor is there much in the way of nets and added cupholders and extra places to put things; the interior, though clean and crisp in design with fake-aluminium 'vertical ingots' flanking its centre console, is no more versatile than that of an average hatchback. And the cheap boot floor, hardboard with flimsy fabric and exposed sound deadening on the reverse, is thoroughly nasty. It was planned to go into production like that, but the engineers may reconsider.