SX4 in Oz launch

Suzuki has launched the car it hopes will play a significant part in doubling its sales volume Down Under. Dubbed the SX4, the compact all-wheel drive wagon cum hatchback will go on sale on February 1 and will be unveiled to the buying public at next week's Brisbane Motor Show.

Suzuki Australia has categorised the SX4 a "sport cross-over vehicle". Larger than the marque's top-selling Swift light car but 'sub' the Vitara SUV range,  SX4 features a somewhat upright stance that helps disguise its sizes. It may look like a small hatch in pictures, but the car is a full four, and occasional five, seater.

Suzuki says the SX4's nearest current competitor is Subaru's Impreza Sportswagon. Though we'd need to do some more swatting on the full dimensional specs to swear to the fact, it appears the Suzi does indeed match or better the Impreza in terms of passenger and luggage accommodations.

Just one variant of the SX4 has gone on sale initially, in both four-speed automatic and five-speed manual versions. Kicking off at $24,390 (manual, add $2000 for the auto) the standard specification level is high in segment terms including full electrics, keyless entry and start, antilock brakes and front, side and curtain airbags.

The car, which is also sold in Europe wearing Fiat Sedici (16, 4X4, geddit?) badges rates as four star in EuroNCAP testing.

Suzuki says that it will be supply constrained with the SX4 and eventually hopes to sell significantly more than the 200 cars per month volume with which it will kick off. As new production facilities come on line in Japan later this year, it says it will launch more SX4 variants. An entry-level model, sedan variant and perhaps even a diesel-engined version may follow.

Look out for CarPoint's launch review of the SX4 soon.

The Brisbane Motor Show is held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Southbank, from February 2 - 11. This year's event features the carsales.com.au Aftermarket Alley, offering visitors a range of motoring services, accessories and parts for your car from several supplier stands at the show. Visit www.brisbanemotorshow.com.au for details.