SUZUKI S-CROSS

A day with the Suzuki S-Cross Full Hybrid

What is it?

The new restyled and updated S-Cross has been on our roads for roughly 12 months now, and as I wrote after its launch last year, if there was ever a car that desperately required a facelift it was the S-Cross, and it’s a good one, too.

If you haven’t read my previous review, let me go through a few highlights. The outside of the new S-Cross was given a bolder and more modern design with larger and more angular wheel arches and smooth flowing lines.

However, the biggest change to the S-Cross is the new interior that’s neat and easy to use. The infotainment screen sits high on the dashboard and heater and air conditioning controls are all positioned beneath it. If you opt for the Ultra model with fourwheel drive it has a dial to change driving modes down next to the handbrake.

As a 6ft 2” fat bloke I found the seats comfortable and supportive, and there’s plenty of head and leg room, even for very tall people. That said, the panoramic sunroof does take a good chunk of head room away from rear seat passengers, so that’s something to be aware of.

In the back the rear seatbacks split 60/40 and you can singlehandily fold them down by pushing buttons next to the head restraints.

Visibility all ‘round is excellent, so parking isn’t an issue, and if you’re one of those who struggle squeezing cars into small spaces, the S-Cross has front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are standard across the range, and the Ultra trim also has a 360º parking camera.

Internally, the only difference between the full and mild hybrid versions is the boot space with the former having slightly less due to the larger battery.

Motion and Ultra

There is no ‘base-spec’ model as the new S-Cross is available in just two grades - Motion and Ultra.

When it comes to equipment levels, Suzuki have always had a reputation for offering great value for money, and standard equipment for Motion includes seven airbags, 17” painted alloy wheels, three signature LED projector headlamps for low and high beam, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. Then there’s Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control with speed limiter, keyless entry and start, dual zone auto air conditioning, heated front seats and front and rear parking sensors. See, no base-spec!

Moving up to Ultra adds 17” polished alloy wheels, leather seat upholstery, integrated on-board navigation, panoramic sliding sunroof and a 360º view camera along with Suzuki’s famed ALLGRIP ‘Select’ 4x4 system. I’ll get onto the ALLGRIP ‘Select’ further on.

So what's new?

As the title suggests, the new S-Cross is now available as a full hybrid, just like their Vitara. The full hybrid uses a normally aspirated 1.5ltr petrol engine (a modified version of what you’ll find in the Jimny), that’s paired with the following; a 140V lithium-ion battery and inverter, a Motor Generator Unit (electric motor), and a 12V lithium-ion battery.

The MGU behaves primarily as a generator and starter motor while supplementing the engine with a bit of power when needed. During acceleration, the ECU will gently apply some extra torque from the MGU. Meanwhile, regenerative braking and deceleration will recuperate lost energy to charge up the battery pack.

It’s goodbye to the 6-speed automatic gearbox of old and in with 6-speed automated manual gearbox, or as Suzuki call it, the AGS (or Auto Gear Shift). This was chosen for how seamlessly it’s made to work with the hybrid system as well as being lighter when compared to a conventional torque converter auto. Flappy paddles are mounted on the steering wheel for that extra bit of control.

Suzuki’s figures for CO2 emissions are just 118g/km for Motion Full Hybrid 2-wheel Drive model (WLTP regulation) and 54.3 combined mpg.

What's it like to drive?

Driven sedately refinement is fine, the gearbox is fine and everything is hunky-dory. Tootle around town and the engine cuts out, allowing the S-Cross to run on battery power for ultimate smugness.

However, if you want to drive in a spirited manner the lack of a turbocharger is noticeable as the 1.5-litre petrol engine isn’t the most powerful unit, even with the help from the electric motor.

The automated manual gearbox doesn’t help matters either, go for an overtake and the revs fly up to around 5,500rpm then pauses momentarily, as if it’s missed a gear, then changes up. It isn’t the smoothest either I’m afraid, and a little disconcerting if I’m being honest.

For anything other than tootling around I would definitely recommend using the flappy paddles for better control.

It’s not all negative, the ride comfort is good and handling always feels safe and secure, especially with ALLGRIP doing its magic underneath. There’s always just enough over and understeer to bring a smile to your face.

Off Road

During the launch we found ourselves at an off-road course, which got me rather excited. I want to say that the S-Cross's off-road performance was surprisingly good, but I’ve driven plenty of Suzukis with ALLGRIP 4WD tech, and they’re all really quite remarkable.

Like any modern 4WD system, you have have to trust it to do its job. And by that I mean don’t back-off when you begin to loose traction, let the car figure itself out, and it will.

On the off-road test route, James, my co-driver and I watched with frustration as another motoring writer couldn’t make it up a slippery incline. With so many failed attempts the marshal decided to abandon the section. However, when it came to our turn I almost uttered words that I never thought I would; “Don’t you know who I am?”

Don’t worry, I didn’t, honestly, but I did mentioned that I publish a 4x4 magazine and reckoned I could make it up the hill with ease.

After giving in to my charm he let me have a go, and James asked, “How embarrassed will you be if you can’t make it up?”

I needn’t have worried, after selecting Lock a steady throttle and a bit of momentum and the S-Cross made it. It was the same for the rest of the course, on-road tyres and ALLGRIP tech, the S-Cross performed faultlessly.

When it comes to Lock mode, a limited slip differential is fitted which helps brake any slipping wheel and transfer torque to the gripping wheels, which works really well.

Also available as standard equipment on both models, Hill Hold Control makes hill starts much easier by preventing the vehicle from rolling backwards for two seconds as soon as the you remove your foot from the brake to the accelerator pedal. Again, this can be really handy in certain off-road situations, especially during failed hill climbs.

When it comes to new tech, another addition is Suzuki Connect. By connecting the vehicle via the Suzuki Connect app, available on Android and iOS, users can access a wide range of convenient connected services, including the ability to monitor and receive notifications about the status of their vehicle in real time, remotely lock the vehicle, and view information such as driving history and the location of their parked car.

Users can also choose to receive maintenance-related information and warning light notifications via the Suzuki Connect app, and if an issue is detected, vital diagnostic information can be seamlessly shared with their registered Suzuki dealer, allowing for faster and more comprehensive after-sales support.

Conclusion

Suzuki have a reputation for producing some of the best value cars on the road, and for safety equipment and fuel economy, you simply get more bang for your buck.

With that in mind, the all-new S-Cross doesn’t disappoint, compared to its competitors it’s great value, especially when you consider that many of them don’t even have 4WD.

Sadly I just couldn’t get along with the full hybrid, the 1.5 litre normally aspirated petrol engine feels lethargic, and the semi automatic gearbox sucks the fun out of driving. Of course, that’s just my opinion, so don’t be put off as I have different requirements from a car, I’m just grateful that we can still buy the 1.4 litre Boosterjet S-Cross with the slick 6-speed manual gearbox, and if I’m being perfectly honest, that would be my choice.