Reviews of the Suzuki S-Cross

The Suzuki S-Cross is a crossover SUV that appeals to families looking for an affordable and reliable lease car. Available as a mild or full hybrid, the S-Cross has a decent level of kit as standard and is good value for money. 

Rivals to the S-Cross include the Nissan Juke, Toyota Yaris Cross, Ford Puma, and Kia Sportage. 

Our Suzuki S-Cross review covers:

• Good-looking exterior with snazzy headlights and a bold front grille 
• Simple layout with a good amount of kit 
• 430 litre boot in mild-hybrid, decreases to 293 litres in full hybrid 
• A 1.4-litre petrol mild-hybrid or a 1.5-litre full hybrid 
• Two trim levels 

Pros:

• Plenty of kit as standard 
• Affordable 
• 1.4-litre mild-hybrid engine is good

Cons:

• Full hybrid boot is small 
• Interior is not premium 
• Infotainment system not as good as rivals 

If someone mentioned the Suzuki S-Cross without you knowing what it looks like, you’d probably picture a poor-looking car. This is something which the S-Cross certainly isn't. Its exterior has lovely LED lights, a prominent piano black front grille, and a rugged rear end. 

There’s a good amount of space throughout the cabin of the S-Cross. In the front, there’s plenty of head and leg room, while in the rear, two children or teenagers should be able to get comfortable. Disappointingly, the rear seats sit higher than the front ones, so headroom for adults is limited. 

Boot space comes in at 430 litres in the mild-hybrid version but decreases to 293 litres in the full-hybrid version. The latter isn't great, especially if you’ve got a family and plan on going on a few days out. If you want a full hybrid with bigger boot space, look towards the Nissan Juke or Toyota Yaris Cross. 

The interior of the S-Cross is oriented towards practicality rather than style. The layout of the dashboard is simple, with a traditional setup sitting below the infotainment screen. There are a few nice features, such as heated seats and automatic air conditioning as standard, but it falls short of the interior in the Kia Sportage. 

As standard, you get a seven-inch infotainment system on the dashboard with a DAB radio, smartphone mirroring, and Bluetooth. Upgrade to Ultra, and you get a nine-inch screen with sat-nav. Both show crisp and easy-to-read graphics, but they can be tricky to use thanks to being almost completely controlled through the touchscreen. 

Two trim levels are available: Motion and Ultra. 

Motion has 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, aluminium roof rails, keyless entry/start, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, heated driver’s and front passenger’s seat, a seven-inch infotainment display, front and rear parking sensors, a rear parking camera, and various driver safety systems. 

Ultra adds to this with 17-inch polished alloy wheels, leather seat upholstery, a double sliding panoramic sunroof, a nine-inch infotainment display, a navigation system, a front centre speaker, and a 360-view camera. 

A 1.4-litre turbocharged mild-hybrid petrol engine and a 1.5-litre hybrid engine make up the S-Cross’s engine range. The entry-level unit is paired to a six-speed manual gearbox with front-wheel drive, while for the latter, you can choose either front or all-wheel drive. 

Unless you want total economy, the entry-level 1.4-litre unit will be good enough for most. With a small electric motor helping the traditional engine, it achieves 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds and has a top speed of 121mph. 

It also returns a fuel economy of a combined 53.2mpg, which is pretty good, albeit short of the Yaris Cross’s 60mpg. 

The 1.5-litre engine is a full hybrid, combining a traditional engine with an electric motor and battery. It decreases performance compared to the 1.4-litre, achieving 0-62mph in 12.7 seconds and reaching a top speed of 108mph. 

It only slightly increases fuel economy to a combined 54mpg and can be driven solely using the electric motor for a short period, so we’d stick to the entry-level mild-hybrid. 

The S-Cross is decent to drive. Around town, its handling is excellent and light, and although the suspension can be a bit bouncy on rougher roads, you shouldn't notice it too much. 

As you increase the speed, the S-Cross is comfortable at motorway speeds and can overtake without fuss. There is a bit of road and wind noise, but it’s not too loud. 

Overall, you and your family will be pleased with the S-Cross’s performance. The only downside is that it's undoubtedly dull to drive and falls short of the engaging experience you get in the Ford Puma. 

Prices for the new Suzuki S-Cross start from £25,960.00 OTR* or to lease from £274.53 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Suzuki S-Cross? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.