The high seating position lends adults more rear seat thigh support than many much larger cars. Rear seat kneeroom isn’t abundant, given the distance between the first and second rows, but adults of average size won’t have trouble fitting back there. The short wheelbase comes through in rear wheelhousings that intrude much more than most these days. This doesn’t have an impact on comfort; it’s just something not often seen in recent years as cars have grown.

The short exterior most impacts cargo room, which at only eight cubic feet is limited to a couple rows of grocery bags when the rear seat is up. This seat of course folds, but the front passenger seat does not. It does in some small hatches, and this would be a useful addition to the SX4’s feature list.

Suzuki claims the most power in the class with the SX4’s 143-horsepower 2.0-liter engine. Most other hatches this small have a 1.5 (Fit, Yaris), maybe a 1.8 (Versa, xD). But, due to SX4’s extreme height and standard all-wheel-drive, it tips the scales north of 3,000 pounds, making it also the heaviest car in the class. (Most competitors weigh about 700 pounds less.) So, with the automatic transmission at least, acceleration is tepid. A manual transmission would lend the car a livelier feel, and would be the way I’d go.

Given the modest power-to-weight ratio, the all-wheel-drive system is of limited use on dry pavement. Unlike most such systems, though, this one can be switched into front-wheel-drive to improve fuel economy a bit. So, technically, it’s actually a four-wheel-drive system.

The SX4’s height translates into a high center of gravity. The feel when going around curves is halfway between that of a hatchback and a small SUV. I suppose this is one reason Suzuki calls it a “crossover.” The suspension is moderately firm and never feels sloppy, but I was personally hoping for less roll and a sharper, sportier feel. Suzuki has offered GT versions of its small hatches in the past; I once enjoyed a test drive in a circa-1990 Swift GT. An SX4 GT would be welcome.

Ride quality is about average for a small hatch. There’s a bit of busyness on patchy pavement courtesy of the moderately firm suspension settings and the short wheelbase, but no harshness. Noise levels are about average for an economy car, with road noise most prominent.

The price of the SX4 is up about $300 for 2008, and starts at $16,995. Add $1,100 of the automatic.

Compared to a Honda Fit and with both in Sport trim, the Suzuki lists for about $1,700 more. But the Suzuki has about $2,700 in additional features, including all-wheel-drive, stability control, and automatic temperature control.

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