Ian Lamming braves the bad weather in the new Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid
WEATHER can strike fear into the soul particularly if the daily commute is long and cross country.
Months of incessant rain lead to floods covering the road in detritus. Then just as the skies clear, reminding us they are actually blue behind the gloom, the temperature plummets and the precipitation falls as snow.
That’s going to make the school run arduous and it certainly is for many of the motorists that share our roads.
But I’m fine and if I can duck the bumper cars as they slither hither and thither I should get to school on time.
What is easing my progress on treacherous roads is the Suzuki S-Cross in which we travel. In more clement times the modestly sized SUV impresses with its easy going nature, frugality and accommodation.
But when the weather turns nasty it shines thanks to its generous ride height, gentle power delivery and clever all-wheel-drive, which combine to help the Suzuki keep going.
The 4WD has four settings. Auto switches between two-wheel-drive and four when it detects a loss of traction to maximise economy but offer extra grip when needed.
Sport uses 4WD for extra grip and also optimises engine responses, boosting both performance and handling.
Snow defaults to all-wheel-drive to help you on slippery surfaces, increasing control and stability.
Lock uses the limited slip differential to send power to the wheels with the most grip to extricate you from the snow, mud or sand. It is brilliant and really boosts your confidence when the weather closes in.
The brand new full hybrid motor also helps. It only produces 115PS but that’s good in icy conditions. The electric motor feeds in the power ever so gently too so there is less chance of the driving wheel breaking traction.
The automatic gearbox also has manual settings which is a real boon going downhill when it is slippery. You can drop and hold it in a lower gear so the wheels keep turning but the car doesn’t gather too much momentum.
S-Cross is also blessed with decent ride height allowing it to ford deep water and avoid ploughing the snow which can lift the front wheels off the ground.
No brand is quite like Suzuki for wanting to be your mate and there is something endearing about the S-Cross.
It has every feature you could possibly want to keep you feeling relaxed and content – there’s a panoramic glass sunroof, a 360 degree camera, decent infotainment system with satnav, Bluetooth and excellent stereo. Heated seats warm the cockles, adaptive cruise control takes the strain on the straight stuff and seats are roomy and supportive. Drop the back row and I’m able to just chuck my bike in the back without even having to take the front wheel out.
The interior feels well-built and is well thought out with great ergonomics and clear dials and controls. The touchscreen is easy to use and sharp to read.
Hybrid is down on power compared to the 1.4 turbo but unless you are hoping for a fast overtake that doesn’t really matter. It bowls along nicely and when the 1.5 petrol engine combines with the electric motor it will climb hills really well.
S-Cross looks tidy as well. There’s a big, bold front grille to give it road presence, it is well proportioned and looks wide and stable. The triple LED headlamps not only look cool but are excellent at illuminating the road and the back end is smart and well finished with lights that stretch the full width.
In a country as unpredictable as this one the S-Cross comes complete with all the features you will need to keep moving when those around you become stuck.
Fact File
Suzuki S Cross 1.5 Hybrid Ultra
Engine: 1.5 four-cylinder petrol full hybrid
Power: 115PS
0-62mph: 13.5secs
Top speed: 108mph
Combined MPG: 48.7
Transmission: automatic, four-wheel-drive
CO2 g/km: 132
Price: £32,049.00
