(Tue 26 Jan 10)

Suzuki has been busy with the SX4 crossover, which is being introduced in its 2010 form over a period of three months.

Trim levels have been renamed to bring them in line with those of other Suzuki models, and there are several minor revisions to the interior and exterior, some of them devoted to help reduce noise levels.

Three versions are on sale now, all of them with a modified version of the existing 1.6-litre petrol engine. With a maximum output of 118bhp, it's about 10% more powerful than before, but it's also more economical by a similar margin, with a combined figure of 45.6mpg. The entry-level car is the £11,640 SZ3, which has six airbags, manual air-conditioning, front and rear electric windows and an eight-speaker audio system with a CD player and MP3/WMA compatibility.

The SZ4 has extra equipment in the form of foglights, 16" alloy wheels, automatic air-conditioning, side body protection and heated door mirrors. It costs £12,255 with the standard five-speed manual as fitted to the SZ3, or £13,280 with the alternative four-speed automatic.

All of these cars are front-wheel drive, but in April Suzuki will introduce a 4x4 version. Not yet officially priced, this will be in SZ5 specification, with a 6-CD autochanger and rear privacy glass. Also in April, another SZ4 will be introduced with Peugeot's 89bhp 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine. Slower than the front-wheel drive petrol manual, but with similar key performance figures to the automatic and the 4x4, the diesel will also be significantly the most economical model, with combined economy of 57.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 129g/km.

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