Assembled in Japan and Hungary, and sold throughout the world, the Suzuki SX4 comes to America for the first time as a 2007 model. The U.S. version, which will be assembled in Japan, has a larger engine than what the rest of the world gets, but the same basic five-door hatchback configuration – though ours comes standard with all-wheel-drive. It's what Suzuki calls “intelligent all-wheel drive” (we'll just call it AWD). The system offers drivers three modes of traction: front-wheel drive, automatic four-wheel drive and a 50/50 locked power split to create permanent four-wheel-drive, which is most useful for traction in rain, snow and mud.

Perhaps Americans do get the best of everything, and when it comes to the SX4, it starts with that AWD system, and the peppy engine. As a small car, the Suzuki SX4 needs just a little bit of power to get on down the road, and based on our brief test drive, it has more than enough. The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine matches up to either a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic, and makes 143 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 136 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm. The SX4 is rated by the EPA at 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Built on a unibody chassis, the Suzuki SX4 gets MacPherson struts up front and a live axle, torsion beam suspension in back – all of it attached to 16-inch wheels with P205/60R16 tires. Steering is handled by a rack-and-pinion setup, and four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution come standard. The upper trim of the SX4, the XSport, also comes with stability and traction control, which uses the brakes and engine torque to enhance traction during acceleration, and to help maintain control on slippery surfaces or during sudden maneuvers.