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Under the Hood

While the same all-aluminum, 2.0 liter inline-four engine from the Crossover makes its way into the Sport, the former’s all-wheel drive system does not. The dual-overhead cam engine sends 143 horsepower and 136 lb.-ft. of torque to the front wheels. Peak torque is reached at 3,500 rpm and horsepower tops out at 5,800 rpm. Suzuki opts for a standard five-speed manual transmission, but an automatic is available. Fuel economy with the five-speed is estimated to be 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Suzuki says the SX4’s suspension and chassis are inspired by the sporty Swift sub-compact. For the Sport model, Suzuki lowers the ride height, tunes the shock absorbers and swaps out the Crossover’s 16-inch wheels for 17s with Dunlop high-performance tires. It also sheds 180 pounds of weight, but boasts an improved body structure.

Safety

All of the safety features of the Crossover are in the sedan, including side-impact and side curtain airbags; four-wheel, antilock disc brakes; tire-pressure monitoring; and daytime running lights.

Technology

Again, much of what’s standard or available on the Crossover is retained on the Sport. Both audio systems are XM Satellite Radio capable, there’s an iPod interface kit sold at dealers, and a dealer-installed Bluetooth connectivity option.