Badge-engineered cars turn up in unusual places sometimes, and on a recent trip to Italy I noticed how popular the Fiat Sedici has become – especially with smart, chic, young Italian women.
The car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Ital Design and launched at the Geneva Salon in 2006, and it’s a really smart looking vehicle. It’s a 4x4 or 4x2 drive configuration (as 4x4 makes 16, that’s why the Italians decided to badge it Sedici).
We know the
car in Australia by its Suzuki moniker, SX4. I drove one a year or so back, and
I can easily understand its popularity.
Given its
short wheelbase it is easy to park, is quite roomy, has acceptable luggage
capacity, and the occupants get a nice high driving position with a commanding
view of the traffic.
If you’re a
young woman doing battle in Italy’s chaotic cities, I can definitely see why
this car appeals.
As an
all-wheel-drive, it’s not in the Range Rover class of off-road machines, but
for dashing about at ski resorts, and coping with occasionally rough terrain on
a picnic in the Tuscan woods, it’s quite competent.
The Suzuki
SX-4 I drove handled confidently and competently and was great around town. On
the motorway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast it was stable, quiet and very
economical, with fuel economy around 7 l/100km. Not bad given all the drag
induced by an awd system, and a less-than slippery shape.
Suzuki has
massively undermarketed this car in Australia, and after the success it
achieved with the tiny Swift hatchback, I can’t work out why they didn’t put
more effort and marketing dollars into the SX4 SUV. It broadens the range,
offers something completely different, and is well-priced.
Clearly,
young Italians got the message.
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