Used Suzuki SX4 S-Cross review and buying guide (2013 to 2021): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Suzuki SX4 S-Cross should you buy?

Any SX4 S-Cross is worth a look apart from an automatic from 2015 or 2016, when Suzuki fitted a twin-clutch gearbox that's poor to use and has two owners' fault reports against it. A manual sidesteps it, and an auto from September 2016 onwards has the six-speed torque converter instead. The earlier CVT autos of 2013 to 2015 aren't the problem box either, though there's little on record about them.

Beyond the gearbox, nothing shows a late car is any tougher than an early one. The first cars are the exception: three owners complained in 2014 about paint flaws and rainwater sitting on the door sills, so give a 2013 or 2014 car's bodywork a closer look. AllGrip four-wheel drive was an option and is worth having if you need the grip, and there are three ISOFIX points across the back seat, though it isn't roomy back there.

Which SX4 S-Cross engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The petrols are the ones to go for: the 1.6 is strong and economical, and the Boosterjet turbo petrols are good engines too. That's a verdict on how they drive rather than proof they'll last, because there's very little on record about any S-Cross engine, good or bad, and no engine has a fault logged against it.

The 1.6 diesel has two one-car reports, which aren't enough to rule it out but are worth knowing. On a 2016 car the alternator belt tensioner broke, wrapped itself round an unguarded pulley and dragged the timing belt off, with a new engine on the cards. On a 2014 car a failing battery leaked acid onto the pipe for the clutch slave cylinder and the driver lost clutch control; that was fixed under warranty.

Check which automatic you're looking at, since the S-Cross had three: a CVT from 2013 to 2015, a twin-clutch in 2015 and 2016, then a six-speed torque converter from September 2016. Avoid the twin-clutch. It's poor to use, one 2015 diesel's clutch pack juddered at 32k miles, and a 2016 AllGrip spent four months with dealers who couldn't cure its gearbox fault. There's too little on the CVT or the six-speed to call either proven, but neither has reports like those against it.

What should you check when viewing a used SX4 S-Cross?

Look at the rear tyres for uneven wear, especially on an AllGrip. One 2018 Boosterjet AllGrip automatic had a misaligned rear axle picked up at its 9,500 mile service, and the dealer offered new parts and a pair of rear tyres. Ask whether any rear axle work has been done on the car you're viewing, and get the receipt if it has.

If the car has the opening panoramic sunroof, open and close it fully and check it seals flush on both sides. On one 2014 AllGrip at 52k miles the glass sagged on the passenger side, letting in wind noise and debris, and the dealer quoted the owner £1900 for a new sunroof because a part had bent. On a 2013 or 2014 car, look along the door sills for standing water and rough repainting, and check the paint for flaws.

Park on a slope and make sure the handbrake holds, since one SZ5 diesel AllGrip's briefly let go on a hill. On an automatic, pull away gently from a standstill and feel for judder. The service intervals are on the short side, and one owner of a 2014 diesel at 30,000 miles was quoted £1,400 for the 5-year 62,000 mile service, so check whether that one's been done and ask for the invoice.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Suzuki SX4 S-Cross cost to run?