Overview

The Suzuki S-Cross is a safe and unpretentious choice in the booming family SUV sector. Its most commonly cited competitors include the Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, but there’s also the Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan, SEAT Ateca and the Ford Kuga.

When it was launched in 2021, the Suzuki S-Cross was only available with a 129hp 1.4-litre four-cylinder mild hybrid petrol engine. However, in an effort to boost the car’s appeal alongside its rapidly electrifying rivals, Suzuki released a full hybrid version of the S-Cross in early 2022, powered by the same 1.5-litre system found in the Vitara Hybrid.

For us, the key selling points for the S-Cross are its light weight, fuel economy, reliability, seven-year warranty (if serviced by Suzuki) and brand trustworthiness. In its 2023 survey, the Institute of Customer Service placed Suzuki eighth out of 260 organisations in the UK – and the Japanese firm also claimed the top spot for car manufacturers.

Suzuki scores well on trust – and we can see why. Few cars regularly achieve their predicted WLTP official fuel economy figures but, in our experience, Suzukis come very close. The company also has a great aftersales service and a transparent trim structure, separated into just two models – Motion and Ultra. For comparison, the Qashqai has a rather overwhelming five specifications to choose from.

Every Suzuki S-Cross Motion comes with front-wheel drive. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and a 7.0-inch infotainment system. You also get front and rear parking sensors and a rear parking camera.

Ultra-spec cars feature four-wheel drive and gain some extra equipment, such as leather upholstery, a sliding panoramic sunroof, a larger 9.0-inch infotainment system and a 360-degree parking camera. Just in case you don’t want to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, this model comes with a built-in sat-nav system.

We’ve driven the Suzuki S-Cross in several versions and continue to refresh our review, while Parkers’ deputy editor Luke Wilkinson ran one for an extended long-term over several months to put this SUV through its paces. You can read more about how we test cars on Parkers on our dedicated explainer page.

Keep reading to find out what we make of the S-Cross in four key areas. Our judging criteria covers the car’s interior quality, practicality, running costs and driving experience. Then, in our verdict page, we’ll let you know whether the car is worth spending money on – or whether you’ll be better off with one of its rivals.