Is the Suzuki SX4 good for winter driving?

Yes, the Suzuki SX4 is widely considered an excellent, budget-friendly car for winter driving—provided you buy a model equipped with All-Wheel Drive (AWD).

Its standout feature for winter is the selectable "i-AWD" system, which is rare for a compact car in its price range. The system features a switch with three modes:

1. 2WD: Powers only the front wheels to save fuel on dry pavement.
2. AWD Auto: Automatically sends power to the rear wheels when it detects the front wheels slipping.
3. AWD Lock: Locks the power distribution 50/50 between the front and rear wheels at low speeds (under 36 mph), which is incredibly useful for digging out of unplowed driveways, deep snow, or icy parking spots.

Additionally, the SX4 Crossover (the hatchback version) offers about 6.9 inches of ground clearance. While not as high as a large SUV, this is significantly higher than most compact cars, allowing it to clear moderate snowdrifts without getting stuck.

To get the best winter performance out of an SX4, you should verify that the specific car you are buying actually has the AWD system (as front-wheel-drive base models were also sold) and equip it with a quality set of dedicated winter tires.