Compact Nav: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Special Edition now with Navagation; 2009 Standard

[SonicAerio]

2008 Suzuki SX4 Special Edition now available with Navagation



BREA, Calif. (June 30, 2008) – After an overwhelming response to the company's April announcement that it will add standard navigation to the 2009 SX4 Sport and SX4 Crossover, American Suzuki Motor Corp. today revealed that it will produce a special edition version of the 2008 SX4 featuring standard navigation. Available in July, the Road TRIP edition of the 2008 SX4 Sport and front-wheel-drive version of the five-door SX4 Crossover marks the first time a new vehicle under $16,000 will offer navigation as standard equipment.


Referred to as the Suzuki TRIP (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play), the SX4's navigation system is the result of a collaboration with Garmin and is available with a number of MSN Direct-enabled features, including real-time traffic, weather forecasts, news reports, stock quotes, movie times, local entertainment listings and a gas station finder capable of locating the lowest priced fuel in town.

The navigation system's flip-up 4.3-inch touch screen display is fully integrated into the vehicle's audio system, which results in all navigation commands being channeled through the SX4's audio system. The system also includes an MP3 player, Navteq mapping software and preloaded street maps that feature millions of points-of-interest, such as hotels, restaurants, gasoline stations, ATMs and more than 500 Suzuki dealership locations throughout the country.



"As the only vehicle under $16,000 to offer standard navigation, the 2009 SX4 has created quite a buzz in the industry and with consumers," said Mark Harano, president of American Suzuki Automotive Operations. "Since summer is all about travel, adventure and exploring the outside world, we wanted to capitalize on the enormous level of interest in this vehicle by getting a navigation-equipped SX4 out in time for summer driving season."

For drivers hitting the road this summer, a Travel Guide™ expansion module is also available that provides Fodor reviews and recommendations for restaurants, hotels, shopping, nightlife, sporting events and other tourist attractions.

The Road TRIP edition of the 2008 SX4 is scheduled to arrive in dealer showrooms in July and, including destination and handling charges, will be available for purchase starting at $15,999 for the SX4 Sport and front-wheel-drive version of the SX4 Crossover.

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[eurohazard]

Oh wow, I just want to be the first to say the word "Camaro"....I'll leave it at that!

That's a nice little car, silver is definitely the best color, and the angle helps I'm sure too. Some of the ones I see on the road are so meh.

[PA Dweller]

I don't care what anyone says here, the SX4 and Crossover is an awesome car. Not just for offering standard in dash navigation for $16k, but that you can have it fully loaded for $19k. For that you get navigation, AWD- which can be switched to 2WD for fuel efficiency, smart key, etc. Awesome small car.

[TruckMan]

I'm impressed. One of my neighbors down the street drives one of these and I think it doesn't look half bad. The rims (no hubcaps) give it a decent look.

[Blair1118]

So its a flip up panel with a garmin velcro'd to it??

[paul8488]

I really hope Suzuki has huge success with this car. I just wish they had the Swift in the US! I love the Swift!

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by Blair1118

So its a flip up panel with a garmin velcro'd to it??

Pretty much, but it's integrated to the audio system so the directions are voiced over the car's speakers.

You've got to give it to Suzuki, they came up with a brilliant, cheap way to add navigation to their car for North America. The systems available in Japan would be much more expensive.

[camaro_freak]

creative feature done on the cheap

something GM can't seem to put together to save their lives...

GM could have easily done this to appease the people that need something more than OnStar.

[Blair1118]

Every car GM makes with that "center glove/storage compartment" could integrate this

[regfootball]

neighbor has an SX4, she loves it.

[Family Man]

This ceraintly beats redesigning radios and dashed. Excellet job.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by paul8488

I really hope Suzuki has huge success with this car. I just wish they had the Swift in the US! I love the Swift!

American Suzuki would like to remind you that:

The SX4 Sport brings award winning handling capabilities from the Suzuki Swift, which won more than 16 international awards, to the U.S. market. Having wowed journalists and hundreds of thousands of drivers throughout the world, the sporty Swift character embodied in the SX4 Sport can now be enjoyed by U.S. consumers.

Suzuki's development benchmark for the SX4 Sport was to meet or beat the Swift on key dynamic performance attributes in order to win the heart of the American consumer.

Test drive one todaaaay!

[Chaz_23]

Are those lamps recycled from the Saturn L-series?

Isn't Suzuki kicking everyone's behind in Japan?

[Bigbee60]

Suzuki's TRIP system is a joint venture with Garmin. The unit is a Garmin Nuvi 750 with hardwire for power and integrated MSN Direct on the same power cord. It also has an input to the radio bus to provide directions through the car audio. The Nuvi 750 series head unit can be removed from the pop-up cradle or left in the car and folded down.

The plastic pop-up on the top panel is not unlike a system available in Europe with Navigon as the GPS (see http://www.gpstar.de). The GPStar systems are available for many Opel/Vauxhall models and if you could get the plastic cover, you could fit it to the Malibu and Auro with only minor modifications as they sit on the upper console where the emergency flasher is now.

Garmin also sells hardwire GPS units through Nissan for the Versa and Rogue. It isn't a hideaway unit like the Suzuki system, but has a nice clean mount point that has a cap to cover it when the unit is removed. The strange thing about Garmin is that they build these two OEM systems, yet on their very poor website they discourage customers from hardwiring their units.

And as an SX-4 Crossover AWD owner, I can also attest to how much fun this car is and how much of a bang for the buck you get in it. It was a lot cheaper before the gas price run up as Suzuki gave $1000 rebates and $500 auto show cash throughout most of the winter and spring.

[jfnz24]

If there was a Suzuki dealer in my area, I would love to check this little car out.