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Suzuki SX4 MPG Real World Numbers

103 messages,  Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 7:54 AM

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What is this discussion about? Suzuki SX4, SUV


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#21 of 103
Re: Mileage on Interstate [dudeboy] by arkainzeye
Nov 27, 2006 (6:06 pm)
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Replying to: dudeboy (Nov 26, 2006 10:49 pm)

you said there isnt a 2 speed transfer case. is there a 3rd switch? fwd, awd and i thought there was something else that you cant drive fast with..
#22 of 103
Re: Mileage on Interstate [erics6] by arkainzeye
Nov 27, 2006 (6:08 pm)
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Replying to: erics6 (Nov 27, 2006 1:38 pm)

with my chevy work van (awd) you can surely feel when awd kicked it. if your on icy roads it sounds like a brick hits the frame. in snow its more like a Clunk! With the chevy van there is No switches. it just knows when it needs more traction and engages.
#23 of 103
Re: Mileage on Interstate [arkainzeye] by nippononly
Nov 29, 2006 (8:06 am)
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Replying to: arkainzeye (Nov 27, 2006 6:06 pm)

There is no 2-speed transfer case on the SX4. The 'lock' mode merely runs at least 30% of the power to the rear at all times (adjustable up to 50% by the computer, as needed), until you turn it off or the vehicle reaches 36 mph.
 
The electronic clutch pack in this model is attached to the rear differential, so the driveshaft will turn any time the front wheels are being driven. However, this does not mean the rear wheels are being driven - that only happens when the computer detects wheel slip at the front and engages the rear.
 
Subaru's system in all its manual-equipped models is merely a viscous center coupling. This runs all 4 wheels at 50/50 front/rear all the time until slip is detected, at which point power is directed away from the slipping axle. No computer intervention at all. Now I have never owned an automatic Subaru, but I know the autos get a more sophisticated computer-controlled system.
 
The SX4's system is very similar to many of the more popular AWD soft-roaders out there today, including the CRV and RAV4, both of which run in FWD until slippage is detected. The RAV also has a 'lock' mode just like the SX4, with a lower speed threshold - I think it is like 25 mph when the RAV's 'lock' mode disengages (can't recall the exact speed).
#24 of 103
Re: Mileage on Interstate [nippononly] by arkainzeye
Nov 29, 2006 (1:21 pm)
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Replying to: nippononly (Nov 29, 2006 8:06 am)

i think you are right about the rav 4's being 25mph. i met up with a guy today that had a 2006 rav4 WOW. it was nice great MPG also he was claiming. now i have another question since there is NO transfer case, and the drive shaft spins on both shafts, what is the purpose of fwd (2wd) and the awd button? im not talking the Lock mode. just the FWD and awd setting. since the shafts turn either way is there a point to the fwd position of the switch? any advantage? Im really interesting in understanding this I-awd. if you leave it in awd vs fwd does your fuel mileage go down? is there more drag? if not why not just leave it ALways in awd?
#25 of 103
Re: Mileage on Interstate [arkainzeye] by dudeboy
Nov 30, 2006 (9:17 pm)
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Replying to: arkainzeye (Nov 29, 2006 1:21 pm)

There is a transfer case, but it's a single speed unit. As far as your question about whether there is any advantage to running in 2WD, I don't know - you raise a good point with that. If all the same things are turning in 2WD, how can there be any reduction in drag? Also I'm wondering if there actually is a 3rd differential, and where it's located? It seems like someone has said it is in the rear of the car. I recently sold an AWD Mitsubishi built car (Eagle) and it had the transfer case, 3rd differential, and viscous coupling all located at the front. There was no button, and it was in AWD all of the time - you didn't feel any engagement. If you have a third differential with no method of partially locking it up with a viscous coupling or clutch pack, then the car can "get stuck" when only one wheel loses traction.
 
The "Full-Time 4WD" pickups were like that. You could jack up one wheel and the vehicle wouldn't move. Also if you spun that one wheel, you could explode the tire, because the wheel would spin at 4 times the speed shown on the speedometer. For example if you were spinning one wheel at an indicated 50 MPH, the tire would be going an actual speed equal to 200 MPH (if it hadn't already disintegrated).
 
I have a 4WD Toyota pickup that has an automatic disconnecting differential (ADD) in the front axle. One front axle shaft disconnects when you are in 2WD, and that allows the front driveshaft, and also the front ring and pinion to stop turning. The reduced drag is supposed to improve fuel economy slightly.
#26 of 103
Re: Mileage on Interstate [arkainzeye] by nippononly
Dec 01, 2006 (8:00 am)
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Replying to: arkainzeye (Nov 29, 2006 1:21 pm)

Well, I will say one other thing about the RAV4. If you've got the extra $10 grand and don't mind an automatic, you would be better off in the RAV. It has the same mileage, WAY more power, and generally better handling too. It will also depreciate a lot more slowly.
 
But the interior is not all I would like, I would say the SX4's is marginally better. And of course, not everyone has (or wants to spend) the extra $10 grand.
 
I would think if you are on the highway, in wet or dry but not snowy weather, doing highway speeds, you might want the car in FWD-only. The AWD probably cycles in and out of the rear axle more than you might think, because minor variances in rotational speed between the front and rear would cause short bursts of driving the rears, when the car would be using more gas. Over the course of a long highway trip, that could siphon off 1-2 mpg I would guess.
 
Most of the rest of the time, I think you would probably just leave it in AWD. Anyone think the AWD light on the dash is a bit bright? For me, that would be an incentive to leaving it in FWD as much as possible.
#27 of 103
Re: Mileage on Interstate [dudeboy] by nippononly
Dec 01, 2006 (8:05 am)
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Replying to: dudeboy (Nov 30, 2006 9:17 pm)

The "3rd differential" in the SX4 is the clutch pack - that clutch can slip, and is in fact designed to.
 
You are perfectly correct about "old school" 4WD like most of the Toyota trucks had up until about the year 2000. It's one reason mine have always had the rear limited-slip, or rear locker (several different trucks over many years). Then at least you need 3 slipping wheels before you are a fish out of water!
 
The downside to the old Toyota system was that while it was good for the longevity of the front axles, hubs etc when the 4WD was completely disengaged, they weren't receiving lubrication in that state, which was hard on them over time if they didn't get very good owner attention and maintenance. That is why the manuals began recommending that you drive in 4WD for 10 miles per month. The SX4 of course has none of these concerns - everything that might need lubrication is rotating all the time, and the electronic clutch pack is maintenance-free (at least, until the day it is fried - wouldn't want THAT repair bill!).
#28 of 103
per-tank by arkainzeye
Dec 01, 2006 (5:36 pm)
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i was wondering if any Owners out there have seen how far they have gotten on a Full tank of gas till it hit the Big E. i wanted to see how different it is from the specs some of these reviewers said it gets. I think im going to give the sx4 another test ride when the Sport comes out. i was comparing specs of my tracker to the sx4 as far as power is concerned there is a 2ft-lbs more torque from the Sx4 but the sx4 is close to 100lbs heavier. I think on my next test drive i will really test it, more than just a few miles...
#29 of 103
Re: per-tank [arkainzeye] by dudeboy
Dec 02, 2006 (11:19 am)
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Replying to: arkainzeye (Dec 01, 2006 5:36 pm)

I haven't had the gauge down to the "E" yet, but did have the low fuel light come on once before filling up at about 250 miles. I'm not sure if the tank holds 11.0 gal or 11.9. I've seen both in print, but I believe that 11.9 gal for the AWD model is correct. Canadian 2WD models hold a bit more.
#30 of 103
REAL MPG by mcollins
Dec 14, 2006 (4:15 pm)
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I get 21 in town and 25 hwy. I have a little over 2500 miles on it. I leave it in awd. I would like better mileage but that's not what I bought it for. I got it for the awd which is great. I don't think you can expect high milage from the SX4 because it weighs more than others but it's still a fine car for the money because everything comes standard.

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