Car guides

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross: common problems, best years and what to check

Light, practical crossover with optional AllGrip 4x4. Covers 2013–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.

Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide

Is the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross a good used buy?

Best buy

1.4 BoosterJet AllGrip

Avoid

none notable

Who it suits: Buyers wanting a light, reliable crossover with 4x4.

What's good

  • Reliable
  • 4x4 option
  • Big boot
  • Good value

What's not

  • Plain interior
  • Noisy at speed
  • Dated infotainment
  • Low profile brand

By the numbers

  • #130 most common model on UK roads, with about 54k licensed (DfT).
  • The biggest surviving year is 2023: 8.3k cars still licensed.
  • 2013 cars survive 8% better than comparable cars of that year.

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross common problems by generation and engine

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross S-Cross (2013–2021) · crossover; AllGrip

How to spot it: 13 plate to 21 plate. Crossover; 2016 facelift has a tall chrome grille.

1.0 / 1.4 BoosterJet / 1.6 (K10C / K14C / M16A, petrol, 2013–2021)

Reliable

1.6 DDiS (D16AA (Fiat), diesel, 2013–2017)

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross S-Cross (2022–) · crossover; hybrid

How to spot it: 22 plate onwards. Bold piano-black grille.

1.4 BoosterJet mild hybrid (K14D, petrol mild hybrid, 2022–)

Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.

Best and worst Suzuki SX4 S-Cross years

How many Suzuki SX4 S-Crosss from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.

survives better than similar carsabout averagesurvives worse

Years that outlast similar cars: 2013, 2014. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross MOT pass rate and common failures

First-time pass rate (2025)

92%

Average UK car of the same age

88%all makes, same ages as these Suzuki SX4 S-Crosss

MOT tests analysed (2013+ cars)

4,543

Suzuki SX4 S-Crosss pass their MOT first time 4 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (92% vs 88%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.

First registeredPass rateAverage UK car that ageMedian mileage
202190%87%27k miles
202293%89%21k miles

Most common MOT failures

  1. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.11 per 100
  2. Headlamp aim: too high2.69 per 100
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.55 per 100
  4. Tyres: has a cut0.79 per 100
  5. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.48 per 100
  6. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak0.42 per 100
  7. Headlamp aim: too low0.37 per 100
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.28 per 100

Most common advisories

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.67 per 100
  2. Tyres: has a tear5.1 per 100
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.81 per 100
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened3.15 per 100
  5. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.71 per 100
  6. Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.63 per 100
  7. Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm2.43 per 100
  8. Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre2.21 per 100

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Does the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross have a timing belt or chain?

EngineTypeWhenCost
Petrolchaindurable£600–£1,000

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross running costs

Road tax (from April 2017)

£200 a year; +£440 for years 2–6 if the list price was over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars).

Road tax (before April 2017)

CO2 band tax: £20 (band A–B, up to 110g/km) to £790 (band M). Most petrol and diesel versions sit in bands B–E, £20–£200 a year.

Insurance groups

13–19

Real-world economy

1.0/1.4 BoosterJet: 42–48
1.6 DDiS: 55–62

Servicing (independent)

Minor £150–£210 · Major £250–£360

Tyres

215/55 R17 · set of four £360–£520

Warranty when new

3 years / 60,000 miles; up to 10 years with dealer servicing (from 2025)

Is the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross ULEZ compliant?

  • Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
  • Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
  • Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.

Safety and practicality

Euro NCAP

S-Cross: ★★★★★ (2013)

Boot

430 litres

Seats

5

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross vs rivals

ModelOn UK roadsInsuranceBootBest buy
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross54k13–19430 l1.4 BoosterJet AllGrip
Skoda Karoq87k13–25521 l1.5 TSI
Nissan Qashqai646k13–22430 l2018–2021 J11 1.3 DIG-T manual
Dacia Duster97k8–20445 l2018+ Mk2 1.3 TCe or Bi-Fuel
Kia Sportage373k13–25491 l2016–2021 QL 1.6 GDi or 1.7 CRDi; 2022+ HEV
Suzuki Vitara78k12–18375 l1.4 BoosterJet AllGrip

What to check when buying a used Suzuki SX4 S-Cross

  • AllGrip is excellent

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross FAQ

›Is the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross reliable?

Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 1.4 BoosterJet AllGrip. Avoid: none notable.

›What is the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross MOT pass rate?

92% of Suzuki SX4 S-Crosss passed their MOT first time in 2025 (4,543 tests), better than the 88% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.

›What are the most common Suzuki SX4 S-Cross problems?

The costliest known faults are . Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.

›Does the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross have a timing belt or chain?

Petrol: chain.

›What is the best year Suzuki SX4 S-Cross to buy?

By DfT survival data, 2013, 2014, 2015 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.

›How much does a Suzuki SX4 S-Cross cost to run?

Real-world economy: 1.0/1.4 BoosterJet 42–48 mpg; 1.6 DDiS 55–62 mpg. Insurance groups 13–19. A minor service is about £150–£210 at an independent garage.

›How much is road tax on a Suzuki SX4 S-Cross?

Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.

›Is the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross ULEZ compliant?

Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001. Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.

How we build this guide

We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.

  • How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
  • MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
  • Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
  • Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
  • Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.

This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.

Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.