Versatile hatch has SX appeal

Social networking has provided the world with many pros and cons. On the one hand it has connected long lost people, and on the other systematically and unashamedly broken writing norms.

For this week's pre-owned purchase, allow me to present this nugget from the wide world of Facebook. This week's pick came via a work colleague during a recent filming of a car television show where he suggested the Suzuki SX4 as a viable car for a young female doctor who'll be working in the stickiest areas of KZN in a couple of months time.

Of course I didn't agree with his view. Anyone else who intimately knows the road conditions in rural KZN will also attest to the fact that a hatchback roughly the size of a mature Brahman bull, 4WD or otherwise, will not get up a muddy, deeply rutted, typically manure splattered Zululand trail towards a village hospital.

So if you are a young beautiful lady doctor who's also destined to do community work in the same kind of terrain, ignore the SX4.

However, if you are female, and you fit the above profile - but are stationed elsewhere such as Sandton, Tembisa, or Orange Farm - then you must take a look at this car.

It's a hatchback of far more versatility than the regular offering. It's available in two versions: a standard variant sending power to its front wheels and a four-wheel drive derivative.

If you opt for the two-wheel drive car, then you will be enjoying, firstly, a non-generic design. Standing upright with a generally bulbous line profile, it promises yards of interior space.

Fit for five passengers, or one very lucky, dreadlocked toddler stretched on quality cloth seats, occupants are cocooned by safety items such as airbags and crumple zones.

Luxury amenities are a not-so-superb disc playing sound system, cruise control, a fairly comprehensive trip computer and a multifunction steering wheel.

If you sign for the 4WD version, you get all this plus more height to the ride and the traction to climb up pavements.

Again, if you are that young female doctor but this time you have an inexplicable bent for drifting on gravel tracks, then look to the SX4. Suzuki did not enter this car in the world rally championship for the fun of it.

This you will find in normal driving conditions where the standard 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder of the range sits firmly through bends.

The only cons are the horrific fuel consumption on the 4WD model. That's how you pay for the extra dollops of traction.

The Suzuki SX4 is a car well worth a long, hard look but I'm nudging you towards the 2WD version for the better fuel usage. The two models range from R140000 to R225000.